Calgary Shed Site Plan for Permit: Setbacks & Coverage

A backyard shed can provide useful storage for bicycles, garden equipment, tools, seasonal furniture, and household items. Before ordering the shed or preparing its foundation, Calgary homeowners should confirm that the proposed size and location comply with the property’s land-use rules.

A clear Calgary shed site plan for permit shows where the shed will sit in relation to the property lines, existing house, other buildings, streets, lanes, rights-of-way, access paths, trees, and drainage. It also provides the measurements needed to review setbacks, building height, and parcel coverage.

Does a Shed Need a Permit in Calgary?

It depends mainly on the shed’s area, location, design, and use.

The City of Calgary states that a detached accessory residential building normally requires building-safety approval when it is larger than 10 square metres, or approximately 107 square feet.^[1]

Buildings under 10 square metres typically do not require a building permit. They must still comply with Calgary’s rules for:

• building location
• property-line setbacks
• maximum height
• separation from other structures
• roof drainage
• eaves and projections
• rights-of-way and utility areas
• permitted use

The example image shows a shed measuring 3.0 metres by 4.0 metres, giving it an area of 12 square metres. A shed of that size would normally require building-safety approval.

Calgary currently processes detached garages and accessory residential buildings such as sheds, gazebos, pergolas and carports through its residential improvement permitting process.^[4]

For a wider explanation of provincial permit drawings, see our Alberta site plan services guide.

When Is a Development Permit Also Required?

A building permit reviews construction safety. A development permit, or planning approval, considers whether the shed complies with Calgary’s Land Use Bylaw.

Planning approval may be required when:

• an accessory residential building is discretionary in the property’s land-use district
• the proposed location does not meet a required setback
• the shed is placed within a restricted part of the parcel
• the design exceeds the permitted height
• the combined accessory-building area exceeds the allowed limit
• the property would exceed its maximum parcel coverage
• the applicant is requesting a relaxation from a bylaw rule

Development-permit approval is not automatic. A proposal that does not comply with the standard rules must be reviewed, and there is no guarantee that the requested relaxation will be approved.^[1]

What Is an Accessory Residential Building?

Calgary uses the term accessory residential building for a covered building that is separate from the main house.

Examples include:

• detached garages
• sheds
• workshops
• greenhouses
• detached carports
• gazebos
• pergolas
• arbours
• playhouses

The building must remain accessory to the principal residential use. A standard shed cannot be converted into a dwelling unit merely by adding insulation, electricity, plumbing, or sleeping space.

Calgary’s Land Use Bylaw states that an accessory residential building cannot be used as a dwelling unit unless a backyard suite has been approved. It also cannot have a balcony or rooftop deck.^[2]

Why a Shed Site Plan Matters

A site plan is a scaled view of the property from above. It helps the permit reviewer understand how the proposed shed fits within the entire lot.

A useful plan answers questions such as:

• Where are the property lines?
• How large is the proposed shed?
• How far is it from each boundary?
• Does a side or rear boundary adjoin a street?
• How far is the shed from the house?
• Will the project fit within the parcel-coverage limit?
• Are roof overhangs included?
• Will runoff remain on the property?
• Is there an easement or right-of-way beneath the proposed location?
• How will people and materials reach the shed?

Our site plan checklist for sheds, garages, decks, pools and additions provides a broader list of details commonly needed for residential permit applications.

What Should a Calgary Shed Site Plan Show?

Calgary’s accessory-building permit checklist requires a site plan and identifies the property and building information that should appear on it.^[3]

The drawing should generally include:

• project address
• property lines
• streets, lanes and back alleys
• existing house and other buildings
• proposed shed dimensions
• distances from the shed to property lines
• distance between the shed and house
• locations and sizes of doors and windows
• roof-truss or rafter direction
• driveway, parking pad or apron where relevant
• building and eaveline height
• exterior finish

The City’s drawing standards emphasize showing existing conditions, proposed construction, labels, dimensions, and a consistent drawing scale.^[5]

1. Property Lines and Parcel Dimensions

Property lines are the foundation of the site plan because setbacks are measured from them.

The plan should show:

• front property line
• rear property line
• left and right side property lines
• lot width
• lot depth
• angled or irregular boundaries
• front street
• rear lane or alley, if present
• flanking street on a corner parcel

Do not assume that a fence, hedge, retaining wall, sidewalk, or lawn edge represents the legal boundary. Those features may be offset from the property line.

A current Real Property Report can be a useful starting point. Calgary’s permit checklist specifically notes that an RPR may be used as the site plan when it contains the required information.^[3]

When the exact legal boundary must be established or confirmed, an Alberta Land Surveyor may be required. Our site plan versus survey guide explains the difference between a permit drawing and a legal survey.

2. Existing House and Other Structures

The plan should show the footprint and dimensions of the existing house. Other structures should also be included when they affect placement or coverage.

