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Bowen Island permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

Bowen Island, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

On Bowen Island you need a building permit for an accessory building over 10 m² (about 108 ft²) and for a deck more than 0.6 m (about 2 ft) above grade. Smaller sheds and low decks need no building permit but must still follow the Land Use Bylaw.

Key facts

ShedsA building permit is needed for an accessory building greater than 10 m² (about 108 ft²); the Building Bylaw exempts those with a floor area of less than 10 m². At exactly 10 m² the bylaw and the guide differ, so ask the Building Department. Small buildings must still follow the Land Use Bylaw.Building Permit Application Guide, Bowen Island Municipality, Application guide, p. 1-2; Building Bylaw No. 489, 2019 (PDF, consolidated for convenience to November 24, 2025), s. 3.3(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Building an accessory building greater
An accessory building not more than
The above exemptions must still comply with the Land Use Bylaw
an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres;
DecksA building permit is needed for a deck more than 0.6 m (about 2 ft) above grade. Decks or patios less than 0.6 m above grade do not need one.Building Permit Application Guide, Bowen Island Municipality, Application guide, p. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Building a deck more than 0.6m (2ft)
Decks or patios that are less than
0.6m (approx 2ft) above grade
Garages and carportsNot confirmed. The permit guide does not say whether a garage or carport counts as an accessory building.
Zoning limitsTotal floor area of all buildings accessory to a dwelling is capped by lot area: up to 0.4 ha, 160 m²; over 0.4 ha to under 4 ha, 4.0% of lot area to a maximum of 400 m²; 4 ha and over, 4.0% to a maximum of 1,000 m². Other limits (height, setbacks, lot coverage, number of accessory buildings) depend on the zone; in RR1 to RR3, height is 9 m and setback from all lot lines is 7.5 m.Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.13, Table 3-1; Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 4.1.2 (RR 1, RR 2, RR 3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Up to 0.4 ha.
160 square metres
4.0% of lot area to a maximum of 400 square metres
4.0% of lot area to a maximum of 1,000 square metres
Maximum height of a permitted building or structure
Minimum setback from all lot lines (metres)
BylawBuilding Bylaw No. 489, 2019; Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002.Building Bylaw No. 489, 2019 (PDF, consolidated for convenience to November 24, 2025), Title page; Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), Title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
BUILDING BYLAW NO. 489, 2019
Land Use Bylaw (Consolidated November 2025)

How it works

Bowen Island Municipality's permit application guide says a building permit is needed for an accessory building greater than 10 m² (about 108 ft²) and for a deck more than 0.6 m (about 2 ft) above grade. Decks or patios less than 0.6 m above grade do not need one. The Building Bylaw (s. 3.3) exempts an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres. Exempt structures must still follow the Land Use Bylaw.

The guide does not say whether a garage or carport is an accessory building, and the Building Bylaw does not treat them as a separate permit category. Ask the Building Department.

Steps

  1. Measure the floor area and, for a deck, the height above grade.
  2. If a permit is needed, follow the building-permit answer: email a complete PDF application to building@bimbc.ca.
  3. Check the zone limits below with Planning (604-947-4255 ext. 6) before you build.
  4. A deck needing a permit also has its guardrails inspected.

Good to know

  • At exactly 10 m², the guide ("not more than 10 m²") and the bylaw ("less than 10 square metres") differ, so ask the Building Department.
  • The Land Use Bylaw (s. 3.31) lets a small accessory building (maximum 2.5 m high, with a 10 m² footprint and floor area) sit 0 m from a lot line, subject to setbacks from water and highways.
  • The total floor area of all buildings accessory to a dwelling is capped by lot area: up to 0.4 ha, 160 m²; over 0.4 ha to under 4 ha, 4.0% of lot area to a maximum of 400 m²; 4 ha and over, 4.0% to a maximum of 1,000 m² (s. 3.13).
  • Other limits (height, setbacks, lot coverage, number of accessory buildings) depend on your zone. In the RR1 to RR3 zones, height is 9 m and the setback from all lot lines is 7.5 m.
  • Decks may project up to 1.25 m into a required setback, to a maximum of 20% of the required side yard setback (s. 3.23.2).
  • A development permit may also be needed if your property is in a development permit area.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

West Vancouver · Gibsons · Lions Bay · District of North Vancouver · North Vancouver · Vancouver

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

Sources

  1. Building Permit Application Guide (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 489, 2019 (PDF, consolidated for convenience to November 24, 2025) (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025) (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Inspections and Occupancy, Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.