{"title":"Grand Forks permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","question":"Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?","slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/grand-forks","name":"Grand Forks","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Grand Forks","url":"https://www.grandforks.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Grand Forks, a shed or other accessory building under 10 m² (108 ft²) needs no building permit; at 10 m² or more it does. Garages and carports need one. The bylaw names no deck exemption, so a deck needs one too; confirm with Building Inspection. Zoning rules apply either way.","aliases":["shed permit grand forks","deck permit grand forks bc","garage permit grand forks","carport permit grand forks"],"cost":"1.0% of construction value ($10 per $1,000) for residential work including garages, carports and patios (Building Bylaw 2070, Appendix A). The bylaw lists no flat deck or shed fee.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building Inspection, City of Grand Forks","value":"250-442-8266"},{"type":"email","label":"City of Grand Forks","value":"info@grandforks.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"City Hall","value":"7217 4th Street, Grand Forks, BC V0H 1H0","note":"Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 2070 (PDF)","url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, consolidated (PDF)","url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Grand Forks building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Grand Forks building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Grand Forks fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Grand Forks zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/midway","name":"Midway","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/rossland","name":"Rossland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/warfield","name":"Warfield","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/trail","name":"Trail","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/montrose","name":"Montrose","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"topic":{"title":"Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},"facts":{"shed":{"label":"Sheds","value":"An accessory building with a floor area under 10 m² (108 ft²) does not need a building permit. At 10 m² or more it does. Zoning setbacks and height limits apply either way.","short":"No if under 10 m²","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2070 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 3.4(b)","quotes":["(b) an accessoiy building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres"]},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2070 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 7.1","quotes":["(a) constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure, including a. pool or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"The Building Bylaw names no deck height or size threshold and lists no exemption for decks, so s. 7.1 (permit before constructing a structure) applies. Appendix B values decks at $25 per ft² and covered decks at $30 per ft².","short":"Yes; no height or size threshold stated","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2070 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 3.4 and s. 7.1","quotes":["(c) a trellis, an arbour, a wall supporting soil that is less than 1.22 metres (4 ft) in height,","(a) constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure, including a. pool or"]},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2070 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"Appendix B","quotes":["Covered Decks $25.00 $30.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"Yes. Garages and carports are charged a building permit fee at 1.0% of construction value, and Appendix B values attached garages and carports. Only an accessory building under 10 m² is exempt from permits.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2070 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"Appendix A(b)","quotes":["(b) Residential, including garages, 1.0% of construction value carports & patios ($10.00 per $1,000) (c) Farm Buildings defined by the 0.7% of construction value","Institutional ($10.00 per $1,000) (b) Residential, including garages, 1.0% of construction value carports & patios ($10.00 per $1,000)"]},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2070 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 3.4(b)","quotes":["(b) an accessoiy building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"R-1 and R-2 zones: accessory buildings up to 4.8 m high (7.6 m for accessory dwelling units such as a garden suite); at least 1.5 m from a rear or side parcel line and no closer to the front line than the principal building's facing wall; at least 1 m from the house; total accessory lot coverage no more than the principal building's.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026) (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 36.7, 36.8, 36.11, 13.1","quotes":["36.7 No accessory building or structure shall exceed 4.8 metres in height except for","36.8 The total of all the accessory buildings shall have a lot coverage not greater than the lot","36.11 No accessory building shall be located closer than 1.5 metres to a rear or side parcel line","13.1   No accessory building or accessory structure shall be located within 1 metre of any principal","No accessory building or structure shall exceed 4.8 metres in height except for","Accessory Dwelling Units which shall not exceed 7.6 metres in height."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building Bylaw No. 2070 (s. 3.4, 7.1) and Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018 (s. 13 and Part VI zones)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2070 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"title","quotes":["BUILDING BYLAW No. 2070"]},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026) (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"title","quotes":["ZONING BYLAW NO. 2039, 2018"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe City of Grand Forks [Building Bylaw 2070](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf) requires a permit before constructing a structure. It exempts only an accessory building with a floor area under 10 m² (108 ft²), plus fences, trellises, arbours, low soil-retaining walls and similar landscape structures. It names no deck height or size threshold, so a deck falls under the general permit rule. Garages and carports are charged a permit fee, and Appendix B of the bylaw values attached garages, carports and decks.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the zoning limits below, which apply whether or not a permit is needed.\n2. Ask Building Inspection (250-442-8266) whether a low deck or small shed needs a permit.\n3. If it does, follow the steps in the building permit answer.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- In R-1 and R-2 zones, accessory buildings may be up to 4.8 m high (7.6 m for accessory dwelling units such as a garden suite), at least 1.5 m from a rear or side parcel line, and no closer to the front line than the principal building's facing wall.\n- Accessory buildings in those zones must be at least 1 m from the house, and all accessory buildings together may not cover more of the lot than the principal building.\n- In R-1, R-1A and R-2 total lot coverage is 50%. R-1A limits accessory floor area to 50% of the principal building. R-4 and R-4A allow up to 50%, at least 1.5 m from a rear or side line. Other zones have their own figures.\n- Accessory buildings over 25 m² need a security deposit set by the Chief Administrative Officer.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2070Building-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 2070 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026) (PDF), City of Grand Forks","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/PAYMENT-OPTIONS.pdf","title":"Payment Options (PDF), City of Grand Forks","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}