Grand Forks permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?
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.
Key facts
| Sheds | 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.Building Bylaw No. 2070, s. 3.4(b); Building Bylaw No. 2070, s. 7.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording(b) an accessoiy building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres (a) constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure, including a. pool or |
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| Decks | 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.Building Bylaw No. 2070, s. 3.4 and s. 7.1; Building Bylaw No. 2070, Appendix B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording(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 Covered Decks $25.00 $30.00 |
| Garages and carports | 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.Building Bylaw No. 2070, Appendix A(b); Building Bylaw No. 2070, s. 3.4(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording(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) (b) an accessoiy building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres |
| Zoning limits | 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026), s. 36.7, 36.8, 36.11, 13.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording36.7 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. |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 2070 (s. 3.4, 7.1) and Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018 (s. 13 and Part VI zones)Building Bylaw No. 2070, title; Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUILDING BYLAW No. 2070 ZONING BYLAW NO. 2039, 2018 |
How it works
The City of Grand Forks Building Bylaw 2070 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.
Steps
- Check the zoning limits below, which apply whether or not a permit is needed.
- Ask Building Inspection (250-442-8266) whether a low deck or small shed needs a permit.
- If it does, follow the steps in the building permit answer.
Good to know
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Accessory buildings over 25 m² need a security deposit set by the Chief Administrative Officer.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Midway · Rossland · Warfield · Trail · Montrose · Castlegar
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Bylaw No. 2070 (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40, updated October 13, 2026) (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
- Payment Options (PDF), City of Grand Forks (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.