These may include:

• detached garage
• existing shed
• carport
• covered deck or patio
• gazebo or greenhouse
• stairs and landings
• retaining walls
• driveways and parking pads
• fences and gates

Existing accessory buildings should not be omitted because they are small, movable, old, or believed to be permit-exempt. Their area may still matter when the City reviews the combined accessory-building area or parcel coverage.

3. Proposed Shed Footprint

The proposed shed should be clearly labelled and visually distinguished from existing construction.

The plan should identify:

• outside length and width
• gross floor area
• wall locations
• roof-overhang dimensions
• door and window locations
• foundation, slab or base
• finished-floor elevation where relevant
• intended use

The dimensions should match the manufacturer’s drawings or the construction plans. A shed advertised as “10 by 12” may have different outside wall, roof, eave or foundation dimensions.

Calgary Accessory-Building Setbacks

Calgary’s general Land Use Bylaw rules establish different setbacks depending on whether the affected property line adjoins another private parcel or a public street.^[2]

Ordinary Side and Rear Property Lines

The usual minimum building setback is 0.6 metres from a side or rear property line that does not adjoin a street.

This is measured to the building as defined by the applicable rules. Roof eaves and other projections may have separate clearance requirements.

Property Lines Shared With a Street

The usual minimum setback is 1.2 metres from a side or rear property line shared with a street.

This is particularly important on a corner parcel. A boundary beside the second street is not treated in the same way as an ordinary interior side boundary.

Can a Shed Be Built Directly on a Property Line?

In certain situations, the setback may be reduced to zero where the side or rear property line does not adjoin a street.

The bylaw identifies circumstances that may allow this, including where:

• the accessory building is under 10 square metres
• the affected wall uses maintenance-free materials and the eaves do not project onto the neighbouring parcel
• a qualifying private maintenance and encroachment easement is registered

Zero-setback construction should not be assumed. Building-code requirements, eaves, footings, drainage, fire protection, rights-of-way, maintenance access, and neighbouring-property conditions must all be considered.

The Image’s 1.2-Metre Side Setback

The image shows a proposed 1.2-metre setback from an interior side property line. That distance may be a sensible design choice, but Calgary’s general minimum for an ordinary interior side or rear property line is commonly 0.6 metres.

A larger setback can still be used. It may provide:

• better maintenance access
• more room for eaves and gutters
• improved drainage
• space for a walkway
• additional separation from a fence or neighbour

The plan should show the actual proposed distance rather than automatically copying the smallest permitted setback.

Corner Lots and Flanking Streets

The image shows a 3.0-metre setback beside the street on a corner lot. Calgary’s general accessory-building rule identifies a 1.2-metre setback from a side or rear property line shared with a street, but other district-specific rules, setbacks, visibility requirements, easements or site conditions can produce a different result.

A corner-lot site plan should show:

• both street names
• front property line
• street-side property line
• interior side property line
• rear property line
• sidewalk and boulevard
• driveway access
• required and proposed setbacks

Do not use a generic 3.0-metre flanking setback without checking the property’s land-use district and actual site requirements.

Can a Shed Be Placed in the Front Yard?

Calgary’s general rule states that an accessory residential building must not be located in the actual front setback area.^[2]

This means the applicable location is not determined simply by applying a universal 6.0-metre setback from the front property line. The position of the main house and the definition of the actual front setback area must be considered.

Most residential sheds are therefore placed behind or beside the main house rather than between the house and front property line.

Distance Between the Shed and House

An accessory residential building with an area of 10 square metres or more must normally be at least 1.0 metre from the main residential building.^[2]

The site plan should show the shortest distance between:

• the shed wall and house wall
• roof projections where relevant
• stairs, decks or other nearby structures

The illustrated 12-square-metre shed is above the 10-square-metre threshold, so the separation from the house is an important plan dimension.

Maximum Shed Height in Calgary

The image states that sheds are limited to 4.0 metres. Calgary’s current general limits for an accessory residential building are different.

The building must normally not exceed:^[2]

• 4.6 metres overall, measured from the finished floor
• 3.0 metres at the eaveline, measured from the finished floor
• one storey

A limited attic space may be possible when it:

• is accessed using a removable ladder
• has no windows
• is used only for storage by occupants of the main residence
• does not exceed the bylaw’s permitted attic height

A development permit may be required if the proposed shed exceeds the standard building or eaveline height.

How Shed Height Should Be Shown

The site plan may include a height note, but elevation and cross-section drawings are normally better suited to showing the full building height.

