Sooke sets its backyard shed rules in Zoning Bylaw No. 600 and Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020. Under Part 4, s.4(4)(c) of the Building Bylaw, the bylaw doesn’t apply to “an unoccupied accessory building with a floor area of less than ten (10) square metres” (108 square feet), so a small unoccupied shed can skip the building permit. Anything of 10 m² or more, or any shed that is occupied, needs one. The zoning figures below are confirmed from the District’s consolidated bylaw, updated April 2026.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Sooke?
- No building permit is needed for an unoccupied accessory building with a floor area under 10 m² (108 square feet). At 10 m² or more, or if the building is occupied, a permit is needed.
- If a permit is needed, the fee is $100 for the first $1,000 of construction value, plus 1.5% of any value over $1,000 (up to $300,000).
- Zoning limits apply regardless: 1.5 m rear and 1.2 m side setbacks on most R1 to R3 lots, and a 9 m height cap.
| Zoning bylaw | District of Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600 (consolidated to 15 April 2026) |
|---|---|
| Building bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020 (consolidated for reference 11 July 2022), Part 4, s.4(4)(c) |
| Permit threshold | The bylaw doesn’t apply to “an unoccupied accessory building with a floor area of less than ten (10) square metres” (108 square feet). Permit needed at 10 m² or more, or if occupied. |
| How area is measured | The bylaw says “floor area”. The measuring method for this test was not confirmed. |
| Conditions that remove the exemption | The building must be unoccupied (s.4(4)(c)). Whether other conditions such as services apply was not confirmed. |
| Max total accessory area | Accessory floor area can’t exceed the floor area of the principal building (cl. 3.4(e)). Lot coverage for all buildings in R1 to R3: 50% on lots up to 1,215 m², 40% on larger lots (cl. 201.8, 202.8, 203.8). |
| Max height | 9 m (29.5 feet) and 2 storeys (cl. 201.7(b), 202.7(b), 203.7(b)). No separate flat and pitched roof limits. |
| Rear setback | 1.5 m (4.9 feet) (cl. 201.9(a), 201.10(a)). It becomes 5 m (16.4 feet) if rear-yard parking is required (cl. 201.9(b)). |
| Interior side setback | 1.2 m (3.9 feet) on lots up to 1,215 m² (cl. 201.9(a)). Lots over 1,215 m² use a 3 m combined side setback (cl. 201.10(a)). 3 m if rear-yard parking is required. |
| Exterior side setback | 4 m (13.1 feet) from the flanking lot line (cl. 201.9(a), 201.10(a)). 3 m if rear-yard parking is required. |
| Front yard | 4 m (13.1 feet) front setback for accessory buildings (cl. 201.9(a)) |
| Lane setback | 0 m for accessory buildings in R1 to R3 (cl. 201.9(a)) |
| Distance from house | Not confirmed. A building joined to the house by an enclosed structure counts as part of the house (cl. 3.4(f)). |
| Use limits | An accessory building can’t be used as a dwelling or sleeping unit unless the bylaw allows it (cl. 3.4(d)) |
| Zones covered | R1, R2 and R3 (Schedules 201 to 203, same figures). The rural RU1 zone uses 5 m front, 1.2 m side and 1.5 m rear setbacks (cl. 101.9). |
| Building permit fee | Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752, 2019, as amended by Amendment Bylaw 928 (2025), Schedule 3: value of $0 to $1,000 is $100.00; value of $1,001 to $300,000 is $100.00 plus 1.5% of the value over $1,000. The value used is the greatest of the declared value, the Marshall and Swift value or the Chief Building Official’s value. A separate Development Review Fee of 0.1% of the work value (minimum $100) applies only when the Fire Department reviews the plans. |
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 permit-free size comes from Sooke’s own Building Bylaw No. 780, which uses the same 10 m² figure but only for unoccupied buildings, and the height, setback and area figures come from Sooke’s Zoning Bylaw No. 600.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: setbacks, height and coverage limits in Bylaw No. 600 apply to every shed, and the District asks owners to confirm a project is allowed under current zoning before applying.
- Electrical: wiring a shed needs a permit from Technical Safety BC.
- Use: the permit exemption covers only unoccupied buildings, and a shed can’t be used as a dwelling or sleeping unit (cl. 3.4(d)). Office use should be checked with the District first.
- Easements and covenants: a shed can’t sit on a right-of-way or easement, and covenants on title can add limits.
What isn’t confirmed
- Whether a newer consolidation of Building Bylaw No. 780 exists. The copy read for this page was consolidated for reference on 11 July 2022.
- The original text of Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752. The fee figures come from Amendment Bylaw 928 (2025), a scanned document read by text recognition.
- Required distance from the house.
- How floor area is measured for the 10 m² test, and whether conditions beyond “unoccupied” apply.
- Whether a site plan is needed for a shed that doesn’t need a permit, the single-side minimum on lots over 1,215 m², and separate flat and pitched roof height limits.
Who to contact
District of Sooke, Building Services: 250-642-1634, building@sooke.ca, 2205 Otter Point Road, Sooke. Official documents used for this page:
- Zoning Bylaw No. 600 (Consolidated)
- Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020 (Consolidated)
- Building Fees Amendment Bylaw 928
- Building and Renovating
- Residential Building Permit Application
Frequently asked questions
Does a small shed need a building permit in Sooke?
Not if it is an unoccupied accessory building with a floor area under 10 m² (108 square feet). At 10 m² or more, or if the building is occupied, a permit is needed.
How close to the property line can a shed be?
In R1 to R3 zones, accessory buildings need 1.2 m (3.9 feet) from side lot lines on lots up to 1,215 m² and 1.5 m (4.9 feet) from the rear lot line. Larger lots use a 3 m combined side setback.
How tall can a shed be in Sooke?
Accessory buildings in R1 to R3 can be up to 2 storeys and 9 m (29.5 feet). The bylaw doesn’t set a separate limit for flat or pitched roofs.
How much does a shed building permit cost in Sooke?
The fee is $100 for the first $1,000 of construction value, plus 1.5% of the value over $1,000 for projects up to $300,000. A separate 0.1% development review fee (minimum $100) applies only when the Fire Department reviews the plans.
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 District of Sooke before building.