Short answer: usually not for a small one, usually yes for a large one — and it depends on your municipality more than on the province.
The 108 square foot threshold
Across most BC municipalities, accessory structures under 108 square feet (10 m²) don't require a building permit. That's the line most local bylaws draw, and it's why greenhouse sizing tends to cluster just underneath it.
An 8'x8' greenhouse is 64 sq ft — comfortably exempt in most jurisdictions. A 10'x16' is 160 sq ft and sits well over the threshold, so it would typically need a permit.
Why "usually" is doing work in that sentence
The exemption is a common bylaw pattern, not a provincial guarantee. Municipalities set their own requirements, and some have additional rules regardless of size:
- Setbacks — how close you can build to a property line, which applies whether or not a permit does
- Lot coverage — total footprint of all structures on the property
- Riparian or ALR restrictions — significant in parts of the Okanagan and Shuswap
- Strata or covenant rules — which have nothing to do with the municipality and are frequently stricter
What to actually do
Call your local building department before ordering. Ask three questions: does a structure of this size need a permit, what are the setback requirements, and does it count toward lot coverage. It's a ten-minute call and it's free.
If you're in a strata, check the bylaws separately. That's the one that catches people out.
Why our greenhouses make this simpler
Both models sit on their own treated lumber base — no poured foundation, no concrete, no excavation. In permit terms that's often the difference between a straightforward application and a complicated one.
Ask us if you're unsure how your site affects things. We've delivered across the Okanagan and Shuswap and have seen most of the variations.
