{"title":"Armstrong permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","question":"Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?","slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/armstrong","name":"Armstrong","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Armstrong","url":"https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Armstrong, a deck needs a building permit if the drop to the ground is 0.6 m or more at any point. A shed or other accessory building needs one unless it has no plumbing, is under 10 m² and creates no hazard. Garages and carports are not named, so the general rule applies.","aliases":["shed permit armstrong","deck permit armstrong bc","garage permit armstrong","accessory building armstrong"],"cost":"Fees depend on the value of the work, starting at a $55 application fee and $165 permit fee for work up to $10,000 (see the building permit fees answer).","how_long":"The application checklist says generally about 3 weeks after a complete application; the 2023 guide says 3 to 4 weeks.","where":[{"type":"email","label":"Building Official","value":"inspector@cityofarmstrong.bc.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall","value":"250-546-3023"}],"documents":["Site plan with property lines, distances, setbacks, zoning information, lot size and building coverage","Floor and foundation plans, elevations and sections, to scale, in metric"],"forms":[{"title":"Sample Accessory Building Plan Requirements (PDF)","url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/172743"},{"title":"Building Bylaw 1903, 2022 (PDF)","url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 1921, 2024 (PDF)","url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Armstrong building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Armstrong building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Armstrong fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/fence-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/spallumcheen","name":"Spallumcheen","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/enderby","name":"Enderby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vernon","name":"Vernon","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coldstream","name":"Coldstream","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lumby","name":"Lumby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-country","name":"Lake Country","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"topic":{"title":"Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},"facts":{"shed":{"label":"Sheds","value":"A shed or other accessory building needs a building permit unless it has no plumbing, is under 10 m² in building area, creates no hazard and is sited as the Zoning Bylaw requires.","short":"No if under 10 m², no plumbing, no hazard","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 3.4(d)","quotes":["an accessory building without plumbing less than 10 square metres in building area","that does not create a hazard;"]},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165846","title":"A Guide to Building Permits (March 2023), City of Armstrong","section":"Guide","quotes":["accessory residential buildings less than 10 m2 that are sited in"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"A deck needs a building permit if the drop from the deck surface to the ground is 0.6 m or more at any point. Lower decks do not, as long as they are sited as the Zoning Bylaw requires.","short":"Yes, if 0.6 m or more above ground","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 3.4(g)","quotes":["deck additions, except a deck where the difference in elevation between the deck","surface and the ground surface at any point is 0.6 metres or more","on the","condition that the deck is sited in accordance with the zoning bylaw;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"Garages and carports are not named in the exemptions. The only accessory-building exemption is for a building under 10 m² with no plumbing, so a larger garage or carport falls under the general rule that constructing a building needs a permit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 3.4(d), 7.1(a)","quotes":["an accessory building without plumbing less than 10 square metres in building area","constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;"]},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165846","title":"A Guide to Building Permits (March 2023), City of Armstrong","section":"Guide","quotes":["A building permit is required for most types of construction, with a few exceptions."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"In R.1 and R.2 zones: up to 2 accessory buildings per lot, 5 m maximum height, not in the front yard; setbacks 6 m front, 1.5 m rear, 1.5 m interior side, 6 m exterior side, plus 3 m from other buildings. Accessory building coverage no more than 14% of the lot or 90 m².","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 9.1.3, 3.6.1","quotes":["Accessory buildings and structures, maximum per lot 2","Accessory Buildings and Structures, maximum height 5m","Front Lot Line Setback, minimum 6m","Rear Lot Line Setback, minimum 1.5m","Exterior Side Lot Line Setback, minimum 6m","building/structure separation","Lot coverage of accessory buildings or structures shall not exceed 14% or","a maximum area of 90m² for accessory buildings in Residential zones.","Accessory buildings or structures are not permitted in a required front"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022; Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as “City of Armstrong Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022”."]},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 1.1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw shall be referred to as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024”."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Building Bylaw 1903, 2022](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102), an accessory building without plumbing, under 10 m² in building area, that creates no hazard does not need a permit. A deck does not need one unless the difference between the deck surface and the ground is 0.6 m or more at any point. Both must still be sited as the [Zoning Bylaw 1921, 2024](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358) requires.\n\nGarages and carports are not named in the exemptions. The only accessory-building exemption is for a building under 10 m² with no plumbing, so a larger garage or carport falls under the general rule that constructing a building needs a permit.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Look up your zone and its accessory building rules in the Zoning Bylaw (see the zoning lookup answer).\n2. Prepare a site plan, floor and foundation plans, elevations and sections; the City's sample sheet shows what it expects.\n3. Submit Form A and the complete application package to City Hall with payment.\n4. Give at least 48 hours' notice (not counting weekends and statutory holidays) before each inspection.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- In R.1 and R.2 zones, the Zoning Bylaw allows up to 2 accessory buildings per lot, 5 m maximum height, and none in the front yard. Setbacks are 6 m front, 1.5 m rear, 1.5 m interior side, 6 m exterior side, and 3 m from other buildings. Accessory building coverage is limited to 14% of the lot or 90 m².\n- Other zones, such as agricultural and commercial, have their own rules. Ask Planning.\n- Gas and electrical permits are separate and come from the Province.","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/172743","title":"Info Sheet - Sample Accessory Building Plan Requirements, City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165846","title":"A Guide to Building Permits (March 2023), City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/197830","title":"Building Permit Application Checklist, City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/172744","title":"Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1916, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1947, 2026), City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}