Armstrong permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?
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.
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.Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022, s. 3.4(d); A Guide to Building Permits (March 2023) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingan accessory building without plumbing less than 10 square metres in building area that does not create a hazard; accessory residential buildings less than 10 m2 that are sited in |
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| 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.Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022, s. 3.4(g) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingdeck 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; |
| 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.Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022, s. 3.4(d), 7.1(a); A Guide to Building Permits (March 2023) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingan accessory building without plumbing less than 10 square metres in building area constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure; A building permit is required for most types of construction, with a few exceptions. |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), s. 9.1.3, 3.6.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAccessory 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 |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022; Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022, s. 1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), s. 1.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited as “City of Armstrong Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022”. This Bylaw shall be referred to as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024”. |
How it works
Under the Building Bylaw 1903, 2022, 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 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
- Look up your zone and its accessory building rules in the Zoning Bylaw (see the zoning lookup answer).
- Prepare a site plan, floor and foundation plans, elevations and sections; the City's sample sheet shows what it expects.
- Submit Form A and the complete application package to City Hall with payment.
- 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
The same question in other places
Spallumcheen · Enderby · Vernon · Coldstream · Lumby · Lake Country
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong (read 2026-11-05)
- Info Sheet - Sample Accessory Building Plan Requirements, City of Armstrong (read 2026-11-05)
- A Guide to Building Permits (March 2023), City of Armstrong (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Permit Application Checklist, City of Armstrong (read 2026-11-05)
- Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1916, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1947, 2026), City of Armstrong (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.