---
title: Harrison Hot Springs permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Harrison Hot Springs?"
place: Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Harrison Hot Springs permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Harrison Hot Springs you do not need a building permit for a deck of 20 m² or less, or a single-storey detached shed up to 20 m² that is not lived in. Larger ones need a Fraser Valley Regional District permit. Village zoning rules on size and setbacks apply either way.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** No permit fee if exempt. Otherwise see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not applicable if exempt. The bylaw does not state a processing time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: FVRD Building Inspection, 604-702-5016 (toll free 1-800-528-0061)
- Email: FVRD Building Inspection, building@fvrd.bc.ca
- In person: Village Office, 495 Hot Springs Road, Harrison Hot Springs, BC V0M 1K0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** No building permit if it is a single-storey detached accessory building up to 20 m² (215 sq ft) that is not used for residential occupancy, including after any addition. Larger ones need a permit.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1188, 2013 (PDF, consolidated), Fraser Valley Regional District, s. 5.4(a) and (b)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Building/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%201188,%202013%20-%20Bulding%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a new single storey detached accessory" … "20 square metres (215 square feet);"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Decks:** No building permit if the total deck area is 20 m² (215 sq ft) or less, including any addition. The bylaw sets no height threshold.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1188, 2013 (PDF, consolidated), Fraser Valley Regional District, s. 5.4(c)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Building/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%201188,%202013%20-%20Bulding%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a new deck or an addition to an existing deck where the total area of the deck" … "does not exceed 20 square metres (215 square feet) after the new construction"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Garages and carports:** Not confirmed. The building bylaw does not name garages or carports in its exemptions.
- **Zoning limits:** Accessory buildings in residential zones R-1 to R-4: at most 2 buildings or structures, 5 m high. Setbacks (R-1): front 15 m, rear 1.5 m, interior side 1.5 m, exterior side 7.5 m; other zones differ. Total accessory floor area including a coach house cannot exceed 90 m² where a coach house is built. A swimming pool, spa or hot tub must be at least 15 m from the front lot line and outside side and rear setbacks. Lot coverage is 40% in R-1 and R-2.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 15, 2025), s. 7.1.1 Additional Requirements, 4.2, 4.8](https://www.harrisonhotsprings.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1115--%28Consolidated-to-December-15%2C-2025%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Maximum Number of" … "Maximum Height (m) 5 5 5 5 NA" … "must not be located within 15.0 m of a Front" … "Maximum Lot Coverage (%) 40 40 55 55 50"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** FVRD Building Bylaw No. 1188, 2013 (s. 5.4) and Village Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (s. 4.2 and s. 7.1).
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1188, 2013 (PDF, consolidated), Fraser Valley Regional District, title page](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Building/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%201188,%202013%20-%20Bulding%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 1188, 2013"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 15, 2025), title page](https://www.harrisonhotsprings.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1115--%28Consolidated-to-December-15%2C-2025%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 1115, 2017"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Two sets of rules apply in Harrison Hot Springs: the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) [Building Bylaw No. 1188, 2013](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Building/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%201188,%202013%20-%20Bulding%20Bylaw.pdf) decides if you need a building permit, and the Village's [Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017](https://www.harrisonhotsprings.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1115--%28Consolidated-to-December-15%2C-2025%29.pdf) sets size and setbacks.

- **Shed:** no building permit if it is a single-storey detached accessory building up to 20 m² (215 sq ft), not used as a residence, including after any addition. Larger ones need a permit.
- **Deck:** no permit if the total deck area is 20 m² (215 sq ft) or less, including any addition. The bylaw sets no height threshold. Larger decks fall under the general rule for construction valued at $2,000 or more.
- **Garage or carport:** the building bylaw does not name garages or carports in its exemptions. A detached accessory building over 20 m², or other construction valued at $2,000 or more, needs a permit. A garage or carport attached to the main building is treated as part of it in zoning.

## Zoning limits

- Accessory buildings in residential zones R-1 to R-4: at most 2 buildings or structures, 5 m high.
- R-1 setbacks: front 15 m, rear 1.5 m, interior side 1.5 m, exterior side 7.5 m. Other zones differ.
- Where a coach house is built, total accessory floor area including it cannot exceed 90 m².
- A swimming pool, spa or hot tub must be at least 15 m from the front lot line and outside side and rear setbacks.
- Lot coverage is 40% in R-1 and R-2.

## Steps

1. Check your zone and setbacks with the Village Office (604-796-2171).
2. If a permit is needed, apply to the FVRD (building@fvrd.bc.ca, 604-702-5016).

## Good to know

- The R-1 setback table was read from extracted text; confirm the figures with the Village before you build.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Bylaw No. 1188, 2013 (PDF, consolidated), Fraser Valley Regional District](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Building/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%201188,%202013%20-%20Bulding%20Bylaw.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 15, 2025), Village of Harrison Hot Springs](https://www.harrisonhotsprings.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1115--%28Consolidated-to-December-15%2C-2025%29.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Harrison Hot Springs building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/building-permit.md)
- [Harrison Hot Springs building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Harrison Hot Springs fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/fence-rules.md)
- [Harrison Hot Springs zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/zoning-lookup.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)
- [Kent](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Bylaw No. 1188, 2013 (PDF, consolidated), Fraser Valley Regional District](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Building/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%201188,%202013%20-%20Bulding%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1115, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 15, 2025), Village of Harrison Hot Springs](https://www.harrisonhotsprings.ca/sites/default/files/2026-03/Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1115--%28Consolidated-to-December-15%2C-2025%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Inspection, Village of Harrison Hot Springs](https://www.harrisonhotsprings.ca/services/building-inspection) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, Village of Harrison Hot Springs](https://www.harrisonhotsprings.ca/contact-us) (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 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/deck-shed-garage-permit/_