Fernie permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?
Short answer
In the City of Fernie a new garage, a deck, or enclosing a carport generally needs a building permit. The bylaw exempts an accessory building under 10 m² (no plumbing, sleeping or cooking facilities) and an unenclosed deck less than 0.6 m above grade.
Key facts
| Sheds | No building permit for a shed or accessory building under 10 m² that has no plumbing fixtures, sleeping or cooking facilities. The City's web page adds: under 3.048 m (10 ft) tall, used for storage, on residentially zoned land. Larger buildings need a permit.Sources differ: The bylaw has no height limit or residential-zone condition for this exemption; the web page adds them. Bylaw wins. The shed must still meet zoning setbacks and coverage, and needs a development permit if in a Development Permit Area. A residential accessory building over 25 m² also needs a security deposit.Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025, s. 4.4(b); Building Permits and Inspections, Building Permit Exemptions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingan accessory building or structure with a building area of less than 10 square metres that does not contain plumbing fixtures, sleeping or cooking facilities; A building permit is not required for detached accessory buildings (sheds) less than 10 m2 (107 sq ft) in building area and 3.048 m2 (10 ft) tall, when used for the purpose of storage on a residential zoned property only. |
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| Decks | A building permit is needed to build a deck, except an unenclosed deck or raised platform less than 0.6 m above finished grade, which the Building Bylaw does not cover.Sources differ: The City web page lists 'construct a deck' without a height threshold; the bylaw exempts low unenclosed decks. Bylaw wins. A development permit may also be needed in a Development Permit Area. Zoning allows balconies and sundecks to project up to 1.3 m (not over 50% of the distance to the parcel line) into a required setback (Zoning Bylaw s. 3.7(4)(d)).Building Permits and Inspections, Building Permit Requirements; Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025, s. 4.4(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording- add to an existing building; - construct a deck; - change the occupancy of an existing building, i.e. from office to retail; An unenclosed deck or raised platform less than 0.6m above finished grade; and |
| Garages and carports | Yes for a new garage, including a detached garage, which needs its own building permit application. Enclosing a carport or converting a garage to living space also needs a permit. Only accessory buildings under 10 m² (no plumbing, sleeping or cooking) are exempt.Building Permits and Inspections, Multiple Building Permit Requirements; Building Permit Requirements; Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025, s. 4.4(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingrequires two separate building permit applications - one for the main dwelling and a separate application for the detached garage, suite, or carriage house. enclose your carport or change your garage to living space; an accessory building or structure with a building area of less than 10 square metres that does not contain plumbing fixtures, sleeping or cooking facilities; |
| Zoning limits | In the R-SS zone: accessory buildings may be up to 5.0 m high, with 1.5 m side and rear setbacks; parcel coverage may exceed the limit by 5% for accessory buildings. An accessory building cannot be built before the main building. Other zones differ.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, R-SS zone, s. 4.2.1(4) and (5)(5); s. 3.6(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording8.0 m. 8.0 m. 5.0 m. 5.0 m. Accessory Building (non-Dwelling Unit) Rear Yard 1.5 m. 1.5 m. Side Yard 1.5 m. 1.5 m. The Maximum Parcel Coverage regulation may be exceeded by an additional 5% to allow for the inclusion of accessory buildings and structures. No person shall erect an accessory building or structure on any parcel unless the principal building to which the accessory building is an incidental use has been erected |
| Bylaw | Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025 (s. 4.4), and Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (s. 3.6 and the zone regulations)Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025, s. 4.4; Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750, s. 3.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBuilding and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526 3.6 ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES CONSOLIDATED ZONING BYLAW NO. 1750 |
How it works
Building and Plumbing Bylaw 2526 requires a permit to construct a building or structure unless it is exempt. Exempt under the bylaw: an accessory building under 10 m² with no plumbing fixtures, sleeping or cooking facilities, and an unenclosed deck or raised platform less than 0.6 m above finished grade. Larger buildings need a permit.
Good to know
- Garage: a new garage, including a detached one, needs its own building permit application. Converting a garage to living space also needs a permit.
- Carport: enclosing a carport needs a permit. Neither the bylaw nor the City's pages mention an open carport by itself; a carport of 10 m² or more is not covered by the small-building exemption, so ask the Building Department.
- Deck: the City's page lists "construct a deck" as needing a permit without a height threshold. The bylaw exempts an unenclosed deck less than 0.6 m above grade. The bylaw is followed here, but confirm with the Building Department before building a low deck.
- Shed: the City's page adds that an exempt shed must be under 3.048 m (10 ft) tall, used for storage, on residentially zoned land. The bylaw states none of these conditions, so confirm with the City.
- Zoning still applies: even an exempt shed must meet zoning setbacks and parcel coverage, and needs a development permit if it is in a Development Permit Area. In the R-SS zone, accessory buildings may be up to 5.0 m high with 1.5 m side and rear setbacks, and cannot be built before the main building. Other zones differ.
- Balconies and sundecks may project up to 1.3 m (not over 50% of the distance to the parcel line) into a required setback.
- A residential accessory building over 25 m² also needs a security deposit.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Sparwood · Cranbrook · Elkford · Kimberley · Canal Flats · Creston
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526, 2025 (PDF), City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Permits and Inspections, City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
- Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 1750 (PDF), City of Fernie (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.