Detached Garage and Shed

Understand your location restrictions

Fill out a zoning request form and submit to the Planning Department to find out the property setbacks from lot edges, waterways and possible hazards to consider.

Prepare a site plan

A site plan should:

• Preferably be drawn on a real property report, plot plan, or graph paper

A site plan must include:

• North arrow
• Property address
• Corresponding streets and avenues
• Dimensions of property lines​
• Location, measurements, building height, and setbacks of proposed and existing buildings and structures to property lines and any water features
• Location of any water features such as creek(s), and/or lake(s)
• Identify applicable caveats, covenants, easements

Site Plan Instructions and Sheet

General design requirements

Homeowners and/or contractors are responsible for ensuring that designs and construction meet applicable codes.

The following items are often overlooked:

General design requirements

• Structures must have standard building door; an overhead vehicle door alone is not adequate.
• Openings in walls are required to meet % of Opening based on limiting distance requirements of BCBC.
• Building height and area meets zoning requirements.
• The BC Building code limits the height of of wood frame walls to 3.6m (12'). Walls over this height require professional design.

Foundation options:

• Structures up to 55 sq m (592 sq ft) may be supported by a concrete slab on grade,
• Structures greater that 55 sq m (592 sq ft) must be supported by:

  • a concrete foundation wall on strip footings placed minimum 1.2m (42”) below grade around the entire perimeter of the building, Engineer-stamped site-specific foundation design for reinforced concrete slab floor-on-ground,

  • Concrete footing and columns with grade beams, or

  • preserved-wood foundation (engineering may be required).

Kits, packages and pre-assembled structures

Permits are required for kits, packages and pre-assembled structures larger than 20 square meters (215 square feet).

Application requirements:

• Site Plan
• Manufacturer package specifications and/or construction guide provided by the product manufacturer.
• Schedule B

Structures with plumbing, gas, or electrical connections

• Floor plan must show location of all plumbing fixtures,
• Electrical and gas permits must be obtained from Technical safety BC,
• All structural, heating and ventilation, plumbing, work must be inspected before installing insulation, drywall, or other coverings.

Custom built structures

Design drawings are required for all custom-built structures.

Design drawings can consist of the Residential Garage Workshop package, or custom design drawings showing

• Plan view
• Section view
• Elevation view
• Engineering (if required)

Design drawings requirements:

• Prepared by a person skilled in technical drawings, drafts person, or professional
• Minimum scale: 1/8"=1'-0" or 1:100; Preferred scale: 3/16"=1'-0" or 1:75
• Metric or imperial units are accepted. Please use units consistently.

Documents required for 'detached garage or shed' permit application

• Application for building / plumbing permit
• Site plan instructions and sheet
• Residential Garage Workshop Package
• Contaminated Site Declaration
• Form A - Owner's Undertaking (if applicable)
• Schedule A (if applicable)
• Schedule B (if applicable)

Fees

Each application is unique. Typical applications involve the following fees:

Building Permit Application fee

Application checklist

• Building Permit Application
• Site Plan
• Design Drawings
• Kits, Packages and Pre-assembled structure include the manufacturer package specifications and/or construction guide.
• Truss Layout (with point loads)
• Engineered drawings (if applicable)
• Title Search
• Owners Undertaking (if required)
• Schedule A and/or Schedule B (if applicable)