Vancouver doesn’t require a building permit for a backyard shed under 10 m² (108 square feet) of building area, as long as the shed doesn’t create a hazard. Zoning rules still apply, though. In the R1-1 district, an accessory building has to sit in the rear yard, stay at or under 4.6 m (15 feet) tall, and fit within a 48 m² (517 square feet) total for all accessory buildings. This page sets out the figures found in the City’s own by-laws and says plainly which ones couldn’t be confirmed.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Vancouver?
- No building permit is needed for a shed under 10 m² (108 square feet) that doesn’t create a hazard.
- At 10 m² or more, a building permit is needed.
- Zoning still applies either way: rear yard only, 4.6 m (15 feet) maximum height, and 48 m² (517 square feet) for all accessory buildings combined.
| Bylaws | Zoning and Development By-law 3575, R1-1 District Schedule cl. 2.2.13 (June 2026); Building By-law 14343, Div. A cl. 1.1.1.1(2)(e); Zoning By-law s. 4.8.1(b) |
|---|---|
| Permit threshold | No building permit under 10 m² (108 square feet) if no hazard is created. 10 m² or more needs a permit. |
| How area is measured | “Building area” is the greatest horizontal area above grade within the outside surface of the exterior walls (By-law 14343 definition). The R1-1 area cap is measured to the extreme outer limits of the building (cl. 2.2.13(c)). |
| Conditions that remove the exemption | Creating a hazard (cl. 1.1.1.1(2)(e)). “Hazard” isn’t defined in the by-law text reviewed. Electrical, plumbing, gas and use as a dwelling: Not confirmed. |
| Development permit or site plan without a building permit | No development permit is needed for an accessory building that’s an outright-approval use (Zoning By-law s. 4.8.1(b)), but the R1-1 rules still apply. Whether the City wants a site plan for an exempt shed: Not confirmed. |
| Maximum accessory area | 48 m² (517 square feet) total for all accessory buildings (cl. 2.2.13(c)) |
| Maximum height | 4.6 m (15 feet) (cl. 2.2.13(a)). No separate flat-roof or pitched-roof figure. |
| Rear setback | At least 0.6 m (2 feet) from the rear property line, and at least 3.1 m (10 feet) from the centre line of a rear or flanking lane (cl. 2.2.13(b)(ii),(iii)) |
| Interior side setback | Not confirmed. Cl. 2.2.13 gives no side-yard distance; it only requires the rear yard. |
| Exterior side setback | Not confirmed for R1-1. Next to a flanking lane, 3.1 m (10 feet) from the lane centre line applies. |
| Front yard | Not allowed. All accessory buildings must be in the rear yard (cl. 2.2.13(b)(i)). |
| Separation from the house | Not confirmed. Cl. 2.2.13 gives no separation distance. |
| Zones covered | R1-1 District only (June 2026 schedule). Other districts such as RT, RM and FSD have their own schedules and weren’t reviewed. |
| Permit fee | Not confirmed for a shed building permit. The 2026 fee schedule lists development permit fees only ($785 for an accessory building under 60 m², and only if a development permit is needed). |
What the BC Building Code says
BCBC 2024 Division A 1.1.1.1(2)(e) says the Code doesn’t apply to accessory buildings less than 10 m² in building area that don’t create a hazard, and because “hazard” isn’t defined, the local building official decides. Where a city’s own documents are silent, the provincial rule is the default, but a city may be stricter; on this page the permit figure comes from Vancouver’s own Building By-law 14343 (which repeats that exemption), and the size, height and setback figures come from the City’s Zoning and Development By-law.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: height, location and total accessory area limits apply to every shed, permit or not.
- Electrical: wiring a shed can need a separate permit through Technical Safety BC.
- Use as an office or bedroom: a building used for living, sleeping or regular work is treated differently from a storage shed and can need a permit.
- Easements and rights-of-way: a shed can’t sit on a utility easement or right-of-way, so check the title for one before building.
What isn’t confirmed
- How far a shed must sit from the side property lines in R1-1.
- The distance required from a side street (exterior side yard) and from the house.
- What counts as a “hazard,” and the rules for electrical or plumbing in an exempt shed.
- The building permit fee for a small accessory building.
- Whether the City wants a site plan for an exempt shed, and the main building department phone number.
- Rules for any zone other than R1-1.
Who to contact
The City’s contact page lists no phone number for building questions (not confirmed). The Development and Building Services Centre is at 515 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, according to the City’s permit page. Official documents used:
- R1-1 District Schedule (PDF)
- Building By-law 14343 (PDF)
- Zoning and Development By-law Section 4 (PDF)
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed be in Vancouver without a permit?
Under 10 m² (108 square feet) of building area, provided it doesn’t create a hazard (Building By-law 14343, Div. A 1.1.1.1(2)(e)).
How tall can a backyard shed be in Vancouver?
In the R1-1 district, accessory buildings can be up to 4.6 m (15 feet) tall (cl. 2.2.13(a)).
Can a shed go in the front yard in Vancouver?
No. In R1-1, accessory buildings have to be in the rear yard (cl. 2.2.13(b)(i)).
How close to the back fence can a shed be?
At least 0.6 m (2 feet) from the rear property line, and at least 3.1 m (10 feet) from a lane’s centre line if the lot backs onto a lane (cl. 2.2.13(b)).
For province-wide context, see Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit in BC and Shed Rules by City.
The figures on this page are a general guide, checked 26 October 2026. Confirm them with the City of Vancouver before building.