Surrey accessory building site plan showing a proposed backyard building, rear lane, existing dwelling, property lines, setbacks, driveway access and site coverage — Example Surrey accessory building site plan showing a proposed backyard building, existing house, rear lane, property boundaries, setbacks, driveway, landscaping and site-coverage calculations. The address, zoning, dimensions and coverage assumptions are illustrative and must be verified for the actual property.

Surrey Accessory Building Site Plan for Permit: Lane Access, Setbacks and Site Coverage

A detached accessory building can provide valuable storage, workshop space, covered parking or room for household equipment. Before construction starts, however, the proposed building must fit within Surrey’s zoning rules, building-permit requirements, lot coverage, drainage design, tree-protection requirements and registered property restrictions.

A clear Surrey accessory building site plan shows the proposed building in relation to the legal property boundaries, existing house, rear lane, driveway, trees, easements and drainage features. It also provides the dimensions needed to review setbacks, site coverage, building separation and access.

Preparing the plan before ordering materials or pouring concrete can reveal zoning and construction problems while the building can still be moved or redesigned.

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Does an Accessory Building Need a Permit in Surrey?

Surrey normally requires a building permit for a new residential garage or accessory building.^[1]

The proposed building in the featured image measures 6.00 m by 4.00 m, giving it an area of 24 m². It requires a building permit.

The permit process allows the City to review:

zoning and permitted use;
building location and setbacks;
site coverage;
separation from the house;
building height;
foundation and structural construction;
fire-safety requirements;
lane and driveway access;
trees and landscaping;
grading and drainage;
registered easements and covenants; and
the current BC Building Code.

Do not begin excavation or foundation work before the permit is issued. A contractor’s quotation, online shed plan or preliminary site sketch is not permission to build.

When Can a Small Storage Shed Be Built Without a Permit?

Surrey provides a limited exemption for some small storage sheds.

A storage shed may be constructed without a building permit when it:

has an area of 10 m² or less;
is used for storage;
is at least 1.5 m from neighbouring property lines;
is at least 3.0 m from other buildings on the property; and
does not create a hazard.^[2]

The structure must still comply with Zoning By-law 12000 for:

use;
density;
lot coverage;
setbacks;
height;
easements;
covenants; and
other applicable requirements.

Separate electrical and plumbing permits may also be required.

What Counts as an Accessory Building?

Surrey’s Zoning By-law defines an accessory building as a subordinate detached building used for the better enjoyment of the principal building on the same lot.^[3]

Examples can include:

storage sheds;
workshops;
detached garages;
equipment buildings;
pool-equipment buildings;
garden structures;
small studios without residential occupancy; and
other secondary buildings permitted by the property’s zone.

A normal accessory building is not the same as a coach house or garden suite. A coach house or garden suite contains an independent dwelling unit and follows separate residential, parking, servicing, size and permit requirements.

What Is a Surrey Accessory Building Site Plan?

A site plan is a scaled overhead drawing of the property. It shows where the proposed building will be located and how the project relates to existing site conditions.

A useful accessory-building site plan commonly shows:

the complete municipal address;
legal lot and plan information;
all property boundaries and dimensions;
the current zoning designation;
the existing dwelling;
existing garages, sheds and other accessory buildings;
the proposed accessory building;
overall building dimensions;
setbacks to every relevant property line;
distance to the principal dwelling;
rear lane and street frontage;
driveways and parking areas;
decks, patios and walkways;
trees and tree-protection areas;
easements and rights-of-way;
existing and proposed grades;
drainage direction;
a north arrow;
drawing scale; and
site-coverage calculations.

The site plan explains where the building will be constructed. Foundation plans, floor plans, elevations, sections and construction details explain how it will be built.

Important Corrections to the Featured Image

The featured image is an educational example. It is not a legal survey, approved building permit or property-specific zoning analysis.

Verify the current zoning designation

The image identifies the sample property as RF.

The July 13, 2026 consolidated Zoning By-law maps the former Single Family Residential Zone, or RF, to the newer R3 Urban Residential Zone. The actual current zoning must still be confirmed through Surrey’s COSMOS mapping and property-information tools.^[3]^[4]

Replace the image label with:

“Current zoning: verify through City of Surrey COSMOS and review all applicable zone, covenant and development-permit requirements.”

