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

# Coquitlam permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Coquitlam, decks and accessory buildings such as garages and carports generally need a building permit. The one listed exemption is a storage or garden shed of 10 m² or less that meets the Building Code and all bylaws, including Zoning Bylaw setbacks. Call Building Permits at 604-927-3441 if unsure.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Coquitlam, https://www.coquitlam.ca)  
**Cost:** Set by project value in Fees and Charges Bylaw 5484, Schedule D (see the building-permit-fees answer).  
**Where:**
- Online: Submit an application (Coquitlam QFile), https://qfile.coquitlam.ca/filedrop/permit
- In person: Building Permit counter, City Hall, 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC V3B 7N2 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., except statutory holidays)
- Phone: Building Permits, 604-927-3441

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** No building permit for a storage or garden shed of 10 m² or less that meets the Building Code and bylaw construction standards and complies with all City bylaws, including Zoning Bylaw siting (setbacks). Larger sheds and other accessory buildings are covered by the general permit requirement. (Sources differ: Bylaw says 'does not exceed 10 m2'; the web page says 'under 10 square meters'. Bylaw followed.)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3598 (PDF, consolidated September 2026), s. 21.1-21.2](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6392829)
  - Official wording: "A building permit is not required for work in respect of a building intended or actually used for a storage or garden shed" … "and is in compliance with all applicable bylaws of the City"
  - Source: [Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, Did You Know](https://www.coquitlam.ca/504/Building-Projects---HomeownerResidential)
  - Official wording: "Building permits are not required for storage or garden shed structures under 10 square meters in area, however they must comply with the setbacks stipulated in the Zoning Bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** The City says a building permit is generally required for decks, balconies and awnings.
  - Source: [Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, Do I Need a Permit?](https://www.coquitlam.ca/504/Building-Projects---HomeownerResidential)
  - Official wording: "Decks, balconies, awnings, retaining walls over 1.2 m."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3598 (PDF, consolidated September 2026), s. 21.1](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6392829)
  - Official wording: "a building permit is required for any work" … "that relates to a building or temporary building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** Accessory buildings generally need a building permit. The Building Bylaw requires a permit for any work on a building; its only listed exemption is a storage or garden shed of 10 m² or less.
  - Source: [Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, Do I Need a Permit?](https://www.coquitlam.ca/504/Building-Projects---HomeownerResidential)
  - Official wording: "Accessory buildings, additions, new living space, secondary suites, coach houses."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3598 (PDF, consolidated September 2026), s. 21.1-21.2](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6392829)
  - Official wording: "a building permit is required for any work" … "that relates to a building or temporary building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** In R-1 to R-4: detached accessory buildings not in the front yard (R-4: rear yard only); 3.0 m from the house (R-1 to R-3); height 3.7 m, or 4.6 m with a 4:12 or steeper roof. Sited 1.6 m+ from the house: 1.2 m rear and interior side, 3.0 m exterior side, front 5.5 m (R-4 4.5 m). Lot coverage 50% (R-3 45%).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones, s. 1002(8)-(10)](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174)
  - Official wording: "structures where sited 5.5 1.2 1.2 1.2 3.0" … "a minimum separation distance of 3.0 metres from principal buildings." … "Detached accessory uses, buildings and structures must not be located in the front yard." … "(i) 3.7 metres; or" … "All buildings and structures together must not exceed a lot coverage of 50%, excluding" … "All detached accessory residential and detached accessory off-street parking buildings and structures must be located in the rear yard." … "All buildings and structures together must not exceed a lot coverage of 45%, excluding" … "Accessory buildings and structures must not exceed a height, measured from finished grade, of:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 3598, 2003 (s. 21) and Zoning Bylaw No. 3000, 1996 (Part 10 residential zones)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3598 (PDF, consolidated September 2026), title page](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6392829)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 3598, 2003"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Parts 1 and 2, s. 101](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1166)
  - Official wording: "City of Coquitlam Zoning Bylaw No. 3000, 1996"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Coquitlam's [Building Bylaw 3598](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6392829) requires a permit for any work on a building. Its only listed exemption is a storage or garden shed of 10 m² or less that meets the Building Code and bylaw construction standards and complies with all City bylaws, including Zoning Bylaw siting. The City says decks, balconies and awnings generally need a permit. The bylaw and City pages do not name garages or carports, so treat them as accessory buildings that need one. No height or size below which a deck needs no permit was found.

## Steps

1. Look up your zone on QtheMap and check setbacks, lot coverage and height.
2. Prepare the application form, checklist and drawings.
3. Submit through Coquitlam QFile or at the City Hall counter.
4. Book inspections once the permit is issued.

## Good to know

- Zoning in R-1 to R-4: detached accessory buildings stay out of the front yard (R-4: rear yard only) and 3.0 m from the house (R-1 to R-3). Height is 3.7 m, or 4.6 m with a 4:12 or steeper roof.
- Sited 1.6 m or more from the house: 1.2 m from the rear and interior side lot lines, 3.0 m on an exterior side, and 5.5 m at the front (R-4: 4.5 m). Lot coverage is 50% (R-3: 45%).
- In R-1, detached parking buildings are limited to 3 parking spaces and a wall length of 10.3 m.
- Other zones have their own rules. These zoning figures come from web copies marked "for information only"; confirm your zone with Planning.
- The City's page says "under 10 square meters" for the shed exemption; the bylaw says 10 m² or less. The bylaw is followed here.

## What you'll need

- Permit Application Form and the checklist for your project
- Drawings per the City's detached building or outdoor deck drawing requirements

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential](https://www.coquitlam.ca/504/Building-Projects---HomeownerResidential)
- [Building Bylaw 3598 (PDF)](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6392829)

## Related questions

- [Coquitlam building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/building-permit.md)
- [Coquitlam building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Coquitlam fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/fence-rules.md)
- [Coquitlam zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/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)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/504/Building-Projects---HomeownerResidential) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 3598 (PDF, consolidated September 2026), City of Coquitlam](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6392829) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones (PDF), City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Parts 1 and 2 (PDF), City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1166) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building & Construction, City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/478/Building-Construction) (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 Coquitlam. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/deck-shed-garage-permit/_