---
title: Esquimalt permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Esquimalt?"
place: Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/esquimalt
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Township of Esquimalt
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Esquimalt permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Esquimalt a permit is needed before you build a deck, shed, carport or garage unless the BC Building Code exempts it. The Township's bylaw sets no size or height limit of its own, so call Building Inspection before you build.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Township of Esquimalt, https://www.esquimalt.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees are based on the value of the work. See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not stated by the Township.  
**Where:**
- Email: Building Inspection, building@esquimalt.ca
- Phone: Building permits and inspections, 250-414-7103
- In person: Municipal Hall, 1229 Esquimalt Rd, Esquimalt, BC V9A 3P1 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A permit is required before constructing a building or structure unless the BC Building Code exempts it. The bylaw states no shed size threshold.
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2899 (PDF, consolidated Nov. 6, 2023), s. 6.1.1; s. 3.2](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/bylaw-2899-building-regulation-bylaw-2017-consolidated-nov-6-2023pdf)
  - Official wording: "before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;" … "This Bylaw does not apply to buildings or structures exempted by the Building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** A permit is required before constructing a structure unless the BC Building Code exempts it. The bylaw states no deck height threshold.
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2899 (PDF, consolidated Nov. 6, 2023), s. 6.1.1; s. 3.2](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/bylaw-2899-building-regulation-bylaw-2017-consolidated-nov-6-2023pdf)
  - Official wording: "before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;" … "This Bylaw does not apply to buildings or structures exempted by the Building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** A garage or carport is a building, so a permit is required before constructing it unless the BC Building Code exempts it. The bylaw states no size threshold.
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2899 (PDF, consolidated Nov. 6, 2023), s. 6.1.1; s. 3.2](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/bylaw-2899-building-regulation-bylaw-2017-consolidated-nov-6-2023pdf)
  - Official wording: "before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;" … "This Bylaw does not apply to buildings or structures exempted by the Building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** In RS-1: an accessory building may be at most 3.6 m high; all accessory buildings and structures together at most 10% of the lot; not in front of the front face of the house; at least 1.5 m from side and rear lot lines (3.6 m from an exterior side lot line) and 2.5 m from the house. All buildings together at most 30% of the lot.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 34(6), (8), (9)(b) RS-1](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "No Accessory Building shall exceed a Height of 3.6 metres." … "All Accessory Buildings and Structures combined shall not exceed 10% of the Area of Parcel." … "No Accessory Building shall be located in front of the front face of the Principal Building." … "No Accessory Building shall be located within 1.5 metres of a Rear Lot Line." … "No Accessory Building shall be located within 2.5 metres of a Principal Building."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2899 (permits); Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (s. 21 and each zone)
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2899 (PDF, consolidated Nov. 6, 2023), Title](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/bylaw-2899-building-regulation-bylaw-2017-consolidated-nov-6-2023pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING REGULATION BYLAW, 2017, NO. 2899"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), Title; s. 21](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW, 1992, NO. 2050" … "ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND USES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Esquimalt's [Building Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2899](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/bylaw-2899-building-regulation-bylaw-2017-consolidated-nov-6-2023pdf) requires a permit before you construct a building or structure unless the BC Building Code exempts it. Sheds, decks, garages and carports are all covered. The bylaw states no shed size or deck height threshold, and the exemptions sit in the BC Building Code, so a small shed or low deck may or may not need a permit. Call Building Inspection before you build.

Separately, the [Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf) limits where and how big accessory buildings can be, permit or not.

In RS-1, the common single-family zone:

- An accessory building may be at most 3.6 m high.
- All accessory buildings and structures together may cover at most 10% of the lot, and all buildings together at most 30%.
- Not in front of the front face of the house.
- At least 1.5 m from side and rear lot lines (3.6 m from an exterior side lot line) and 2.5 m from the house.
- It cannot be built before the principal building.

## Steps

1. Find your zone and read its accessory building rules (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Email building@esquimalt.ca or call 250-414-7103 with the type, size and height of what you plan.
3. If a permit is needed, follow the building-permit answer.

## Good to know

- Other zones have their own numbers.
- Building an accessory building that breaks the Zoning Bylaw is a bylaw notice of $300 ($250 if paid early, $350 if late).

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2899 (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/bylaw-2899-building-regulation-bylaw-2017-consolidated-nov-6-2023pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf)

## Related questions

- [Esquimalt building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/building-permit.md)
- [Esquimalt building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Esquimalt fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/fence-rules.md)
- [Esquimalt zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/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)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2899 (PDF, consolidated Nov. 6, 2023), Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/bylaw-2899-building-regulation-bylaw-2017-consolidated-nov-6-2023pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contacts, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/municipal-services/contacts) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2014, No. 2839 (PDF, consolidated), Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2026-09-bylaw-2839-bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidation) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Township of Esquimalt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/deck-shed-garage-permit/_