Correct the side-yard minimum

The proposed building is 24 m², so it falls into the category for accessory buildings and structures exceeding 10 m².

For an R3 interior lot with lane access, the current general side-yard setback is 1.0 m.^[3]

The image shows a proposed 1.20 m side setback, which exceeds that general minimum. The callout should read:

“General R3 side setback: 1.0 m; proposed: 1.20 m. Verify the current property zone and registered restrictions.”

Correct the rear-lane setback

The R3 table generally requires a 1.20 m rear setback for an accessory building over 10 m² on an interior lane-access lot.

The image’s proposed 1.50 m setback is conservative and generally exceeds the R3 minimum. However, the separate “lane setback minimum 3.0 m” label is misleading.

Replace it with:

“Rear property line adjoining lane: general R3 setback 1.20 m; proposed 1.50 m. Vehicle access and driveway requirements must be assessed separately.”

Add the building-separation dimension

R3 generally requires 5.0 m between the dwelling and:

an accessory building over 10 m² that exceeds 2.4 m in height; and
a detached garage or carport regardless of its height.^[3]

The featured image does not dimension the separation between the house or deck and proposed building. That measurement should be added.

Clarify the site-coverage calculation

The sample lot has an area of 464.5 m². In R3, the maximum coverage for all buildings and structures on a lot of 560 m² or less containing a single-family dwelling—with or without a secondary suite—is generally 40%.^[3]

The image calculates:

existing dwelling: 150 m²;
proposed accessory building: 24 m²;
total counted area: 174 m²; and
site coverage: approximately 37.5%.

However, it excludes the 20 m² uncovered deck.

Because the bylaw applies the maximum to all buildings and structures, do not automatically exclude the deck. Its treatment should be confirmed using its height, construction and the current bylaw definitions.

If the full 20 m² deck were included, the illustrated total would become approximately 41.8%, exceeding the general 40% R3 limit for the sample lot.

Current R3 Setbacks for the Illustrated Building

For an accessory building exceeding 10 m² on an R3 lot, the general setbacks are:

Location	Interior lot with lane access	Interior lot without lane access
Front yard	Not permitted	Not permitted
Rear yard	1.20 m	1.80 m
Side yard	1.00 m	1.00 m
Street side yard on a corner lot	3.60 m	3.60 m

These are general R3 provisions. A different zone, development variance, statutory building scheme, covenant, floodplain requirement or environmental setback can change the result.

Setbacks for Buildings of 10 m² or Less

The R3 zoning table permits different setbacks for accessory structures of 10 m² or less:

front-yard placement remains restricted;
the general rear setback may be zero;
the general side setback may be zero; and
a corner-lot street-side setback applies.^[3]

That zoning allowance does not automatically qualify the shed for the building-permit exemption.

Surrey’s separate permit-exemption guidance requires a permit-exempt storage shed to remain:

at least 1.5 m from neighbouring property lines; and
at least 3.0 m from other buildings.

A small shed placed closer than those distances may therefore comply with a zoning setback yet fail the City’s stated conditions for construction without a building permit.

Accessory Building Height

In the current R3 zone, an accessory building must generally not exceed 4.0 m in height.

The maximum may be increased to 5.0 m when the roof slope and construction materials match those of the principal building.^[3]

The permit drawings should show:

existing grade;
finished grade;
finished floor or slab elevation;
wall height;
eaves height;
roof slope;
highest roof point; and
the zoning height calculation.

Catalogue dimensions should not be used without checking how the completed foundation, floor and roof affect the final height.

Distance From the Existing House

Building separation is a different measurement from the rear and side setbacks.

For an R3 accessory building over 10 m², a 5.0 m separation is generally required when the building exceeds 2.4 m in height.

A detached garage or carport generally requires 5.0 m separation regardless of height.

The measurement should be shown between the closest portions of the buildings, including relevant projections.

The site plan should also consider:

roof overhangs;
existing decks and steps;
door swings;
maintenance access;
fire separation;
foundation excavation;
roof drainage; and
the route between the house and accessory building.

Lane Access Does Not Automatically Mean Garage Access

A public lane provides a possible access route, but a homeowner should not assume that every proposed garage door, parking pad or driveway connection will be approved.

