---
title: Fruitvale permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Fruitvale?"
place: Fruitvale, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/fruitvale
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Fruitvale
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Fruitvale permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Fruitvale a storage shed up to 10 m², one storey and 3 m to the peak needs no building permit if it meets zoning. A larger shed, a garage or a carport needs one. A covered or enclosed deck or porch needs one; no height limit is stated for an uncovered deck.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Fruitvale, https://fruitvale.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not stated by the Village. See the building-permit answer.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 1947 Beaver Street, Fruitvale, BC V0G 1L0 (Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Village Office, 250-367-7551
- Email: Village Office, info@village.fruitvale.bc.ca
- Phone: RDKB Building Officials, Trail, 250-368-0222 (Office: 202 - 843 Rossland Ave, Trail, BC V1R 4S8.)

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A storage shed needs no building permit under Bylaw 698 s. 5.2(d) if it is one storey, no more than 10 m² in floor area, no more than 3 m to the peak, and meets the zoning bylaw. A larger shed, garage or carport needs a permit.
  - Source: [Building Permit Information brochure, Pamphlet, 'A building permit is required to'](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Building-Permit-Information-brochure.pdf)
  - Official wording: "- construct a new accessory building such as a carport;" … "garage or storage shed;"
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003, s. 5.2(d)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/698-Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The storage shed does not exceed 10 square metres in floor area;" … "The storage shed does not exceed 3 m to peak in height and;" … "The storage shed is one story;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Decks:** The pamphlet lists enclosing a porch or a roof over a sundeck as needing a permit. No deck height threshold is stated for uncovered decks.
  - Source: [Building Permit Information brochure, Pamphlet](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Building-Permit-Information-brochure.pdf)
  - Official wording: "- enclose a porch or roof over a sundeck;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Garages and carports:** Yes. A new accessory building such as a carport or garage needs a building permit.
  - Source: [Building Permit Information brochure, Pamphlet](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Building-Permit-Information-brochure.pdf)
  - Official wording: "- construct a new accessory building such as a carport;" … "garage or storage shed;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Zoning limits:** Residential zones: no accessory building in a required front yard; at least 1 m from the house; lot coverage up to 14% in Residential Urban zones; at least 1.0 m from the side lot line (0 m if under 2.0 m high and 10 m²). In RU1 and RU2: 4.5 m maximum height and 1.5 m from the rear lot line.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, s. 7.5.3](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a minimum of 1 m from the principal residence." … "shall not exceed 14% in the Residential Urban" … "no less than 1.0 m from the side lot line" … "shall not be used as a dwelling unless it is a permitted" … "The maximum height is the lesser of 9.5 m or 2 ½ stories, except it is 4.5 m for accessory" … "The minimum rear yard is 6.0 m, except that it is 1.5 m for accessory buildings."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Fruitvale Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003; Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, s. 7.5
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003, s. 1.1](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/698-Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated, s. 7.5](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Accessory buildings or structures in residential zones:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the Village's [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/698-Building-Bylaw.pdf), a storage shed needs no building permit if it is one storey, no more than 10 m² in floor area, no more than 3 m to the peak, and meets the zoning bylaw (s. 5.2(d)). A larger shed, and any garage or carport, needs a permit. An RDKB brochure (revised January 2015) lists a new accessory building such as a carport or garage as needing a permit, and also enclosing a porch or putting a roof over a sundeck. No height threshold is stated for an uncovered deck, so ask the Building Official.

Zoning still applies to any accessory building (Zoning Bylaw No. 846, s. 7.5.3). In residential zones:

- No accessory building in a required front yard.
- At least 1 m from the house.
- Lot coverage up to 14% in Residential Urban zones.
- At least 1.0 m from the side lot line (0 m if under 2.0 m high and 10 m²).
- In RU1 and RU2: 4.5 m maximum height and 1.5 m from the rear lot line.

## Steps

1. Check your zone's accessory building rules in the [Zoning Bylaw](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf).
2. Decide whether your building falls under the shed exemption above.
3. If a permit is needed, apply as described in the building-permit answer. Call the Village Office (250-367-7551) or the RDKB Building Official in Trail (250-368-0222).

## Good to know

- Bylaw 698 s. 12.1.1 requires a permit for any building or structure and lists the shed exemption separately, so confirm with the Building Official for borderline cases.
- Height limits for accessory buildings in other zones are set zone by zone in the Zoning Bylaw.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003 (PDF)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/698-Building-Bylaw.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf)
- [Building Permit Information brochure (PDF)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Building-Permit-Information-brochure.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Fruitvale building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/building-permit.md)
- [Fruitvale building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Fruitvale zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Fruitvale fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/fence-rules.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)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 698, 2003 (PDF)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/698-Building-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 846, 2013, consolidated (PDF)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/846-Zoning-Bylaw-Final-Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permit Information brochure (PDF)](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Building-Permit-Information-brochure.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Fruitvale](https://fruitvale.ca/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Village of Fruitvale. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/deck-shed-garage-permit/_