Gold River permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Gold River?
In Gold River a shed needs no building permit if it is one storey, 10 m² or less, 3 m or less to the peak and meets zoning. Larger sheds need a permit. The bylaw gives no exemption for garages or carports, and does not set a deck rule, so ask the Village before you build.
Key facts
| Sheds | An accessory building does not need a building permit if it is one storey, no more than 10 m² in floor area, no more than 3 m to the peak, and it meets the zoning bylaw. A larger shed needs a permit.Building Bylaw No. 651, 2005, s. 5.2(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingthe accessory building does not exceed 10 m2 in floor area; the accessory building is one storey; the accessory building does not exceed 3m to peak in height; and |
|---|---|
| Decks | None set. Gold River's Building Bylaw No. 651 sets no deck height or size threshold.Read: Building Bylaw No. 651, 2005 |
| Garages and carports | No exemption is stated for garages or carports, so the general rule applies: a building permit is required before constructing a building or structure. A garage or carport is not covered by the 10 m² accessory building exemption unless it meets all of its conditions.Building Bylaw No. 651, 2005, s. 8.1.1; Building Bylaw No. 651, 2005, s. 5.2(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinga building permit before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure; the accessory building does not exceed 10 m2 in floor area; |
| Zoning limits | Accessory buildings: one storey and at most 6.1 m (20 feet) high, except where a zone sets more (R-R: 9.1 m); at least 1.5 m from side and rear lot lines and other buildings; total accessory coverage at most 10% of permitted lot coverage; to the rear or side of the principal building (garages, carports and attached sundecks excepted).Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, s. 4.2.3-4.2.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingshall be to the rear or to the side of the principal building on a lot. shall not exceed one storey or 6.1 m (20 feet) in height. a minimum distance of 1.5 m (5 feet) between any accessory building and any side or rear lot line shall not exceed 10% of the permitted lot coverage. from the front lot line. shall exceed one storey or 6.1 m (20 feet) in height. ii. Accessory Building – 9.1 m |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 651, 2005 (s. 5.2 and s. 8.1); Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (s. 4.2)Building Bylaw No. 651, 2005, Title; Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, s. 4.2; Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBuilding Bylaw No. 651, 2005 4.1 APPLICABILITY ........................................................................................................ 20 4.2 ACCESSORY BUILDINGS ............................................................................................ 20 4.3 PARKING AND STORAGE OF VEHICLES IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES ............................................. 22 VILLAGE OF GOLD RIVER Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 VILLAGE OF GOLD RIVER VILLAGE OF GOLD RIVER ZONING BYLAW NO. 761, 2025 |
How it works
Under Building Bylaw No. 651, 2005, a permit is needed before you construct a building or structure unless section 5.2 exempts it. An accessory building such as a shed is exempt only if it is one storey, no more than 10 m² in floor area, no more than 3 m to the peak, and it meets the zoning bylaw. A larger shed needs a permit.
- Deck: the bylaw sets no deck height or size threshold. A deck is a structure, so the general permit rule applies unless an exemption fits. Ask the Village.
- Garage or carport: no exemption is stated, so the general rule applies and a permit is needed unless it meets every condition of the shed exemption.
Zoning limits for accessory buildings
Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, section 4.2, says an accessory building is one storey and at most 6.1 m (20 feet) high, except where a zone allows more (9.1 m in the R-R zone). It must be at least 1.5 m from side and rear lot lines and other buildings, and total accessory coverage is at most 10% of permitted lot coverage. It goes to the rear or side of the main building (garages, carports and attached sundecks excepted). Some zones set their own height and side yard rules.
Good to know
- Confirm your lot's zone and any extra limits with the Village office, 250-283-2202, before you build.
- A permit application follows the steps in the building-permit answer.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Tahsis · Campbell River · Tofino · Sayward · Cumberland · Courtenay
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Bylaw No. 651, 2005 (PDF), Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 734, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact, Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.