Surrey says driveways are commonly approved through a subdivision or building permit. The City also gives preference to lane or local-road access when alternatives to a higher-classification road are available.^[6]

A lane-access design may need to show:

the lane width;
the rear property line;
garage-door location;
driveway or apron width;
turning and manoeuvring space;
parking-space dimensions;
utility poles and overhead wires;
catch basins and drainage channels;
lane grades;
fences and gates;
garbage and recycling access; and
visibility when entering the lane.

If the accessory building is only a storage shed or workshop without vehicle access, the lane should still be shown, but a garage-style driveway may not be required.

Street and Lane Access on the Same Property

The featured image shows a front driveway from the public street while the proposed building is beside a rear lane.

The site plan should make clear whether:

the accessory building is accessed only by foot;
the existing front driveway remains unchanged;
a new rear-lane vehicle access is proposed;
a garage door faces the lane;
new paving is proposed in the rear yard; or
the lane is shown only as a property-context feature.

Ambiguous access drawings can delay review because the City cannot determine whether the proposal includes a storage building, workshop, garage or parking area.

Understanding Site Coverage

Site coverage is the percentage of the lot occupied by buildings and structures.

The basic calculation is:

Total qualifying covered area ÷ lot area × 100.

For a current R3 property with a single-family dwelling or secondary suite, maximum coverage is generally:

Lot area	Maximum coverage
560 m² or less	40%
Over 560 m² and up to 1,262 m²	40%, reduced by 2% for each additional 93 m² until 25% is reached
Over 1,262 m²	25%

Different maximums apply to properties containing:

a coach house;
a garden suite;
a duplex;
a houseplex; or
another permitted residential configuration.

What Should Be Included in the Coverage Calculation?

The R3 maximum applies to all buildings and structures. A complete calculation may therefore need to review:

the principal dwelling;
attached garages;
detached garages;
sheds and workshops;
coach houses and garden suites;
covered porches;
covered patios;
gazebos;
decks, depending on their design;
roofed walkways; and
other structures included by the bylaw definition.

The drawing should provide a line-by-line breakdown rather than showing only the final percentage.

Required Permit Documents

Surrey’s accessory-building permit page identifies the following general application documents:

Building Permit Application Form;
Owner Authorization Form when the applicant is not the owner;
a current title search, where applicable;
site plan;
foundation plan;
floor plan;
roof plan;
cross-sections;
construction details;
elevation drawings;
a current topographical survey, where applicable; and
engineered truss information, where applicable.^[1]

A Registered Professional may need to sign and seal parts of the submission depending on the building design, foundation, soil, retaining walls or other structural conditions.

Site-Plan Drawing Standards

The current City permit page requires drawings to be legible and suitable for scanning.

Surrey states that:

minimum sheet size is 11 × 17 inches;
24 × 36-inch sheets are preferred;
blueprint paper, vellum and graph paper are not accepted;
pencil drawings are not accepted;
reversed plans are not accepted;
grade elevations must be metric; and
grade elevations must use the Geodetic Survey of Canada datum.^[1]

Legal Boundaries and Survey Information

Setbacks must be measured from the legal property boundaries.

Do not automatically treat the following as the property line:

an existing fence;
a hedge;
a retaining wall;
the edge of a driveway;
a drainage swale;
the edge of the lawn; or
an approximate online cadastral line.

Surrey notes that a registered British Columbia land surveyor may be needed to locate property lines.^[2]

Reliable information may come from:

a current topographical survey;
a building-location certificate;
a registered legal plan;
verified survey monuments;
an original approved site plan; or
measurements completed by a BC land surveyor.

Read Site Plan vs Survey in Canada: What’s the Difference for Permits? before relying on approximate mapping for a building close to a boundary.

Review the Property Title

The City may require a current title search because registered charges can affect what may be built.

Title restrictions can include:

statutory rights-of-way;
utility easements;
restrictive covenants;
building schemes;
geotechnical covenants;
floodplain covenants;
access agreements;
drainage rights-of-way; and
design-control requirements.

Showing a registered area on the plan does not mean construction within it is permitted.

Drainage and Lot Grading

An accessory building adds roof area and often adds a foundation, slab, walkway or driveway. These surfaces change the way rainwater moves across the property.

Surrey lot-grading plans can identify:

property elevations;
swales;
overland-flow directions;
grading ridgelines;
lawn basins;
storm connections; and
other subdivision drainage controls.^[9]

The accessory building should not:

block an approved swale;
cover a lawn basin;
redirect water toward the house;
send runoff onto neighbouring property;
trap water between the building and fence;
create erosion beside the lane; or
interfere with storm infrastructure.

