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

# Clearwater permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Clearwater a single-storey shed or garage under 20 m² needs no building permit, but 20 m² or more does. An unroofed deck 600 mm (24 in) or less above the ground is exempt. Zoning setbacks still apply.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Clearwater, https://www.districtofclearwater.com)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** The processing time is not stated. See the building-permit answer.  
**Where:**
- Phone: TNRD Building Inspection (contracted by the District), 250-377-8673 (Toll free 1-877-377-8673. Email building@tnrd.ca.)
- Phone: TNRD Planning (contracted by the District), 250-377-8673 (Email planning@tnrd.ca.)

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** Bylaw 129 exempts a single-storey accessory building under 20 m² (215 sq. ft.) from a building permit; 20 m² or more needs one. Any size building used for living (bunkhouse, tiny home) needs one. A shed must still meet zoning setbacks. (Sources differ: Conflict: the District's page also says a detached accessory building under 10 m² (107 sq ft) and 4.5 m high on a lot with a single family dwelling is exempt, which is smaller than the bylaw's 20 m² exemption. Bylaw followed. The bylaw exemption covers single-storey buildings only.)
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to May 4, 2021), s. 1.5(b)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/)
  - Official wording: "single-storey accessory buildings less than 20 m² (215 ft²) in building area;"
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, District page](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/building-permits-inspections/)
  - Official wording: "construct a new accessory building such as a garage or storage shed greater than 20 square metres (215 square feet) in size;" … "construct any size building which serves a habitable use such as a bunkhouse or tiny home;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Decks:** Bylaw 129 does not apply to an unroofed deck at a single or two-family dwelling if the deck surface is 600 mm (24 in) or less above the adjacent ground. The District's page lists building a sundeck, enclosing a porch or roofing a sundeck as needing a permit.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to May 4, 2021), s. 1.5(d)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/)
  - Official wording: "unroofed decks attached to or adjacent to single and two-family dwellings if the" … "deck surface is 600 mm (24 in) or less above the adjacent ground level."
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, District page](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/building-permits-inspections/)
  - Official wording: "construct a sundeck;" … "enclose a porch or roof over a sundeck;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Garages and carports:** The District's page lists a garage or shed over 20 m² (215 sq. ft.) as needing a building permit; Bylaw 129 exempts only a single-storey accessory building under 20 m². A garage or carport attached to the house is treated as part of the house for zoning (s. 5.5.2). Carports are not mentioned.
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, District page](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/building-permits-inspections/)
  - Official wording: "construct a new accessory building such as a garage or storage shed greater than 20 square metres (215 square feet) in size;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), s. 5.5.2](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "considered a part of the principal building and must comply in all respects with the setback"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Zoning limits:** R-1: accessory buildings total up to 65 m² (200 m² on lots of 4,000 m² or more), 6 m high, setbacks 6 m front, 1.5 m rear and interior side, 4.5 m exterior side, 40% total coverage. R-2: one building up to 65 m², 5 m high, rear yard, 45% coverage. RL-1: no height or coverage maximum.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), s. 8.1.3, 8.1.5](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "a) The total gross floor area of all accessory buildings shall not exceed 65 square metres" … "(2,153 sqft)." … "Maximum Lot Coverage Total 40%" … "Rear Lot Line 6 metres (20ft) 1.5 metres (5ft)" … "Maximum Lot Coverage Total 45%" … "Maximum Lot Coverage No maximum"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), s. 8.2.3](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "Only 1 accessory building to a maximum gross floor area of 65 square metres (700 sqft)" … "*In the R-2 Zone an accessory building must be located in the rear yard"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Clearwater Building Regulations Bylaw 129, 2014; Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to May 4, 2021), s. 1.1](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/)
  - Official wording: "District of Clearwater Building Regulations Bylaw 129, 2014"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), cover](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 133, 2016"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District's [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/) does not apply to a single-storey accessory building under 20 m² (215 sq. ft.). A garage or shed of 20 m² or more needs a building permit. Any size building used for living, such as a bunkhouse or tiny home, needs one too.

For decks, the bylaw does not apply to an unroofed deck at a single or two-family home if the deck surface is 600 mm (24 in) or less above the ground. The District's page lists building a sundeck, enclosing a porch or roofing a sundeck as needing a permit.

Carports are not mentioned in the bylaw or on the District's page. A garage or carport attached to the house is treated as part of the house for zoning (Zoning Bylaw s. 5.5.2).

## Steps

1. Check your zone and setbacks in the [Zoning Bylaw No. 133](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/).
2. If a permit is needed, apply through the TNRD (see the building-permit answer).
3. For a carport or a deck close to the exemption, ask TNRD Building Inspection at 250-377-8673.

## Good to know

- The District's page also says a detached accessory building under 10 m² (107 sq ft) and 4.5 m high is exempt, which is smaller than the bylaw's 20 m². We followed the bylaw. Confirm with the TNRD.
- The bylaw exemption covers single-storey buildings only.
- No accessory building may be used as a dwelling unless the zoning bylaw allows it.
- **R-1 zone:** accessory buildings total up to 65 m² (200 m² on lots of 4,000 m² or more), 6 m high. Setbacks are 6 m front, 1.5 m rear and interior side, and 4.5 m exterior side. Total coverage is up to 40%.
- **R-2 zone:** one accessory building up to 65 m², 5 m high, in the rear yard, with total coverage up to 45%.
- **RL-1, SH-1 and CR-1 zones:** no maximum height or lot coverage for accessory buildings, and the same setbacks as R-1.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129, 2014 (consolidated)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (consolidated)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
- [Building Permits and Inspections, District of Clearwater](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/building-permits-inspections/)

## Related questions

- [Clearwater building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/building-permit.md)
- [Clearwater building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Clearwater zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Clearwater fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/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)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Sun Peaks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Chase](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chase/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 129, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to May 4, 2021)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/55537/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permits and Inspections, District of Clearwater](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/building-permits-inspections/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Planning Department, District of Clearwater](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/planning-department/) (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 District of Clearwater. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/deck-shed-garage-permit/_