BuildRules/Richmond Hill/Shed / accessory structure

Richmond Hill building permit guide

Does a shed need a permit in Richmond Hill?

Learn how Richmond Hill distinguishes a one-storey storage shed of 15 m² or less from accessory buildings needing a permit.

2 min readLast verified Oct 13, 2026
The short answerConditional

Richmond Hill lists a one-storey storage shed of 15 m² or less with no plumbing among projects that do not require a building permit; zoning still applies.

This is a specific exemption for qualifying storage sheds, not every outbuilding, dwelling, studio or garage.

Check this for your address See the preparation checklist
BUILDRULES / RICHMOND HILL

Share Richmond Hill guidance

Send the answer with its source and review date. No property address is included.

Richmond Hill / Shed / accessory structure

Richmond Hill lists a one-storey storage shed of 15 m² or less with no plumbing among projects that do not require a building permit; zoning still applies.

City of Richmond Hill · BuildRules reviewed 2026-10-13

Know what matters

Know what applies to your project.

Check the conditions below before you finalize the scope. Every answer connects to an official source.

Storage shed sizeA qualifying one-storey shed at 15 m² or less can be exemptConditional

The City's exemption applies to one-storey storage sheds of 15 m² or less without plumbing.

Source · City of Richmond Hill

Building Permits · Decks over 600 mm, accessory storage shed exemptions, and zoning

Verified Oct 13, 2026Open official source
Plumbing and useDo not apply storage exemption without checkingConditional

A shed with plumbing or a non-storage intended use needs separate permit confirmation.

Source · City of Richmond Hill

Building Permits · Decks over 600 mm, accessory storage shed exemptions, and zoning

Verified Oct 13, 2026Open official source
ZoningStill applies without a building permitInfo

Check local setbacks, height, placement and lot coverage for the specific property.

Source · City of Richmond Hill

Building Permits · Decks over 600 mm, accessory storage shed exemptions, and zoning

Verified Oct 13, 2026Open official source

Make a start

Your preparation checklist

Your preparation progress

0 of 3 ready

Your progress is saved in this browser. Come back whenever you’re ready.

Preparation checklist · Reviewed 2026-10-13

Plan ahead

Fees and timing

TimelineCheck Richmond Hill's current review timeline once a complete application is submitted.
FeesConfirm the applicable Richmond Hill building permit fee from the municipality's current fee schedule.

From reading to doing

Your next steps.

  1. Measure floor area and number of storeys
  2. Confirm it is storage-only without plumbing
  3. Check zoning before purchasing or building

Trace the evidence

Official sources behind this guide.

These are the source documents linked in the rules above. Check the municipal authority for current requirements before submitting a project.

  • City of Richmond Hill

    Building Permits · Decks over 600 mm, accessory storage shed exemptions, and zoning

    Source verified Oct 13, 2026

A little more clarity

Common questions.

Does an exempt Richmond Hill shed bypass zoning?

No. Richmond Hill explicitly notes that zoning still applies to projects without building permits.

Does a shed need a permit in Richmond Hill?

Richmond Hill lists a one-storey storage shed of 15 m² or less with no plumbing among projects that do not require a building permit; zoning still applies.

What should I prepare for shed in Richmond Hill?

Start with Dimensions and intended use; Site layout, setbacks and other existing structures; Applicable City accessory-building application documents if permit needed. Confirm the final submission requirements with Richmond Hill for the actual scope.

Know the zoning terms

The shed may be permit-exempt. The property rules still matter.

Placement, setbacks and lot coverage may still apply even where a shed is exempt from a building permit.

Setback

A setback is the required distance between a building or structure and a property line, street, another feature or another regulated reference point.

Lot coverage

Lot coverage is a zoning measurement describing how much of a lot is occupied by buildings or structures under the applicable municipal rules.

Zoning by-law

A municipal rule set that controls how land and buildings may be used and developed, including matters such as permitted uses, setbacks, height, lot coverage and other site-specific standards.

Same project, different city

See how this rule changes across Ontario.

Compare the source-reviewed answer for this project across every municipality BuildRules currently covers.

Compare shed / accessory structure rules by city

When you need a hand

Choose your next step.

Keep preparing on your own, get a research brief, or ask for professional help.

BuildRules / Preparation briefFree report

Before your first contractor quote

Bring the right questions to the conversation.

Collect the published local guidance, documents to prepare and unresolved property questions in one brief you can send or print.

01 Permit and local-rule guidance02 Documents to prepare03 Questions still to verify
Prepare my free project brief

Email required to receive the brief. Newsletter optional. This is guidance, not municipal approval.

Professional help

Bring the right people into your project.

Need drawings, engineering or a quote? Tell us what you need and we’ll save your request with the project context.

Request project help

A little help with the next step

Move your shed / accessory structure forward.

Tell us what kind of help you need. We’ll save the request with your project and municipality so a relevant provider can respond if a match is available.

A provider match is not guaranteed. Municipal approval stays with the City.

A provider match is not guaranteed. Municipal approval stays with the City.

Keep exploring

Your next useful question.

A connected project guide or a practical next step, picked for this topic.

All project guides
Related project in this city

Does a deck need a building permit in Richmond Hill?

Richmond Hill lists decks more than 600 mm above grade among projects requiring a building permit. Decks also need zoning review.

2 min read