{"title":"Duncan 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/duncan","name":"Duncan","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":"City of Duncan","url":"https://duncan.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Duncan, porches and exterior decks need a building permit, and so does an accessory building or structure larger than 8 m² (sheds, garages, carports). One of 8 m² or less within the required setbacks does not. Zoning limits apply either way.","aliases":["shed permit duncan","deck permit duncan","garage permit duncan bc","carport permit duncan"],"cost":"Plan review fee plus building permit fee; see the building-permit-fees answer. Building without a permit costs double the permit fee.","how_long":"Not stated on the City's pages.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Development Services (Building Inspector)","value":"250-746-6126"},{"type":"email","label":"Development Services","value":"developmentservices@duncan.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"City Hall","value":"200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1W3"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Do I Need a Building Permit? (PDF)","url":"https://duncan.ca/download/do-i-need-a-building-permit/"},{"title":"Building Permit Application","url":"https://duncan.ca/download/building-permit-application-2/"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 3166 (PDF)","url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Duncan building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Duncan building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Duncan zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Duncan fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Duncan secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/secondary-suite/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/north-cowichan","name":"North Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-cowichan","name":"Lake Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/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 new accessory building or structure larger than 8 m² needs a building permit. One of 8 m² or less within the required setbacks does not.","short":"Yes, if larger than 8 m²","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.ca/download/do-i-need-a-building-permit/","title":"Do I Need a Building Permit? (PDF), City of Duncan","section":"Do I Need a Building Permit?","quotes":["Construct a new accessory building or","structure larger than 8m2","Construction of a new accessory building or","structure 8m2 or less within the required setbacks"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"Building permit needed to construct, cover or enclose porches and exterior decks. The City's list gives no height threshold for decks.","short":"Yes; no height threshold stated","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.ca/download/do-i-need-a-building-permit/","title":"Do I Need a Building Permit? (PDF), City of Duncan","section":"Do I Need a Building Permit?","quotes":["Construct, cover, or enclose porches","and exterior decks"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"A garage or carport is an accessory building: building permit needed if larger than 8 m². Attached to the house, it is an addition or renovation, which needs a permit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.ca/download/do-i-need-a-building-permit/","title":"Do I Need a Building Permit? (PDF), City of Duncan","section":"Do I Need a Building Permit?","quotes":["Construct a new accessory building or","structure larger than 8m2","Renovate or add on to an existing"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"Low Density Residential: accessory buildings must be 1.2 m from the house; max height 5 m (7.5 m with a detached suite on the second storey); setbacks front 6 m, rear 1.5 m, interior side 1.5 m, exterior side 3 m; parcel coverage 50%. One accessory building under 10 m², on the ground, up to 3 m high may be 1 m from side and rear lines. No dwelling use or bathing facilities unless a permitted detached suite.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026)","section":"s. 3.3.2, 3.3.4, 3.11.1, 4.3.1","quotes":["Accessory buildings, regardless of zone, must be sited at least 1.2 m from a principal","may be sited not less than 1 m from an interior side or rear parcel line","the accessory building or structure has a gross floor area less than 10 m2","the height of the accessory building or structure does not exceed 3 m","5 m for buildings without a detached secondary suite","7.5 m for buildings with a detached secondary suite on","Maximum Parcel Coverage","50%","contain bathing facilities"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (consolidated to August 24, 2026); Building Bylaw No. 3254, 2026","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026)","section":"Part 3 and Part 4","quotes":["City of Duncan Zoning Bylaw No. 3166"]},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/37448","title":"City of Duncan bylaws folder (Building Bylaw No. 3254, 2026)","section":"Bylaw list","quotes":["Building Bylaw No. 3254, 2026"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe City of Duncan's checklist says a building permit is needed to construct, cover or enclose a porch or exterior deck, and to build an accessory building or structure larger than 8 m². The City's list gives no height threshold for decks. A garage or carport is an accessory building, so it needs a permit if larger than 8 m². Attached to the house, it is an addition, which also needs a permit. Zoning separately controls size and distance from property lines, so check both. The City's current [Building Bylaw](https://duncan.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/37448) could not be read for this answer.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find your zone on the City's zoning map and read the accessory building rules in the [Zoning Bylaw](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322).\n2. Phone Development Services at 250-746-6126 if you are near the 8 m² line or unsure.\n3. Submit the Building Permit Application and pay the fees.\n4. Build only after the permit is issued.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- In the Low Density Residential zone, accessory buildings must be at least 1.5 m from rear and interior side lines, 3 m from an exterior side line and 6 m from the front line, and no more than 5 m high (7.5 m with a detached suite on the second storey).\n- Parcel coverage in that zone is 50%.\n- One accessory building under 10 m², on the ground and up to 3 m high, may be 1 m from side and rear lines.\n- An accessory building must be 1.2 m from the house. It may not be used as a dwelling or have bathing facilities unless it is a permitted detached suite.\n- Pools, hot tubs and spas deeper than 0.5 m, and pool fences, also need a permit.\n- Other zones have their own tables. Unlawful setbacks, parcel coverage or height are each a $200 bylaw notice.","sources":[{"url":"https://duncan.ca/download/do-i-need-a-building-permit/","title":"Do I Need a Building Permit? (PDF), City of Duncan","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/37448","title":"City of Duncan bylaws folder (Building Bylaw No. 3254, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw (PDF), City of Duncan","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/duncan/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}