---
title: Burns Lake permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?"
place: Burns Lake, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/burns-lake
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Burns Lake
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Burns Lake permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Burns Lake a detached shed of 10 m² (108 sq. ft.) or less and a deck no more than 600 mm (2 ft.) above grade do not need a building permit. Larger or attached sheds, higher decks, garages and carports do. Zoning rules apply to all of them.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Burns Lake, https://www.burnslake.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not stated; see the building-permit answer.  
**Where:**
- Phone: RDBN building inspection, 250-692-3195
- Phone: Village planning (zoning), 250-692-7587

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** No building permit for a storage building of 10 m² (108 sq. ft.) or less that is not attached to another building. A larger shed or an attached one is not exempt.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), s. 3 Scope and Exemptions](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw does not apply to a building that is used only for storage which has a ground floor area that is 10 square meters (108 sq. ft.) or less"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Decks:** No building permit for a deck or patio if no part of its surface is more than 600 mm (2 ft.) above finished grade, measured vertically. Higher decks are not exempt.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), s. 3 Scope and Exemptions](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw does not apply to a deck or patio provided no part of the surface of the deck or patio is more than 600 millimetres (2 ft.) from finished grade"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Garages and carports:** The Building Bylaw lists no exemption for garages or carports; it requires a building permit before constructing a building or structure. No accessory building permit is issued unless the main building exists or is being built at the same time.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), ss. 8.1, 9.1](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
  - Official wording: "a building permit before constructing a building or structure, changing the class of occupancy of any building or structure, or constructing, locating, or placing any manufactured home or any factory built modular building upon any land;" … "No building permit shall be issued for the construction of an accessory building or structure on any site, unless the principal building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Zoning limits:** In the R1 zone: accessory buildings at most 5 m high, 40% total lot coverage, set back 6 m from the front, 1.5 m from interior side and rear lines, 5 m from exterior side lines. An accessory building cannot be used as a principal dwelling or built before the principal building. Other zones differ.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026, s. 7.1; s. 3.11](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-880-2008-sch-123-c20260417pdf)
  - Official wording: "(b) accessory buildings or structures – 5 m." … ".11 Maximum Lot Coverage: 40% for all buildings and structures." … "An accessory building or structure must not be used as a principal dwelling." … "iv. rear yard – 1.5 m."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Burns Lake Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013; Village of Burns Lake Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008 (consolidated up to April 2026)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), Title](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Village of Burns Lake Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013.""
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026, Cover](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-880-2008-sch-123-c20260417pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 880, 2008"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the Village's [Building Bylaw No. 943](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013), a building permit is needed before constructing a building or structure, unless an exemption applies. The bylaw lists exemptions for small sheds and low decks, but none for garages or carports. Permits are handled by the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN).

## Steps

1. Check the exemptions in Good to know. If yours applies, you still must meet zoning rules.
2. Otherwise call RDBN building inspection at 250-692-3195 about a permit.
3. Check setbacks and height for your zone with Village planning at 250-692-7587.

## Good to know

- Shed: no permit for a storage building of 10 m² (108 sq. ft.) or less that is not attached to another building.
- Deck or patio: no permit if no part of its surface is more than 600 mm (2 ft.) above finished grade, measured vertically.
- Garage or carport: no exemption is listed. No permit is issued for an accessory building unless the main building exists or is being built at the same time.
- In the R1 zone, under the [Zoning Bylaw No. 880](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-880-2008-sch-123-c20260417pdf), accessory buildings can be at most 5 m high, cover 40% of the lot in total, and sit 6 m from the front, 1.5 m from interior side and rear lines, and 5 m from exterior side lines. They cannot be used as a principal dwelling or built before the principal building. Other zones differ.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document)](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008 (PDF)](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-880-2008-sch-123-c20260417pdf)

## Related questions

- [Burns Lake building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/building-permit.md)
- [Burns Lake fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/fence-rules.md)
- [Burns Lake zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/zoning-lookup.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)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), Village of Burns Lake](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026 (PDF), Village of Burns Lake](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-880-2008-sch-123-c20260417pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Burns Lake](https://www.burnslake.ca/contact) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Burns Lake. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/deck-shed-garage-permit/_