What drainage information should appear?

existing and proposed elevations;
finished-floor or slab elevation;
roof-drainage direction;
gutters and downspouts;
surface-flow arrows;
swales and lawn basins;
retaining walls;
lane elevation;
driveway slope; and
the proposed stormwater-disposal arrangement.

Surrey’s sustainable-drainage guidance emphasizes maintaining or improving the runoff characteristics of a site rather than increasing harmful runoff from development.^[10]

Trees and Construction

Trees can affect the location of the accessory building, foundation and access route.

Surrey’s tree requirements for building sites say the site plan may need to show:

protected trees on the property;
trees on neighbouring property that could be affected;
City trees;
tree-protection zones;
water, sanitary and storm services;
distances between trees and services;
driveways; and
construction limits.^[7]

An arborist may be required when work occurs within a protected tree’s tree-protection zone.

Construction can affect trees through:

foundation excavation;
root cutting;
grade changes;
soil compaction;
material storage;
vehicle access;
utility trenching; and
roof or wall conflicts with branches.

Electrical and Plumbing Work

A separate electrical permit may be required when the accessory building includes more than limited wiring.

Electrical planning may include:

lighting;
receptacles;
heating equipment;
workshop tools;
electric-vehicle charging;
underground conduit;
overhead service clearance; and
panel capacity.

Plumbing permits may be required for:

sinks;
floor drains;
water supply;
sanitary connections;
storm connections; or
other regulated plumbing work.

Trade permits are generally obtained after the building permit has been issued.

Accessory Building Use

The proposed use should be identified clearly on the plans.

Possible uses include:

household storage;
private workshop;
vehicle parking;
garden equipment storage;
pool equipment;
non-habitable hobby space; or
another permitted accessory use.

A standard accessory building should not quietly become:

an unapproved dwelling unit;
a bedroom;
a rental suite;
commercial warehouse space;
an industrial workshop; or
a use that creates excessive noise, traffic or parking.

A proposed coach house or garden suite must use the City’s separate accessory-dwelling-unit process.

Development Variance Permits

A proposal that does not satisfy the current zoning rules may require a Development Variance Permit.

Possible variance requests include:

a reduced rear setback;
a reduced side setback;
greater building height;
greater site coverage;
reduced separation from the house; or
another numerical zoning variation.

Surrey has a delegated Development Variance Permit process for certain eligible requests, but not every regulation can be varied through that pathway.^[11]

Approval is not guaranteed. The simplest solution is often to move, resize or redesign the building so it complies without a variance.

Building Inspections

The issued building permit identifies the required inspections.

Depending on the construction, Surrey’s inspection sequence may include:

footings;
foundation;
subgrade;
sheathing;
framing;
insulation;
electrical and plumbing inspections; and
final building approval.^[8]

The approved permit drawings must remain available on site for inspections.

Changes made during construction may require a permit revision before the work is concealed or finalized.

Common Surrey Accessory Building Site Plan Mistakes

Using the former RF label without checking the current zone.
Showing a universal three-metre lane setback.
Using 1.20 m as the R3 side-yard minimum instead of 1.00 m.
Failing to show the distance between the house and accessory building.
Ignoring the five-metre separation rule for a tall accessory building or detached garage.
Excluding a deck from site coverage without verification.
Calculating coverage using an approximate lot area.
Measuring setbacks from a fence rather than the legal property line.
Failing to show the rear lane.
Failing to clarify whether vehicle access is proposed.
Leaving the garage door or driveway apron off the drawing.
Building over a statutory right-of-way.
Ignoring a restrictive covenant or building scheme.
Blocking a drainage swale or lawn basin.
Directing roof runoff toward neighbouring property.
Leaving protected trees off the site plan.
Failing to obtain electrical or plumbing permits.
Starting construction before the building permit is issued.

Typical Surrey Accessory Building Approval Process

Confirm the legal property boundaries.
Check the current zoning through COSMOS.
Review the title, easements, covenants and building scheme.
Confirm the proposed use, size and height.
Measure rear, side and building-separation distances.
Review lane and driveway access.
Calculate site coverage.
Review lot grading, drainage and tree constraints.
Prepare the site plan and construction drawings.
Obtain professional engineering or arborist information where required.
Submit the building-permit application.
Respond to zoning, building, engineering and tree-review comments.
Receive the issued permit before construction begins.
Complete the required inspections.
Obtain final building approval.

