Fort St. John permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?
Short answer
In Fort St. John, every deck needs a Deck Building Permit and a shed larger than 10 m² needs a Shed Building Permit. A garage needs a building permit; the City has a package for garages and accessory buildings. The basic fee for a deck or shed permit is $60. Zoning rules apply to all.
Key facts
| Sheds | A Shed Building Permit is required for a shed larger than 10 m². The bylaw states no permit rule for smaller sheds.Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 31(a), (i) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga Shed Building Permit before construction of a shed that is greater than 10m2; a Building Permit before constructing, reconstructing, repairing or altering a building, structure, deck, or a shed that is greater than 10m2 in area |
|---|---|
| Decks | A Deck Building Permit is required before construction of a deck. The bylaw sets no height threshold. A deck is a structure attached to a dwelling, floor on posts and beams above grade, with no walls except visual partitions and railings.Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 31(c), s. 1; Building Permit Fees, Fees page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga Deck Building Permit before construction of a deck; “DECK” means a structure attached to a dwelling, with no walls except for visual partitions Basic Fee for Each $60.00 |
| Garages and carports | A Building Permit is required before constructing a building or structure. The City has a permit package for 'Garage and Accessory Buildings'. The Building Bylaw has no separate garage or carport exemption.Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 31(a); Building Permits, Applying for a Permit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga Building Permit before constructing, reconstructing, repairing or altering a building, Building Permit Package - Garage and Accessory Buildings [PDF/437KB] (for garage and accessory buildings) |
| Zoning limits | Accessory buildings are not allowed in a front yard. Setbacks: 1.0 m from interior lot lines, 3.0 m from flanking street lines, 1.5 m from rear line and from other buildings. In R and RM zones: total floor area of all accessory buildings at most 10% of the lot or 90 m² (whichever is less); height at most two storeys and 7.0 m, or the principal building's height if less.Sources differ: Also: must be built of similar exterior materials and colours as the principal building (s. 4.18.8); the principal building must be built first or at the same time (s. 4.18.1); an accessory building over 7.0 m high adds 0.3 m to side and rear setbacks per metre over. In Ag and I zones total area is at most 5% of the lot. Fine for accessory building infringement: $100.00/offence/day (Zoning Schedule B).Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4.18 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAccessory buildings are not permitted in the front yard and must meet the following a. 1.0 m from interior parcel lines; b. 3.0 m from flanking exterior side parcel lines; c. 1.5 m from rear parcel line; and exceed 10% of the area of the parcel, or 90.0 m2, whichever is less. two storeys and up to 7.0 m in height or the height of the principal building, whichever is less. |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024; Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, cover; Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4.18 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUILDING BYLAW NO. 2589, 2024 Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (Consolidated Version) 4.0 General Regulations 4.18 Accessory Buildings This section 1. Accessory buildings, including detached suites, accessory structures or accessory uses shall |
How it works
Building Bylaw 2589, 2024 requires a Deck Building Permit before any deck is built, and a Shed Building Permit before a shed larger than 10 m² is built. The bylaw sets no height threshold for decks. It also does not apply to buildings or structures the Building Code exempts. The City has a permit package called "Garage and Accessory Buildings", and the bylaw has no separate garage or carport exemption.
Steps
- For a garage, use the Garage and Accessory Buildings package. For a deck or shed, ask Building Inspection which application applies.
- Submit it to the City and pay the fee ($60 basic fee for a deck or shed).
- Request an inspection by calling 250-787-8150. A deck must be inspected before the work is covered.
- For a carport, or a shed of 10 m² or less, ask Building Inspection. The bylaw does not mention carports and states no permit rule for smaller sheds.
Good to know
- Zoning rules apply to any size of shed. Under Zoning Bylaw 2470 s. 4.18, accessory buildings are not allowed in a front yard. They must be 1.0 m from interior lot lines, 3.0 m from flanking street lines, and 1.5 m from the rear line and from other buildings.
- In R and RM zones, all accessory buildings together may cover at most 10% of the lot or 90 m², whichever is less. Height is at most two storeys and 7.0 m, or the principal building's height if less. An accessory building over 7.0 m high adds 0.3 m to side and rear setbacks per metre over.
- In Ag and I zones the total is at most 5% of the lot.
- The principal building must be built first or at the same time, and the accessory building must use similar exterior materials and colours.
- The fine for breaking the accessory building rules is $100 per offence per day.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Taylor · Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe · Hudson's Hope · Chetwynd · Tumbler Ridge
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated) (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Permit Fees, City of Fort St. John (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Permits, City of Fort St. John (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.