Golden permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?

Golden, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Golden a deck more than 2 ft above grade needs a Town building permit, and so does a new garage or carport. A shed or other building of 10 m² or less does not, but it must still meet zoning setbacks.

Key facts

Sheds	A shed or other accessory building of 10 m² or less (Town web page; the guideline PDF says under 10 m²) does not need a building permit; check setbacks. Larger ones need a permit; the simplified checklist covers a new garage, shed or accessory building.Building and Demolition Permits, When you DON'T need a permit; Building Permit Application Guideline 2026 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Constructing an accessory building less than or equal to 10m2. Check setbacks! Checklist for Part 9 Buildings (e.g. Additions or Changes in Occupancy or New Garage/Shed/Accessory Building). decks, porches, garages, carports, workshops, sheds, greenhouses, swimming pools, wood burning appliances, retaining
Decks	A deck more than 2 ft above grade needs a building permit, and so does adding a roof to a deck.Building and Demolition Permits, When you DO need a permit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Building a deck over 2ft above grade Installing solar panels or adding a roof to an entry or deck
Garages and carports	A new garage or carport needs a building permit (the guideline lists both), unless the building is under 10 m². Enclosing a carport or changing a garage to living space also needs one.Building and Demolition Permits, When you DO need a permit; Building Permit Application Guideline 2026 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Enclosing your carport or changing your garage to a living space Checklist for Part 9 Buildings (e.g. Additions or Changes in Occupancy or New Garage/Shed/Accessory Building). decks, porches, garages, floor area. Although the above work does not require a permit, owners are required to ensure that any carports, workshops, sheds, greenhouses, swimming pools, wood burning appliances, retaining occupancy and demolition off all buildings and structures including decks, porches, garages,
Zoning limits	Accessory buildings in residential zones: not in the front or exterior-side yard; total floor area at most the lesser of 65 m² or 50% of the main building; no taller than the main building; no more than two. R1S: 6.0 m high, 1.5 m from rear and interior lot lines, 3.0 m from exterior lot line; lot coverage 40%.Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, s. 6.2; Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, Schedule C (R1S) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording not be located within a Front Yard Area, or Exterior-Side Yard Area; exceeding the lesser of 65 mz or 50o/o of the Ground Floor Area of the not exceed the Builrling Height of the Principal Building; and not exceed two per Principat Building. Accessory Buildings and Structures 6.0 m Maximum Lot Coverage 40% Exterior Lot Line 3.0 m Accessory Buildings and Structures 6.0 m Rear Lot Line 1.5 m
Bylaw	Town of Golden Building Regulation Bylaw No. 1299, 2012; Town of Golden Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (s. 6.2)Building Regulation Bylaw No. 1299, 2012, s. 1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, s. 6.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Town of Golden Building Regulation Bylaw No. 1299,2012 6.2 Accessory Buildings and Structures

How it works

Building permits come from the Town under Building Regulation Bylaw No. 1299. Zoning rules in Bylaw No. 1294 apply on top of the permit rules.

Deck: a deck more than 2 ft above grade needs a building permit, and so does adding a roof to a deck. Neither Town page says what applies to a deck at or under 2 ft.
Shed or other accessory building: 10 m² or less does not need a building permit (the guideline says "under 10 m²"). Check setbacks. Larger ones need a permit.
Garage or carport: a new one needs a permit unless the building is under 10 m². Enclosing a carport or changing a garage to living space also needs one.

Steps

Work out the floor area and height of what you plan to build.
Check the zoning limits below, or ask Development Services.
If a permit is needed, use the simplified checklist for a new garage, shed or accessory building and email the application to building@golden.ca.
Pay the fee and arrange inspections (see the building-permit answer).

Good to know

Zoning limits for accessory buildings in residential zones: not in the front or exterior-side yard; total floor area at most the lesser of 65 m² or 50% of the main building; no taller than the main building; no more than two.
In R1S: 6.0 m high, 1.5 m from rear and interior lot lines, 3.0 m from the exterior lot line, and 40% lot coverage. Other zones differ.
The wildfire development permit area exempts sheds under 10 m² only if they are at least 10 m from the dwelling.
The posted zoning bylaw is the original 2011 text with no amendments merged, so check with Development Services.

What you'll need

Building permit application form and the simplified checklist for additions, garages and sheds

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Revelstoke · Radium Hot Springs · Invermere · Nakusp · New Denver · Sicamous

Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Building and Demolition Permits, Town of Golden (read 2026-11-08)
Building Permit Application Guideline 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Building Regulation Bylaw No. 1299, 2012 (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.