How Our Surrey Accessory Building Site Plan Service Works

Send the property address. We review available property and mapping information.
Provide the building details. Include the proposed dimensions, height, use and access arrangement.
Upload available documents. A survey, title plan, contractor drawing, lot-grading plan or City comment can improve the drawing.
We prepare the site plan. The plan can show property lines, the dwelling, proposed building, lane, setbacks, driveway, trees, easements, drainage and coverage.
Review the draft. Confirm all supplied measurements and project details before permit submission.

Related SitePlans.ca guides:

Order a Surrey Accessory Building Site Plan

Need a clear permit plan showing the proposed building, property lines, rear lane, setbacks, access, trees, drainage and site coverage?

Send us the property address, proposed dimensions and any available survey, title plan, contractor drawing, lot-grading plan or City comments.

Order Your Site Plan

SitePlans.ca prepares residential drafting plans using customer-supplied information and available property sources. Our drawings are not certified legal surveys, structural engineering designs, arborist reports, drainage designs, zoning opinions or guarantees of permit approval. A BC land surveyor, registered professional, arborist or other qualified consultant may be required.

Surrey Accessory Building FAQs

Does an accessory building require a permit in Surrey?

Usually yes. Surrey requires building permits for new residential garages and accessory buildings, subject to a limited exemption for qualifying storage sheds of 10 m² or less.

Does the 24 m² building in the image require a permit?

Yes. It is larger than the small-shed exemption threshold.

What is the current zoning for a former RF property?

The 2026 consolidated bylaw maps the former RF zone to R3 Urban Residential, but the actual property zoning must be checked through COSMOS.

What is the rear setback on an R3 lane-access lot?

An accessory building over 10 m² generally requires a 1.20 m rear setback on an interior R3 lot with lane access.

Is there a separate three-metre lane setback?

Not as a universal R3 accessory-building rule. The rear property line adjoining the lane generally uses the applicable rear-yard setback. Vehicle access and driveway requirements are reviewed separately.

What is the side setback?

The general R3 side setback for an accessory building over 10 m² is 1.00 m.

How far must the building be from the house?

A five-metre separation generally applies when an accessory building over 10 m² exceeds 2.4 m in height. A detached garage or carport generally requires five metres regardless of height.

How high can the accessory building be?

The general R3 maximum is four metres. It may increase to five metres when the roof slope and construction materials match the principal building.

What is the maximum site coverage?

For a single-family dwelling or secondary suite on an R3 lot of 560 m² or less, the general maximum is 40%.

Is the image’s 37.5% calculation compliant?

It appears below 40% only because the uncovered deck was excluded. The deck’s treatment must be verified. Including the full 20 m² deck would produce approximately 41.8% coverage.

Does an uncovered deck count toward coverage?

Do not assume it is excluded. The current bylaw applies coverage to all buildings and structures, and the deck’s design and height should be reviewed.

Can the building be placed in the front yard?

No. R3 generally does not permit an accessory building over 10 m² in the front yard.

Can I use the lane for vehicle access?

Potentially. Garage-door placement, driveway width, manoeuvring space, lane conditions and City approval must be considered.

Can a fence be used as the property line?

Not reliably. A fence may be offset from the legal boundary. Survey information may be needed.

Do easements need to appear on the plan?

Yes. The title and site plan should identify registered rights-of-way and other restrictions affecting the proposed location.

Does the plan need drainage information?

Yes. Existing swales, overland-flow directions, grading features and proposed roof runoff should be shown where relevant.

Do trees need to be shown?

Protected trees and other trees that may be affected by construction may need to appear on the site plan and arborist documentation.

Can the building contain a bedroom or rental suite?

Not as an ordinary accessory building. A residential coach house or garden suite follows a separate approval process.

Can the plan be revised after City comments?

Yes. It can be updated using corrected measurements, survey information, zoning comments, tree requirements or a revised building design.

Official Sources

Surrey’s zoning, building, tree, drainage and access requirements can change. Property-specific zoning, land-use contracts, statutory rights-of-way, restrictive covenants, floodplain controls, watercourse setbacks and development-permit requirements can change the result. Confirm current requirements with the City of Surrey before construction begins.