GovHandbook

Courtenay permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

Courtenay, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Courtenay, garages and carports need a building permit. So do accessory buildings of 10 m² or more and decks, except a roofless deck less than 0.6 m above grade. Zoning rules on height and setbacks still apply to exempt work.

Key facts

ShedsAn accessory building with a floor area under 10 m² is outside the Building Bylaw (no building permit). Accessory buildings and structures of 10 m² or more need a building permit.Building Bylaw No. 3114, section 3.3, s. 3.3(b); Building and plumbing permits, Building permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres;
accessory buildings and structures
DecksNo permit for a deck without a roof that is less than 0.6 m above grade. Otherwise a building permit is required for a new deck, or for changes to structural elements, guards or railings of an existing deck.Building Bylaw No. 3114, section 3.3, s. 3.3(c); Guide to Residential Deck Construction, General information · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
platforms or decks without roofs less than 0.6 meters above grade;
A building permit is required for a new deck or for changes to structural elements, guards and railings of an existing deck.
Garages and carportsYes. Garages and carports need a building permit.Building and plumbing permits, Building permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
- accessory buildings and structures - deck construction or alterations - garages and carports - secondary suites ## Plumbing permits
Zoning limitsUnless a zone says otherwise, accessory buildings: max 4.5 m high; at least 1.5 m from side and rear lot lines (4.5 m where the yard flanks a street); not in front of the principal building; max 50 m² or 10% of the rear yard, whichever is greater; no living quarters. Lot coverage is set by each zone.Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, Part 2 (consolidated July 21, 2026, PDF), ss. 6.2.3 to 6.2.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Accessory buildings and accessory structures are permitted a maximum height of 4.5 m, other
not be located within 1.5 m from the side and rear lot line except where the side or rear
not permitted to be located at the front of a principal building; and
not have a total building area exceeding 50.0 m2 or 10% of the rear yard, whichever is
No part of an accessory building shall be used for human habitation.
BylawBuilding Bylaw No. 3114 and Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, 2026Building Bylaw No. 3114, section 3.3, s. 1.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, Part 2 (consolidated July 21, 2026, PDF), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
This bylaw may be cited as “Building Bylaw No. 3114”.
This Bylaw shall be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, 2026”.

How it works

Building Bylaw No. 3114 does not apply to an accessory building with a floor area under 10 m², or to a deck without a roof that is less than 0.6 m above grade. Accessory buildings of 10 m² or more, garages, carports, and new decks or changes to the structure, guards or railings of an existing deck need a building permit.

Steps

  1. Check your zone and setbacks with Planning or on CourtenayMap before you design.
  2. If the work is not exempt, prepare drawings for the online building permit application.
  3. Submit the application and pay fees when the permit is issued.
  4. Book inspections by emailing inspections@courtenay.ca.

Good to know

  • Unless your zone says otherwise, Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 limits accessory buildings to 4.5 m high, at least 1.5 m from side and rear lot lines (4.5 m where the yard flanks a street), and not in front of the principal building.
  • Accessory buildings: maximum 50 m² or 10% of the rear yard, whichever is greater, with no living quarters. Lot coverage is set by each zone.
  • A deck under 0.6 m high may extend 2 m into the rear yard setback.
  • Industrial One and Two zones allow 6.0 m height.
  • The deck guide is an older City handout; the online application and email inspection booking are current.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Comox · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach

Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Building and plumbing permits, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 3114, section 3.3 (PDF), City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Guide to Residential Deck Construction (PDF), City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, Part 2 (consolidated July 21, 2026, PDF), City of Courtenay (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. How answers are checked.