GovHandbook

Abbotsford permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?

Abbotsford, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In the City of Abbotsford, a detached shed or other building under 10 m² does not need a building permit, but it must still follow zoning. A sundeck attached to a house needs a permit at any height, as does enclosing a carport. Larger sheds and garages need one too.

Key facts

ShedsNo building permit for a detached building or structure under 10 m² in plan; it must still follow zoning and all other bylaws. The City's FAQ says a permit is required for an accessory building larger than 10 m².Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018), s. 16(b); https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2021-02/Accessory%20Buildings%20and%20Structures%20FAQ.pdf, Accessory Buildings FAQ (2021) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
a detached Building or Structure having an area, in plan, of less than 10 m2, but such Building or Structure must comply with this Bylaw
A building permit is required to build or place an accessory building or structure if it is larger than 10 m² (107.6 ft²).
DecksA sundeck (an unenclosed deck connected to and partly supported by a dwelling) needs a building permit at any height. A freestanding deck under 0.6 m high with no roof is not a 'Structure' under the bylaw. A taller or roofed freestanding deck is a Structure and needs a permit unless it is under 10 m² in plan.Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018), s. 3 (Sundeck, Structure), s. 28(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
a Sundeck, the enclosure of an area above or below an existing Sundeck, or the enclosure of a carport;
excludes landscaping, fences, and freestanding decks less than 0.6 m in height
Sundeck" means an unenclosed Structure, connected to, and partially supported by, a dwelling
every person must apply for and obtain a Building Permit before commencing the Construction of any Building or Structure
a detached Building or Structure having an area, in plan, of less than 10 m2
Garages and carportsEnclosing a carport needs a building permit. The bylaw has no separate garage rule: a detached garage under 10 m² is exempt; larger buildings, and any construction that changes a building's floor or roof plan, need a permit.Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018), s. 16(b), s. 28(c), (d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
the enclosure of a carport;
any Construction which changes the plan view of any floor of a Building or the roof of the Building
a detached Building or Structure having an area, in plan, of less than 10 m2
Zoning limitsSet by each zone. Example, RS3: accessory building up to 4.5 m high; 6.0 m from the front lot line, 1.0 m from rear and interior side lines, 4.5 m from the exterior side line, 1.5 m from the house; 40% lot coverage for all buildings. An accessory building attached to the house must meet the house's setbacks.Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 350 Urban Residential Zone (RS3), s. 350.3 (RS3); Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.4.1(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Accessory Building or Structure – 4.5 m
Accessory Building or Structure – 6.0 m
Accessory Building or Structure – 1.0 m
Accessory Building or Structure – 4.5 m
a. 40%
it shall be considered a part of the Principal Building and shall comply in all respects with the Setback requirements for
BylawBuilding Bylaw, 2018 (Bylaw No. 2883-2018), s. 16 and 28; Zoning Bylaw, 2014 (Bylaw No. 2400-2014), s. 140 and the zone sections.Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018), title; Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.4.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
City of Abbotsford - Building Bylaw, 2018- - - Search Results | Clear Search | Previous (in doc) | Next (in doc) | Prev Doc | Next Doc | License Bylaw No. 2883-2018 ## Building Bylaw, 2018 Consolidated and printed by authority of the
Accessory Buildings and Structures
Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014

How it works

Under the Building Bylaw, a detached building or structure under 10 m² in plan does not need a building permit, but it must still follow zoning and all other bylaws. The City's 2021 FAQ says a permit is required for an accessory building larger than 10 m². Neither says what happens at exactly 10 m².

  • Sundeck (an unenclosed deck connected to and partly supported by a dwelling): needs a permit at any height.
  • Freestanding deck: under 0.6 m high with no roof, it is not a "structure" under the bylaw. A taller or roofed one needs a permit unless it is under 10 m².
  • Carport: enclosing one needs a permit.
  • Garage: a detached garage under 10 m² is exempt. Larger ones, and any work that changes a building's floor or roof plan, need a permit.

Steps

  1. Check your zone's height, setbacks and lot coverage with Planning Services (604-864-5510), even if no permit is needed.
  2. If a permit is needed, use the New Builds and Additions guide and checklists on the City's Residential permits page.
  3. Apply online and pay the application fee. Do not start until the permit is issued.

Good to know

  • Zoning limits are set by zone. In RS3, for example, an accessory building may be up to 4.5 m high, 6.0 m from the front lot line, 1.0 m from the rear and interior side lines, 4.5 m from the exterior side line and 1.5 m from the house, with 40% lot coverage for all buildings. Other zones differ.
  • An accessory building attached to the house must meet the house's setbacks.
  • Streamside protection, covenants and tree rules can also apply.
  • Work started without a permit adds 50% (if stopped) or 100% (if completed) to the permit fee.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Mission · Township of Langley · Chilliwack · Langley City · Maple Ridge · Pitt Meadows

Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Building Permits, City of Abbotsford (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018), City of Abbotsford (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 350 Urban Residential Zone (RS3) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Residential building permits, City of Abbotsford (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006 (Consolidated), Schedule G Building (read 2026-11-05)
  7. https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2021-02/Accessory%20Buildings%20and%20Structures%20FAQ.pdf (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.