Belcarra permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?
Short answer
In Belcarra a building permit is needed for most decks, garages and carports. Only an accessory building under 10 m² on a parcel zoned for simple buildings is exempt, if it meets zoning setbacks.
Key facts
| Sheds | An accessory building with a floor area under 10 m² on a parcel zoned for simple buildings is outside the Building Bylaw if it meets zoning lot line setbacks, so a permit is needed for larger ones.Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 14(2); Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 76(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingan accessory building with a floor area less than 10 square metres, a trellis, an arbour, a retaining structure less than 1.22 metres height before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure |
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| Decks | No height threshold is stated. A permit is needed before constructing, repairing or altering any building or structure (s. 76). Outside the bylaw: accessory buildings under 10 m², trellises, arbours and retaining structures under 1.22 m that meet setbacks; replacing deck membranes.Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), ss. 76(1), 14(2), 14(6) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingbefore constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure an accessory building with a floor area less than 10 square metres, a trellis, an arbour, a retaining structure less than 1.22 metres height |
| Garages and carports | Yes, in general. A building permit is needed before constructing a building or structure (s. 76). The only exempt accessory building is one under 10 m² on a parcel zoned for simple buildings that meets lot line setbacks (s. 14(2)).Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), ss. 76(1), 14(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingbefore constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure an accessory building with a floor area less than 10 square metres, a trellis, an arbour, a retaining structure less than 1.22 metres height |
| Zoning limits | RS-1 zone: accessory buildings together up to 150 m² floor area and 92.9 m² footprint; not nearer the front lot line than the house, except garages and coach houses up to 4 m high (not within 3 m of it). Rear and interior side setbacks 1.5 m, exterior side 3 m. Site coverage 40%.Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), s. 302.4(d), 302.6, 302.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe maximum Gross Floor Area of all Accessory Buildings on a parcel shall not exceed 150 square metres (1,615 square feet) and the maximum building footprint of all Accessory Buildings on a parcel shall not exceed 92.9 square metres (1,000 square feet) No Accessory Building shall be located nearer to the Front Lot Line than the front wall of the Principal Building, except Garages and Accessory Coach Houses with a maximum height not greater than 4 metres (13 feet) above Average Natural Grade See(b) 1.5 m 3m 1.5 m 3m 302.6 Site Coverage a) Maximum 40% |
| Bylaw | Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003; Village of Belcarra Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), title page; Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), s. 101 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBUILDING AND PLUMBING CODE REGULATION BYLAW No. 355, 2003 Village of Belcarra Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 |
How it works
Belcarra's Building Bylaw No. 355 requires a permit before constructing, repairing or altering any building or structure (s. 76). The bylaw does not mention sheds, decks, garages or carports by name.
- Shed or other accessory building: an accessory building under 10 m² on a parcel zoned for simple buildings is outside the bylaw if it meets zoning lot line setbacks. Larger ones need a permit.
- Deck: no height or size threshold is stated. Replacing deck membranes is exempt. A trellis, an arbour or a retaining structure under 1.22 m that meets setbacks is also exempt.
- Garage or carport: a permit is needed in general. The only exempt accessory building is one under 10 m².
Good to know
- In the RS-1 zone, Zoning Bylaw No. 510 allows accessory buildings up to 150 m² of floor area together and 92.9 m² of footprint, with site coverage of 40%.
- Accessory buildings may not be nearer the front lot line than the house, except garages and coach houses up to 4 m high, which may not be within 3 m of it. Rear and interior side setbacks are 1.5 m; exterior side 3 m.
- No building may be within 7.5 m of the sea or a watercourse.
- The RM-1, RM-2 and RM-3 zones have their own tables. Ask the Building Department, 604-937-4100, which applies to you.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Port Moody · Anmore · Coquitlam · New Westminster · Burnaby · Port Coquitlam
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra (read 2026-11-08)
- Building Permit Application Package 2024 (PDF), Village of Belcarra (read 2026-11-08)
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.