Sidney regulates backyard sheds mainly through Zoning Bylaw No. 2275, which took effect on 1 July 2024. Its accessory building rules apply to every zone and limit height, placement and size. For building permits, the Town’s Homeowner’s Guide says sheds larger than 10 square metres (108 square feet) need one, although the Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016 itself doesn’t state a size. The figures below come from the Town’s own bylaws and guide.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Sidney?
- The Town’s Homeowner’s Guide lists “sheds larger than 10 m² (107 square feet)” as needing a building permit, so smaller sheds are generally treated as permit-free.
- Every shed must stay out of the front and exterior side yards, be 1.2 m (4 feet) from all lot lines and be 5 m (16.4 feet) tall or less.
- The shed’s floor area can’t exceed 25% of the rear yard area, and its width can’t exceed half the width of the rear lot line.
| Zoning bylaw | Town of Sidney Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (in force 1 July 2024), cl. 5.1.9 |
|---|---|
| Building bylaw | Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016 (consolidated May 2022). Cl. 1.3.1 only exempts structures the BC Building Code doesn’t cover and gives no shed size. |
| Permit threshold | Sheds larger than 10 m² (107 square feet), per the Town’s Homeowner’s Guide to Building Permits |
| How area is measured | Not confirmed for the permit test. For zoning, gross floor area means all roofed floor areas measured from the outside faces of the exterior walls. |
| Conditions that remove the exemption | Not confirmed. Zoning cl. 4.1.2(a) bars sleeping, food preparation or bath and shower facilities in any accessory building. |
| Max total accessory area | Floor area up to 25% of the rear yard area, and width up to 50% of the rear lot line width (cl. 5.1.9(a)(v) and (vi)). Lot coverage in R1 is 50% for all buildings. |
| Max height | 5 m (16.4 feet), ground level only, cl. 5.1.9(a)(i) and (ii). One figure; no separate flat and pitched roof limits. R4 zone: 2.4 m (7.9 feet), cl. 5.2.3(h)(iii). |
| Rear and interior side setback | At least 1.2 m (4 feet) from any lot line, cl. 5.1.9(a)(iv) |
| Exterior side setback | Sheds are not allowed in an exterior side yard, cl. 5.1.9(a)(iii) |
| Front yard | Sheds are not allowed in a front yard, cl. 5.1.9(a)(iii) |
| Distance from house | Not confirmed. No minimum was found in Bylaw 2275. |
| Zones covered | Cl. 5.1.9 applies “notwithstanding any other regulation” in all zones, including R1, R1-ESA, R2, R3 and R4. |
| Building permit fee | Plan processing fee $50 for work under $100,000 (Bylaw 2016, Appendix A, cl. 1(a)). Permit fee $100 for the first $1,000 of value, then $13 per $1,000 up to $100,000 (cl. 2). This is the May 2022 schedule; the current one is not confirmed. |
What the BC Building Code says
BC Building Code 2024, Division A, 1.1.1.1(2)(e) says the Code doesn’t apply to accessory buildings under 10 m² in building area that don’t create a hazard. “Hazard” isn’t defined, so the local building official decides, and where a city’s own documents are silent the provincial rule is the default, though the city may be stricter. On this page, the 10 m² permit figure comes from Sidney’s Homeowner’s Guide (Bylaw 2016 itself gives no number, so the provincial default fills the gap), and the height, setback, area and front-yard figures come from Sidney’s Zoning Bylaw No. 2275.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: the height, setback, front yard and size limits in Bylaw 2275, cl. 5.1.9 apply to every shed.
- Electrical: wiring a shed needs a permit from Technical Safety BC.
- Use: an accessory building can’t contain sleeping accommodation, cooking facilities or a bathtub or shower (cl. 4.1.2(a)), and using a shed as an office should be checked with the Town first.
- Easements and covenants: a shed can’t block a statutory right-of-way or easement, and covenants on title can add limits.
What isn’t confirmed
- Any bylaw clause that sets the 10 m² shed permit size. Only the Homeowner’s Guide states it, and that guide still refers to the old Zoning Bylaw No. 2015.
- How area is measured for the permit test, and which conditions (hazard, services) remove the exemption.
- Whether a site plan is needed for a shed that doesn’t need a permit.
- Required distance from the house, any lane setback, and separate flat and pitched roof height limits. None were found.
- Whether the 2022 permit fee schedule is still current.
Who to contact
Town of Sidney, Development Services: 250-656-1725. Official documents used for this page:
Frequently asked questions
Can a shed go in the front yard in Sidney?
No. Zoning Bylaw cl. 5.1.9(a)(iii) says accessory buildings may not be located within a front or exterior side yard, so sheds belong in the rear or interior side yards.
How close to the fence line can a shed be?
At least 1.2 m (4 feet) from any lot line under cl. 5.1.9(a)(iv). The bylaw doesn’t give a smaller setback for small sheds.
How big can a shed be?
Its floor area can’t exceed 25% of the rear yard area, its width can’t exceed 50% of the rear lot line width, and it must be one storey at ground level and no taller than 5 m (16.4 feet).
What does a shed permit cost in Sidney?
Under the May 2022 fee schedule, a $50 plan processing fee applies for work under $100,000, plus a permit fee of $100 for the first $1,000 of value and $13 per additional $1,000. Confirm current fees with the Town.
For the provincial rule and other cities, see Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit in BC and Shed Rules by City.
These figures are a general guide checked 26 October 2026. Confirm them with the Town of Sidney before building.