---
title: Campbell River permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed or garage?"
place: Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/campbell-river
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Campbell River
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Campbell River permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Campbell River a shed, garage, carport or other detached building over 10 m² (108 sq ft) needs a building permit. A deck needs one unless it is under 600 mm above the ground, not attached to a building, and has no walls or roof. Zoning limits apply either way.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Campbell River, https://www.campbellriver.ca)  
**Cost:** Fees are based on the value of construction; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** The City's pages do not state a review time.  
**Where:**
- Email: Building Department, building@campbellriver.ca
- Phone: Building Department, 250-286-5757

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A shed or other detached (ancillary) building needs a building permit if it is more than 10 m² (108 sq ft). The City says structures under about 10 m² usually do not need a permit.
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, FAQ](https://www.campbellriver.ca/building-development/building-permits-inspections)
  - Official wording: "You will require a permit if the structure will be more than 108 square feet (10 square metres)." … "structures less than 10 sqm (107 sqft) usually don’t even require a Building Permit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** A deck needs a building permit unless its surface is less than 600 mm above grade, it is not attached to a building, and it has no walls or roof (Building Bylaw s. 4.3(e)). Decks 600 mm or higher, or attached to a building, are covered by s. 11.1.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3899, 2023 (PDF, consolidated, includes Bylaw 3990, 2025 amendments), s. 4.3(e)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3899-building-bylaw-2023-consolidated-bylaw-3971-2024)
  - Official wording: "decks or patios which surface is less than 600mm above the ground or finished grade," … "which are not attached to a building and have no walls or roof;" … "constructing, repairing, altering a building or structure, including a swimming pool or"
  - Source: [Residential Building Permit Information, January 2017, You will need a Building Permit for](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/revised-res-bp-information-jan-2017-005)
  - Official wording: "Making structural changes (renovations) to the interior or exterior of the building including a deck;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** A detached garage, carport or other ancillary building more than 10 m² (108 sq ft) needs a building permit, per the City's FAQ. The City publishes Garage Plan Requirements for applications. An attached garage is part of the house or addition permit.
  - Source: [Residential Building Permit Information, January 2017, You will need a Building Permit for](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/revised-res-bp-information-jan-2017-005)
  - Official wording: "Construction of an ancillary building (including a carport) larger than 10 square meters (107 square feet);"
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, Guidelines](https://www.campbellriver.ca/building-development/building-permits-inspections)
  - Official wording: "Garage Plan Requirements" … "You will require a permit if the structure will be more than 108 square feet (10 square metres)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** Urban lots: all ancillary buildings combined up to 80 m², height up to 5.0 m, not in the front yard or a side yard next to a road, at least 0.75 m from side and rear lines. Rural and Lakeshore lots: combined 160 m², height up to 6.0 m, not in any required yard.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.12(c), (d)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text)
  - Official wording: "must be equal to or less than 80 square metres." … "The maximum height for any ancillary building is 5.0 metres." … "at least 0.75 metres from side and rear lot lines." … "The combined floor area of all ancillary buildings on the lot must be" … "equal to or less than 160 square metres." … "The maximum height of the ancillary building is 6.0 metres"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 3899, 2023; Zoning Bylaw No. 3250, 2006 (s. 4.12 and 4.13)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3899, 2023 (PDF, consolidated, includes Bylaw 3990, 2025 amendments), title](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3899-building-bylaw-2023-consolidated-bylaw-3971-2024)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 3899, 2023"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.12](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text)
  - Official wording: "ANCILLARY BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES AND USES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In Campbell River, the City's FAQ says a shed, garage, carport or other detached (ancillary) building needs a building permit if it is more than 10 m² (108 sq ft). Smaller ones usually do not, but zoning rules and Development Permits still apply. An attached garage is part of the house or addition permit.

A deck needs a permit unless its surface is less than 600 mm above grade, it is not attached to a building, and it has no walls or roof ([Building Bylaw](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3899-building-bylaw-2023-consolidated-bylaw-3971-2024) s. 4.3(e)). Decks 600 mm or higher, or attached to a building, need one.

## Steps

1. Check the zoning limits below for your lot.
2. Email building@campbellriver.ca if you are unsure whether you need a permit.
3. Complete the Building Permit Application Form and the documents the City lists. See the building-permit answer for how to apply.

## Good to know

- Under [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text) s. 4.12, on urban lots all ancillary buildings together may be up to 80 m² and 5.0 m high, not in the front yard or a side yard next to a road, and at least 0.75 m from side and rear lot lines.
- On rural and lakeshore lots the combined limit is 160 m² and 6.0 m high, and buildings cannot be in any required yard.
- Larger buildings need a Development Variance Permit.
- Open decks up to 0.6 m above ground are exempt from side and rear yard setbacks.

## What you'll need

- Completed Building Permit Application Form
- Garage Plan Requirements (City PDF), if building a garage

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permit Application Form (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/building-permit-application-form)
- [Garage Plan Requirements (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/ccr-garage-plan-requirements)
- [Building Permits and Inspections page](https://www.campbellriver.ca/building-development/building-permits-inspections)

## Related questions

- [Campbell River building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/building-permit.md)
- [Campbell River building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Campbell River fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/fence-rules.md)
- [Campbell River zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/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)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits and Inspections, City of Campbell River](https://www.campbellriver.ca/building-development/building-permits-inspections) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 3899, 2023 (PDF, consolidated, includes Bylaw 3990, 2025 amendments)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3899-building-bylaw-2023-consolidated-bylaw-3971-2024) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Residential Building Permit Information, January 2017 (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/revised-res-bp-information-jan-2017-005) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Campbell River. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/deck-shed-garage-permit/_