---
title: Armstrong permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?"
place: Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/armstrong
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Armstrong
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Armstrong permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Armstrong, https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca)  
**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:**
- Email: Building Official, inspector@cityofarmstrong.bc.ca
- Phone: City Hall, 250-546-3023

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022, s. 3.4(d)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102)
  - Official wording: "an accessory building without plumbing less than 10 square metres in building area" … "that does not create a hazard;"
  - Source: [A Guide to Building Permits (March 2023)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165846)
  - Official wording: "accessory residential buildings less than 10 m2 that are sited in"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022, s. 3.4(g)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022, s. 3.4(d), 7.1(a)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102)
  - Official wording: "an accessory building without plumbing less than 10 square metres in building area" … "constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;"
  - Source: [A Guide to Building Permits (March 2023)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165846)
  - Official wording: "A building permit is required for most types of construction, with a few exceptions."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), s. 9.1.3, 3.6.1](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022; Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022, s. 1](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as “City of Armstrong Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022”."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), s. 1.1.1](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw shall be referred to as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under 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.

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.

## Steps

1. Look up your zone and its accessory building rules in the Zoning Bylaw (see the zoning lookup answer).
2. Prepare a site plan, floor and foundation plans, elevations and sections; the City's sample sheet shows what it expects.
3. Submit Form A and the complete application package to City Hall with payment.
4. Give at least 48 hours' notice (not counting weekends and statutory holidays) before each inspection.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Other zones, such as agricultural and commercial, have their own rules. Ask Planning.
- Gas and electrical permits are separate and come from the Province.

## What you'll need

- 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

## Official forms and pages

- [Sample Accessory Building Plan Requirements (PDF)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/172743)
- [Building Bylaw 1903, 2022 (PDF)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1921, 2024 (PDF)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358)

## Related questions

- [Armstrong building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/building-permit.md)
- [Armstrong building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Armstrong fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/fence-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Info Sheet - Sample Accessory Building Plan Requirements, City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/172743) (read 2026-11-05)
- [A Guide to Building Permits (March 2023), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165846) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permit Application Checklist, City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/197830) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1916, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1947, 2026), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/172744) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Armstrong. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/deck-shed-garage-permit/_