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

# Dawson Creek permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Dawson Creek a deck and a detached garage need a building permit. A shed under 10 m2 (108 ft2) is listed by the City as not needing one, but the bylaw sets no shed size. Carports are not named, so ask Building Inspection. Zoning rules apply to all of them.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Dawson Creek, https://www.dawsoncreek.ca)  
**Cost:** The minimum building permit fee of $73.37 plus taxes in 2026 includes a deck or shed. A detached garage is charged by project value; see building-permit-fees.  
**Where:**
- Email: Building Inspection (applications and questions), buildinginspection@dawsoncreek.ca
- Phone: Building Inspection, 250-743-6333
- In person: Development Services, temporary offices (City Hall is relocated), Unit 1C, 11000 8 Street, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4K6 (Counter hours are not published on the pages read.)

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A shed under 10 m² (108 ft²) is listed as not needing a building permit. The City lists adding an accessory building, equipment room, shed or detached garage as needing one.
  - Source: [Building and Renovating, Apply for a Permit](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/)
  - Official wording: "sheds under 10m2 (108 ft2)" … "adding an accessory building, equipment room, shed or detached garage"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** Building or altering a deck needs a building permit.
  - Source: [Building and Renovating, Examples of when you need a permit](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/)
  - Official wording: "building or altering a deck"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** A detached garage needs a building permit, as do additions or alterations to an attached garage.
  - Source: [Building and Renovating, Examples of when you need a permit](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/)
  - Official wording: "adding an accessory building, equipment room, shed or detached garage" … "additions or alterations to attached garages"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** In R zones, total accessory buildings and structures may not exceed 72.5 m² per parcel, and must be built with or after the main building. In RS-1: height 5.0 m, setbacks 7.5 m front, 1.2 m interior side, 3.0 m exterior side, 0.6 m rear; parcel coverage 50%.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026, s. 5.13](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791)
  - Official wording: "Accessory buildings or structures must be built either simultaneously or after the principal building" … "the total combined floor area of accessory buildings and accessory structures shall not exceed 72.5 m2 per parcel"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026, s. 6.12.1 (RS-1 table)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791)
  - Official wording: "d) Minimum Setback of Accessory Buildings and Structures" … "From interior side parcel line 1.2 m" … "From rear parcel line 0.6 m" … "h) Maximum Height of Accessory Buildings and Structures (excluding" … "j) Maximum Parcel Coverage 50%"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Regulation Bylaw No. 4287, 2016 (permits); Zoning Bylaw No. 4625, 2026 (s. 5.13 and zone regulations)
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw 4287 (consolidated), s. 1.1](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112177)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING REGULATION BYLAW NO. 4287, 2016"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026, s. 1](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “ZONING BYLAW NO. 4625, 2026"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City's building page lists building or altering a deck, building a gazebo, and adding an accessory building, equipment room, shed or detached garage as work that needs a permit. It also lists additions or alterations to an attached garage. It lists "sheds under 10m2 (108 ft2)" as not needing one. The [Building Regulation Bylaw](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112177) (s. 6.1) requires a permit for a building or structure and sets no shed size, and no deck height threshold is stated, so confirm before you build. [Zoning Bylaw 4625](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791) applies either way.

## Steps

1. Check the zoning rules for your lot (see zoning-lookup).
2. Download the deck, shed or detached garage package from the Residential Building Permits page.
3. Email the completed package to buildinginspection@dawsoncreek.ca.
4. Book inspections as work proceeds.

## Good to know

- In the RS-1 zone, an accessory building can be no taller than 5.0 m and must be at least 1.2 m from an interior side line, 3.0 m from an exterior side line and 0.6 m from the rear line. Parcel coverage is 50%. Other zones differ slightly.
- In R zones, all accessory buildings and structures together may not exceed 72.5 m2 per parcel, and must be built with or after the main building.
- Carports are not named on the City pages; the bylaw treats a building or structure as needing a permit, so ask Building Inspection.

## What you'll need

- The Deck, Shed or Detached Garage Application Package
- Site plan and scaled drawings

## Official forms and pages

- [Residential Building Permits (application packages)](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/residential-building-permits/)

## Related questions

- [Dawson Creek building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/building-permit.md)
- [Dawson Creek building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Dawson Creek fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/fence-rules.md)
- [Dawson Creek zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/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)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building and Renovating, City of Dawson Creek](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Residential Building Permits, City of Dawson Creek](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/residential-building-permits/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Regulation Bylaw 4287 (consolidated)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112177) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 3932 (consolidated), Schedules E and F (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/136171) (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 Dawson Creek. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/deck-shed-garage-permit/_