Those drawings may identify:

• finished floor
• existing and proposed grade
• wall height
• eaveline height
• roof peak
• roof slope
• foundation or base
• distance from siding to the edge of the eave

Calgary’s permit checklist asks applicants to label both the height to the point where the wall meets the roof and the height to the roof peak.^[3]

Finished-Floor Height

The finished floor of an accessory residential building other than a private garage must generally not be more than 0.6 metres above grade.^[2]

This matters when the shed will be constructed on:

• a raised wood platform
• concrete piles
• deep gravel fill
• a sloping yard
• a retaining-wall system

Adding fill beneath the shed can affect both the finished-floor elevation and the apparent building height.

Lot Coverage or Parcel Coverage?

Homeowners often use the term lot coverage. Calgary’s Land Use Bylaw generally calls it parcel coverage.

The basic calculation is:

(Total applicable building footprint ÷ parcel area) × 100 = parcel coverage percentage

The calculation may include:

• existing house
• attached garage
• detached garage
• proposed shed
• other accessory buildings
• roofed decks, porches or similar covered structures where applicable

Uncovered decks are generally not included in the same way as roofed structures.

Is the Maximum Coverage Always 45%?

No. The maximum parcel coverage depends on the property’s land-use district and, in some districts, parcel width, parcel size, building type or development density.

Calgary’s current guidance lists examples such as:

• 40% in some low-density districts
• 45% in several residential districts
• 50% or more in certain circumstances
• R-CG coverage that changes as density increases

The 45% figure shown in the image may apply to some properties, but it should not be copied into every Calgary shed plan.^[1]

Before calculating coverage, confirm the property’s current land-use district and the specific parcel-coverage rule that applies to it.

Accessory-Building Area Limit

Parcel coverage is not the only size calculation.

Calgary also limits the total area covered by accessory residential buildings. The combined accessory-building area generally cannot exceed the lesser of:^[2]

• the building coverage of the main residential building
• 75 square metres for each dwelling unit on the parcel

Accessory buildings with a cumulative gross floor area of 10 square metres or less are excluded from that particular calculation.

A property may therefore comply with its overall parcel-coverage percentage but still exceed the separate accessory-building-area limit.

Example Coverage Calculation

Suppose a property contains:

• house footprint: 112 square metres
• roofed deck: 24 square metres
• proposed shed: 12 square metres
• parcel area: 508 square metres

The total applicable building area would be 148 square metres.

Dividing 148 by 508 and multiplying by 100 gives approximately 29.1% parcel coverage.

That calculation only shows the resulting percentage. The applicant must still compare it with the maximum permitted in the property’s current land-use district and check the separate accessory-building-area limit.

Roof Overhangs, Eaves and Soffits

A shed wall may meet the required setback while its eave projects too close to the boundary.

Calgary’s current construction guidance states that:

• eave projections are not permitted within 0.45 metres of a side property line shared with another property, excluding the rain trough
• a non-vented soffit is required for eaves within 1.2 metres of a property line shared with an adjacent property

Buildings of 10 square metres or more constructed close to a property line may also require fire-rated construction.^[1]

The site plan should show the wall footprint and roof projection clearly enough to identify both distances.

Roof Drainage Must Stay on the Property

Calgary’s Land Use Bylaw requires roof drainage from an accessory residential building to be discharged onto the parcel where the building is located.^[2]

The shed should not direct water toward:

• a neighbouring property
• the neighbouring foundation
• a public sidewalk
• an unstable slope
• a retaining wall without suitable drainage
• an area where water will pond beneath the shed

A site plan may show:

• roof-slope direction
• gutters
• downspouts
• surface-drainage arrows
• swales
• permeable landscaped areas

Rights-of-Way and Easements

Calgary properties may contain registered areas that affect shed placement, including:

• utility rights-of-way
• overland drainage rights-of-way
• maintenance access rights-of-way
• access rights-of-way
• other municipal easements

The permit checklist asks for current copies of registered maintenance access rights-of-way where applicable.^[3]

A shed should not be placed over an easement simply because the area appears open. The registered document may restrict permanent construction, foundations, grading, fences or access.

Our guide explaining what to include on a building-permit site plan covers easements, lot lines, existing structures, proposed work, drainage and access in more detail.

Utilities and Safe Excavation

Known utility locations should be considered before setting shed foundations, piles, anchors or concrete slabs.

Potential services include:

• natural gas
• electricity
• water
• sanitary sewer
• storm drainage
• telephone and communications
• underground irrigation

The City directs property owners to contact the appropriate utility-locate service before construction and to investigate clearances from gas and electrical facilities.^[1]

A site plan should not invent underground utility locations. When exact locations are important, reliable utility, survey or municipal information should be obtained.

Backyard and Side-Yard Access

The site plan should show how the shed will be reached during construction and after completion.

Useful access details include:

• side-yard walkway
• gate location and width
• rear-lane access
• route from the house
• stairs or grade changes
• fences and retaining walls
• clearance in front of the shed doors

A shed may comply with setbacks but still be inconvenient if its doors cannot open fully or large items cannot be moved through the gate.

