{"title":"Cumberland permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","question":"Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?","slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Cumberland","url":"https://cumberland.ca"},"short_answer":"In the Village of Cumberland a deck needs a building permit unless it has no roof and is no more than 0.6 m above natural grade. A shed needs one unless it is under 10.0 m² and creates no hazard. Garages and carports need a permit.","aliases":["deck permit cumberland","shed permit cumberland bc","garage permit cumberland","carport permit cumberland"],"cost":"See the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"The Village does not state a processing time.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office","value":"2673 Dunsmuir Avenue, Cumberland, BC","note":"Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"250-336-2291"},{"type":"email","label":"Planner","value":"planning@cumberland.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Building and Plumbing Permits, Village of Cumberland","url":"https://cumberland.ca/building-permits/"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF)","url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Cumberland building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Cumberland building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Cumberland fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Cumberland zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/powell-river","name":"Powell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"topic":{"title":"Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},"facts":{"shed":{"label":"Sheds","value":"A permit is required for an accessory building unless it is under 10.0 m² of building area and does not create a hazard (the Building Bylaw does not apply to those).","short":"No if under 10.0 m² and no hazard","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bylaw-949-Building-Bylaw-CONS-Jan-17-2020.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 949, 2012, consolidated January 2020 (PDF)","section":"Part C s. 2(b)(ii)","quotes":["accessory buildings less than 10.0metres² in building area that do not create a hazard;"]},{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/building-permits/","title":"Building and Plumbing Permits, Village of Cumberland","section":"Building and Plumbing Permits page","quotes":["construction of a building or a structure, including accessory structures and buildings"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"A permit is required unless the deck has no roof and its floor is no more than 0.6 m (2.0 ft) above natural grade.","short":"Yes, unless roofless and 0.6 m or less above grade","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bylaw-949-Building-Bylaw-CONS-Jan-17-2020.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 949, 2012, consolidated January 2020 (PDF)","section":"Part C s. 2(b)(vii)","quotes":["decks without roofs, the floor of which are not more than 0.6metres (2.0feet)","above natural grade;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"Yes, a building permit is needed: the Village requires one for any building or structure including accessory buildings, and the only exemption is for accessory buildings under 10.0 m². No separate exemption for garages or carports is listed.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/building-permits/","title":"Building and Plumbing Permits, Village of Cumberland","section":"Building and Plumbing Permits page","quotes":["construction of a building or a structure, including accessory structures and buildings"]},{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bylaw-949-Building-Bylaw-CONS-Jan-17-2020.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 949, 2012, consolidated January 2020 (PDF)","section":"Part C s. 2(b)(ii)","quotes":["accessory buildings less than 10.0metres² in building area that do not create a hazard;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"R-1 zone accessory buildings: combined floor area at most 50.0 m², height at most 4.5 m; setbacks 3.0 m front, 1.5 m rear and sides, 4.5 m exterior side; lot coverage at most 50% (70% with impermeable surfaces). They cannot contain a dwelling or sleeping unit. R-3 allows 100.0 m² and 6.0 m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF)","section":"Table 10.5(2); s. 6.1(3)","quotes":["Maximum Floor Area 1 50.0 m2 2 50.0 m2 100.0 m2 25.0 m2 50.0 m2 50.0 m2","Maximum Height 4.5 m 2 4.5 m 6.0 m 4.5 m 4.5 m 4.5 m","No accessory building or structure can contain a dwelling unit or sleeping unit.","Minimum Exterior Side Setback 4.5 m 4.5 m 4.5 m 3.0 m 3.0 m","Maximum Lot Coverage 50% 40% 35% 45% 65% 65%"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building Bylaw No. 949, 2012 (as amended by Bylaw No. 1254, 2026); Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bylaw-949-Building-Bylaw-CONS-Jan-17-2020.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 949, 2012, consolidated January 2020 (PDF)","section":"Title page","quotes":["Cumberland Building Bylaw No. 949, 2012"]},{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as “Village of Cumberland Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025”."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder [Building Bylaw No. 949](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bylaw-949-Building-Bylaw-CONS-Jan-17-2020.pdf) the Village requires a permit for any building or structure, including accessory buildings.\n\n- **Shed:** a permit is required unless it is under 10.0 m² of building area and does not create a hazard.\n- **Deck:** a permit is required unless the deck has no roof and its floor is no more than 0.6 m (2.0 ft) above natural grade.\n- **Garage or carport:** a building permit is needed. The only exemption is for accessory buildings under 10.0 m², and no separate exemption for garages or carports is listed.\n\nEven when no building permit is needed, [Zoning Bylaw No. 1238](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf) still applies.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Check the zoning limits below. In the R-1 zone, accessory buildings may have a combined floor area of at most 50.0 m² and a height of at most 4.5 m. Setbacks are 3.0 m front, 1.5 m rear and sides, and 4.5 m exterior side. Lot coverage is at most 50% (70% with impermeable surfaces). The R-3 zone allows 100.0 m² and 6.0 m.\n3. If a permit is needed, follow the building-permit answer.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Accessory buildings cannot contain a dwelling or sleeping unit.\n- One accessory building under 10.0 m² may be exempt from the lot coverage calculation in the R-1 zone.\n- Other zones were not read; ask the Planner at planning@cumberland.ca or 250-336-2291.","sources":[{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/building-permits/","title":"Building and Plumbing Permits, Village of Cumberland","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bylaw-949-Building-Bylaw-CONS-Jan-17-2020.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 949, 2012, consolidated January 2020 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bylaw-1238-consolidated_27Jul2026_nav.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}