Building a backyard shed in Victoria, BC is mostly a question of size and location. The City of Victoria doesn’t require a building permit for an accessory building under 10 m² (108 square feet), but the shed still has to follow the zoning rules for height, setbacks and placement. This page sets out what the City’s bylaws say for single-family lots, with the clause numbers so each figure can be checked.
Quick answer: do you need a permit for a shed in Victoria?
- No building permit is needed for an accessory building with a building area under 10 m² (108 square feet).
- A shed of 10 m² or more needs a building permit, and the maximum size under zoning is 37 m² (398 square feet).
- Permit or not, the shed must sit in the rear yard, at least 0.6 m (2 feet) from the lot lines and 2.4 m (7.9 feet) from the house.
| Bylaws | Zoning Regulation Bylaw 80-159, Schedule F (Accessory Building Regulations). Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113. |
|---|---|
| Permit exemption | Bylaw 17-113, s.5(2)(f): the bylaw doesn’t apply to “accessory buildings with a building area of less than 10 square meters.” |
| How area is measured | The bylaw uses “building area” as defined in the BC Building Code (Bylaw 17-113, s.2(1)). Schedule F s.2(a) measures the size cap by floor area of all levels combined. |
| Use limits | Schedule F, s.6(a): no dwelling use, no shower, bath or toilet, and no more than one plumbing fixture that needs drainage (unless the zone allows a dwelling). |
| Maximum size | 37 m² (398 square feet) of floor area (Schedule F, s.2(a)). Rear yard coverage is capped at 25% (s.5(b)). Overall zone site coverage also applies (s.5(a)). |
| Maximum height | 3.5 m (11.5 feet) (Schedule F, s.3(a)). Roof decks aren’t permitted (s.3(b)). Schedule F gives one height for all roof types. |
| Rear setback | 0.6 m (2 feet) (Schedule F, s.4(a)). |
| Interior side setback | 0.6 m (2 feet) (Schedule F, s.4(b)). |
| Corner lot (flanking street) setback | 3.5 m (11.5 feet), or the minimum front setback of the adjoining lots, whichever is greater (Schedule F, s.4(c)). |
| Front yard | Not allowed. Accessory buildings must be located in the rear yard (Schedule F, s.1). |
| Separation from the house | 2.4 m (7.9 feet) (Schedule F, s.4(d)). Eaves may project up to 0.75 m (2.5 feet) into a setback (s.4(e)). |
| Zones covered | Schedule F applies in zones that refer to it, such as R1-B (Part 1.2, s.1.2.1(d)). The RS-1 zone (Part 1.42, s.8) has its own rules: 3 m (10 feet) maximum height, 30% of the rear yard maximum, 2.4 m (7.9 feet) from the house. Panhandle lots follow Schedule H. Other zones weren’t checked. |
| Permit fee (if needed) | $100 application fee plus 1.40% of the cost of construction (Bylaw 17-113, Schedule A). No separate shed fee is published. |
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. “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 a city may be stricter. The 10 m² figure on this page comes from the City of Victoria’s own Bylaw 17-113, s.5(2)(f), which doesn’t repeat the hazard wording, and the size, height and setback figures come from the City’s Zoning Regulation Bylaw.
Rules that apply even without a building permit
- Zoning: height, setbacks, rear-yard-only placement and coverage limits apply to every shed, permit or not.
- Electrical: wiring a shed needs an electrical permit from Technical Safety BC.
- Use: a shed can’t be used as a dwelling, and it can’t have a shower, bath or toilet (Schedule F, s.6). Using it as an office or bedroom raises separate Building Code and zoning issues.
- Easements and rights-of-way: sheds can’t be built over utility easements or covenants registered on title.
- Safety: under Bylaw 17-113, s.21(2), a building official can order unsafe work stopped even when no permit is required.
What isn’t confirmed
- The exact City wording for how “building area” is measured isn’t set out in the bylaws reviewed.
- How height is measured on a pitched roof isn’t stated in Schedule F.
- Whether the City wants a site plan or zoning check for a shed that doesn’t need a permit isn’t published.
- For RS-1 lots, the rear and side setbacks for sheds weren’t found, and a lane setback wasn’t found for any zone.
- Zones other than R1-B and RS-1 weren’t checked, and the City publishes no shed-specific fee or handout.
Who to contact
City of Victoria Permits and Inspections: 250-361-0344. Development Services (zoning questions): 250-361-0536. Official documents used:
- Schedule F: Accessory Building Regulations
- Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113
- R1-B Zone, Single Family Dwelling District
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed be in Victoria without a permit?
Under 10 m² (108 square feet) of building area. At 10 m² or more, a building permit is required.
Can a shed go in the front yard in Victoria?
No. Schedule F, s.1 says accessory buildings must be located in the rear yard.
How close to the fence can a shed be?
In zones that use Schedule F, 0.6 m (2 feet) from the rear and interior side lot lines. On a corner lot, the street side needs at least 3.5 m (11.5 feet). RS-1 lots follow different rules, so they need a check with the City.
Can a Victoria shed have a bathroom?
Not under Schedule F, s.6. It bars showers, baths and toilets, and allows only one drained plumbing fixture, unless the zone expressly permits a dwelling use.
For the province-wide picture, 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 Victoria before building.