Trees and Landscaping

Trees and mature landscaping can affect the proposed location, access route and excavation area.

A site plan may show:

• tree trunks
• approximate canopy areas
• public boulevard trees
• large hedges
• garden beds
• proposed access for equipment

Where a development permit is required, Calgary’s application materials may also require a Public Tree Disclosure Statement.^[3]

What Other Drawings May Be Required?

The site plan explains where the shed will be built. It does not show every construction detail.

A permit application may also require:

• floor or foundation plan
• roof-framing plan
• door and window locations
• building elevations
• cross-section
• wall, roof and foundation details
• beam calculations or manufacturer’s truss layout where applicable
• engineered design for unusual foundations or structures

The site plan, elevations and cross-section should all show consistent dimensions and building heights.

Electrical and Plumbing Permits

Separate trade permits may be required when the shed includes electrical wiring, lighting, heating, water or plumbing.

A small shed that does not require a building permit may still require a trade permit if regulated electrical or plumbing work is installed.

Confirm the trade-permit requirements before enclosing wiring, plumbing, insulation or wall finishes.

Can a Storage Shed Be Used as Living Space?

A standard shed permit does not authorize the building to be used as a bedroom, rental unit, backyard home or other dwelling.

Habitable use can introduce additional requirements for:

• zoning approval
• building construction
• fire safety
• heating and insulation
• energy efficiency
• plumbing and drainage
• parking and access
• windows and emergency exits

A homeowner considering a backyard suite should use Calgary’s backyard-suite process rather than relying on the accessory-shed rules.

Common Calgary Shed Site Plan Mistakes

Permit review can be delayed when the site plan is incomplete or based on generic measurements.

Common mistakes include:

• assuming every shed under 10 square metres can be placed anywhere
• using a fence as the property line
• showing the shed without length and width dimensions
• omitting one or more setback measurements
• using a universal 1.2-metre side setback
• using a universal 3.0-metre corner-lot setback
• showing a generic 6.0-metre front setback rather than the actual front setback area
• stating that the maximum shed height is 4.0 metres
• forgetting the 3.0-metre eaveline limit
• using 45% as the parcel-coverage limit without checking the land-use district
• omitting existing sheds, garages or roofed decks from calculations
• not checking the separate accessory-building-area limit
• forgetting eaves and roof overhangs
• placing the shed over a right-of-way
• directing roof water toward the neighbouring parcel
• submitting an unclear or unscaled aerial screenshot

Our guide to correcting missing site plan information explains how incomplete property lines, setbacks, dimensions, coverage calculations, access details and labels can be fixed.

When Might You Need a Survey or Engineer?

A standard drafted site plan may be suitable for many shed applications, but additional professional information may be required when:

• the property boundaries are uncertain
• the shed is very close to a lot line
• a zero setback is proposed
• a maintenance easement is involved
• the property has a significant slope
• a retaining wall or substantial fill is proposed
• the foundation is unusual
• the structure exceeds prescriptive building-code limits
• the City requests certified dimensions or elevations

SitePlans.ca can prepare a clear permit-focused site plan, but it does not replace a legal survey, structural engineering, architectural design, utility locate, development approval or building-code review where those services are required.

What Information Should You Provide?

To prepare a Calgary shed site plan, it is helpful to provide:

• property address
• current Real Property Report or survey, if available
• shed length and width
• wall, eaveline and peak height
• roof-overhang dimensions
• manufacturer drawings
• preferred shed location
• distances to property lines, if known
• photos of the backyard and access route
• a sketch or marked aerial image
• existing garage, shed, deck and house dimensions
• known rights-of-way or easements
• drainage and downspout information
• City comments, if the application has already been reviewed

The more accurate the starting information is, the more accurately the completed site plan can represent the project.

Get a Calgary Shed Site Plan for Permit

A good shed site plan shows much more than a small rectangle in the backyard. It explains how the building relates to the property lines, house, other structures, required setbacks, height limits, parcel coverage, access, easements, utilities and drainage.

SitePlans.ca prepares clear residential site plans for Calgary homeowners, contractors, shed suppliers, designers and permit applicants.

For additional preparation guidance, review our complete Canadian site plan requirements checklist, our guide explaining what a building-permit site plan is, or visit our main site plan for permit service page.

Official Sources

1. City of Calgary – Garage, Shed, Gazebo and Similar Structures
2. City of Calgary – Land Use Bylaw 1P2007, Accessory Residential Building Rules
3. City of Calgary – Garage and Accessory Residential Building Permit Checklist
4. City of Calgary – Garage Permitting
5. City of Calgary – Project Drawing Standards
6. City of Calgary – Property Research

Permit requirements, land-use districts, setbacks, parcel coverage, fees and application procedures can change and can vary by property. Confirm the current requirements for the individual Calgary address before purchasing a shed, preparing a permanent foundation or beginning construction.