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

# Colwood permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Colwood a new deck, or structural changes to one, needs a City building permit, and so does a garage in most cases. The City says a shed under 10 m² (108 ft²) that creates no hazard needs no permit, but confirm that with the Building Department. Zoning setbacks still apply.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Colwood, https://www.colwood.ca)  
**Cost:** Based on the value of the work. See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**Where:**
- Email: Building Department, building@colwood.ca
- Phone: Building Services, 250-478-5999
- Online: Building Permit Application (DocuSign form), https://ca.services.docusign.net/webforms-ux/v1.0/forms/52a79a69272bcc343d2b36da569f9417

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** The City says a permit is needed in most cases for a shed or other accessory building, but not for one under 10 m² (108 ft²) that creates no hazard. Building Bylaw 977 s. 2.1.4 itself requires a permit for any new structure, so check with the Building Department. Setbacks and lot coverage still apply.
  - Source: [Renovations and Additions, Accessory Buildings](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/building/renovations-additions)
  - Official wording: "In most cases, the owner is required to obtain a building permit prior to the construction of an accessory building, such as a shed or garage." … "you are constructing an accessory building of less than 10m2 (108 ft2) in area and it does not create a hazard, a building permit is not required" … "You must still ensure full compliance with Colwood's Land Use bylaw, such as setbacks to property line and lot coverage regulations."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024), s. 2.1.4](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/164)
  - Official wording: "No person shall construct a new building or structure, or alter, reconstruct, demolish, remove, repair"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** A building permit is required for a new deck or for structural alterations to an existing one. Wood decks are structures and must meet the BC Building Code and the Land Use Bylaw. Concrete patios on grade do not need a permit.
  - Source: [Renovations and Additions, Decks](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/building/renovations-additions)
  - Official wording: "A building permit is required for a new deck or for structural alterations to an existing one." … "Wood decks are considered structures and therefore must comply with the current BC Building Code and Colwood's Land Use Bylaw." … "Concrete patios installed on grade do not require a permit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** A garage is an accessory building, and in most cases a building permit is needed before building one.
  - Source: [Renovations and Additions, Accessory Buildings](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/building/renovations-additions)
  - Official wording: "In most cases, the owner is required to obtain a building permit prior to the construction of an accessory building, such as a shed or garage."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** Residential zones: accessory buildings total at most 60 m², at most 4 m high, at least 1 m from side and rear lot lines and from the house, and not within 15 m of the front lot line unless the front-yard setback is met. Corner lots have extra setbacks.
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.06](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999)
  - Official wording: "The total combined floor area of accessory buildings on any lot shall not exceed 60 m2" … "No accessory building shall be located less than 15 m from a front lot line unless it complies with the front yard requirements applicable to the principal building" … "No accessory building shall be located less than 1m from any principal building" … "An accessory building in a Residential or Multiple Family Residential Zone shall not exceed 4 m in height" … "No accessory building shall be located less than 1m from a side or rear lot line"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 977, 2008; Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (s. 2.1.06)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024), Whole bylaw](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/164)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw No. 977, 2008"
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.06](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999)
  - Official wording: "Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

**Deck.** A building permit is required for a new deck or for structural alterations to an existing one. Wood decks are structures and must meet the BC Building Code and the Land Use Bylaw. Concrete patios on grade do not need a permit. The pages we read state no deck height threshold.

**Shed or other accessory building.** The City says a permit is needed in most cases, but not for one under 10 m² (108 ft²) that creates no hazard. That exemption is on a City web page only. [Building Bylaw 977](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/164) (s. 2.1.4) itself requires a permit for any new structure, so check with the Building Department.

**Garage.** A garage is an accessory building, and in most cases a building permit is needed before you build one.

**Carport.** The City's pages do not discuss carports separately and no statement says whether one needs a permit. Ask the Building Department.

## Steps

1. Confirm your plans with the Building Department (building@colwood.ca or 250-478-5999).
2. Prepare a site plan and a BC Land Survey. Decks and sheds both need them.
3. Submit the online Building Permit Application and pay the fees.
4. Book inspections during construction by emailing building@colwood.ca.

## Good to know

Even without a permit, setbacks and lot coverage still apply. In residential zones, [Land Use Bylaw 151](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999) says:

- Accessory buildings total at most 60 m² and at most 4 m high.
- They must be at least 1 m from side and rear lot lines and from the house.
- They may not be within 15 m of the front lot line unless the front-yard setback is met.
- Corner lots have extra setbacks. Each zone also sets lot coverage, and zone rules may differ.

An accessory building that contains a dwelling unit has different setbacks and heights.

## What you'll need

- Site plan showing all existing and proposed structures, sizes and distances to property lines
- BC Land Survey

## Official forms and pages

- [Renovations and Additions page](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/building/renovations-additions)
- [Example of Deck and Stair Details and Plan Requirements (PDF)](https://www.colwood.ca/sites/default/files/2024-06/Example%20of%20Deck%20Stairs%20Details%20and%20Plan%20Requirements.pdf)
- [Land Use Bylaw 151 (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999)

## Related questions

- [Colwood building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/building-permit.md)
- [Colwood building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Colwood fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/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)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Renovations and Additions, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/building/renovations-additions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 977 (consolidated to January 22, 2024) (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/164) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permits, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/building/building-permits) (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 Colwood. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/deck-shed-garage-permit/_