Burns Lake permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
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.
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.Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), s. 3 Scope and Exemptions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis 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 |
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| 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.Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), s. 3 Scope and Exemptions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis 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 |
| 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.Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), ss. 8.1, 9.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinga 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 |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026, s. 7.1; s. 3.11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official 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. |
| Bylaw | Village of Burns Lake Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013; Village of Burns Lake Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008 (consolidated up to April 2026)Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), Title; Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026, Cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Village of Burns Lake Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013." ZONING BYLAW NO. 880, 2008 |
How it works
Under the Village's Building Bylaw No. 943, 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
- Check the exemptions in Good to know. If yours applies, you still must meet zoning rules.
- Otherwise call RDBN building inspection at 250-692-3195 about a permit.
- 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, 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
The same question in other places
Fraser Lake · Houston · Granisle · Fort St James · Vanderhoof · Telkwa
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), Village of Burns Lake (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 880, 2008, consolidated to April 2026 (PDF), Village of Burns Lake (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact, Village of Burns Lake (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.