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

# Chilliwack permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Chilliwack, a shed, garage or carport needs a City building permit, except a small accessory building under 10 m² (110 sq. ft.) on a single-family lot that meets zoning siting rules. The City's pages give no deck height rule, so ask the Building Department.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Chilliwack, https://www.chilliwack.com)  
**Cost:** Siting permit for an ancillary building of 10 m² or less: $50. Larger buildings are charged by value ($40 up to $1,000; then $100 for the first $1,000 plus $6.50 per extra $1,000 to $100,000) plus a $300 application fee.  
**How long:** Not stated on the City's pages. Residential application dates are posted on the Building Permits page.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Department, 604-793-2905
- Email: Building Department, building.department@chilliwack.com
- Online: Online building permit applications (MyCity), https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=3198
- In person: Building Division, City Hall, 8550 Young Road, Chilliwack, BC V2P 8A4 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A building permit is not required (bylaw does not apply) for an accessory building with a floor area less than 10 square metres on a single-family residential parcel that meets Zoning Bylaw siting rules. Larger accessory buildings need a building permit; the City says smaller ones (and pools) need a siting permit.
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw 2003, No. 2970 (PDF, consolidated March 16, 2021), s. 15(2)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=772)
  - Official wording: "an accessory building with a floor area less than 10 square metres, a trellis, an"
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, Single Family / Two Family Dwellings, When is a Building Permit Required?](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=639)
  - Official wording: "construct an accessory building having a foot print area exceeding 10m2*;" … "For accessory buildings less than 10m2 (110 sqft) in floor area, or for a swimming pool, a siting permit is required."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **Decks:** Not confirmed. No City bylaw or page gives a deck height at which a building permit is needed.
- **Garages and carports:** A garage or carport is a building, so a building permit is needed before constructing it (s. 71). The only size-based exemption found is for accessory buildings under 10 square metres on a single-family residential parcel.
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw 2003, No. 2970 (PDF, consolidated March 16, 2021), ss. 71, 15(2)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=772)
  - Official wording: "before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;" … "an accessory building with a floor area less than 10 square metres, a trellis, an"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **Zoning limits:** Zoning Bylaw 4.07(3)(a)(xiii) exempts buildings and structures for urban and rural ancillary use that do not exceed 10 m2 of lot coverage from maximum building heights, and 4.07(5)(b) exempts them from minimum setbacks and maximum lot coverage. Otherwise limits depend on the zone. Example, R1-A zone: urban ancillary buildings need 6 m front, 1 m rear and side, 4.5 m exterior side setbacks; height 4 m on a lot under 1,000 m2, 6 m on a lot of 1,000 m2 or more; total detached ancillary coverage 60 m2 on lots under 1,000 m2, rising to 150 m2 on lots of 2,500 m2 or more.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 4.07(5)(b)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624)
  - Official wording: "All BUILDINGS and STRUCTURES for URBAN and RURAL ANCILLARY USE which do not exceed" … "10m2 in LOT COVERAGE are exempted from minimum SETBACKS and maximum LOT COVERAGE" … "(xiii) All BUILDINGS and STRUCTURES for URBAN and RURAL ANCILLARY USE which do not exceed"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 8.01 R1-A (7)(d), (9)(c)-(d)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624)
  - Official wording: "(d) URBAN ANCILLARY USES 6m 1m 1m 4.5m" … "URBAN ANCILLARY USES (on a LOT less than 1000m2) 4m" … "URBAN ANCILLARY USES (on a LOT 1000m2 or greater) 6m"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 8.01 R1-A (5)(b)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624)
  - Official wording: "on a LOT with an area less than 1000m2"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05
- **Bylaw:** Building Regulation Bylaw 2003, No. 2970 (permit rules) and Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 (setbacks, height, lot coverage); pools also fall under Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2011, No. 3811
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw 2003, No. 2970 (PDF, consolidated March 16, 2021), s. 15](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=772)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw does not apply to:"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, title](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624)
  - Official wording: "“ZONING BYLAW 2020, 5000”"
  - Source: [Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2011, No. 3811, s. 1](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=439)
  - Official wording: "“Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2011, No. 3811”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05

## How it works

Under the [Building Regulation Bylaw 2970](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=772), a building permit is needed before constructing any building or structure. That includes a garage or carport. The bylaw exempts an accessory building under 10 m² on a single-family lot only if it meets the Zoning Bylaw's siting rules. The City's guide for single and two family homes says larger accessory buildings need a building permit, and smaller ones (and pools) need a siting permit.

Decks are different: no City bylaw or page gives a deck height at which a building permit is needed. Ask the Building Department before you build one.

## Steps

1. Measure the footprint. Under 10 m² is the exempt size; the City page and fee schedule treat exactly 10 m² differently, so ask if you are at the limit.
2. Check your zone's setbacks, height and lot coverage in the [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624), or ask Planning (604-793-2906).
3. Apply through MyCity or at City Hall with a site plan.
4. Book the required inspections once you have the permit.

## Good to know

- Zoning limits depend on the zone. Buildings up to 10 m² of lot coverage are exempt from the maximum height, minimum setbacks and maximum lot coverage. In the R1-A zone, for example, other urban ancillary buildings need setbacks of 6 m front, 1 m rear and side, and 4.5 m exterior side. Height is 4 m on lots under 1,000 m² and 6 m on lots of 1,000 m² or more. Total detached ancillary coverage is 60 m² on lots under 1,000 m², rising to 150 m² on lots of 2,500 m² or more. Other zones differ.
- Roof soffits may not be within 0.45 m of a property line.
- If your lot is in the floodplain or the Agricultural Land Reserve, extra rules may apply.
- Gas and electrical work is inspected separately by Technical Safety BC and the Electrical Inspector.

## What you'll need

- Building Permit Application Form
- Site plan showing setbacks to property lines
- Drawings (the City has draft drawing templates for single-storey ancillary buildings)

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permits (forms and drawing templates)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=1675)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=377)

## Related questions

- [Chilliwack building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/building-permit.md)
- [Chilliwack building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Chilliwack zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Chilliwack fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/fence-rules.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)
- [Harrison Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Kent](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits and Inspections, Single Family / Two Family Dwellings, City of Chilliwack](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=639) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Regulation Bylaw 2003, No. 2970 (PDF, consolidated March 16, 2021)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=772) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Regulation Bylaw 2970, Schedule B, Permit Fees and Security Deposits (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=4786) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permits, City of Chilliwack](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=1675) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 (PDF)](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=6624) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2011, No. 3811](https://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/attachView.cfm?attachID=439) (read 2026-11-05)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Chilliwack. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/deck-shed-garage-permit/_