---
title: Highlands permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Highlands?"
place: Highlands, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/highlands
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Highlands
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Highlands permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In the District of Highlands a building or structure of 10 m² or less in building area does not need a building permit, and a larger one does. The bylaw has no separate rule for decks, garages or carports. Zoning limits apply either way.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Highlands, https://www.highlands.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** The District does not state a review time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Official / Bylaw Enforcement Officer, 250-474-1773
- Email: Building Official, cleek@highlands.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 1980 Millstream Road, Victoria, BC V9B 6H1

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A building or structure of 10 m² or less in building area does not need a building permit. A larger shed or accessory building does (a permit is needed before constructing a building or structure).
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.1.2(a) and 3.1.3(c)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420)
  - Official wording: "a building permit before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;" … "if a building or structure does not exceed 10 square meters in building area."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Decks:** None set. The District's Building Regulation Bylaw has no separate rule for decks.
- **Garages and carports:** No separate rule. The general rules apply: a permit is needed to build a building or structure, unless it is 10 m² or less in building area. Garages and carports are valued for the permit fee in Appendix L.
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.1.2(a) and 3.1.3(c)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420)
  - Official wording: "a building permit before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;" … "if a building or structure does not exceed 10 square meters in building area."
  - Source: [Construction Values, Appendix L](https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-02/Construction%20Values_201306040901063981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Garages and or Workshops" … "Carports, Barns or Sheds"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Zoning limits:** Varies by zone. Example, RR1: accessory building height up to 6 m; 7.5 m from the front lot line (and from a side lot line on a road), 3 m from other side lot lines, 10 m from the rear; total accessory floor area up to 325 m², no single building over 200 m².
  - Source: [Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998, s. 6.1.3 (RR1) and s. 3.4(1)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1622)
  - Official wording: "The height of an accessory building or structure shall not exceed 6 metres." … "No building or structure shall be sited within 7.5 metres of a front lot line." … "No building or structure shall be sited within 3 metres of a side lot line." … "No building or structure shall be sited within 10 metres of a rear lot line." … "total floor area of all accessory buildings on a lot shall not exceed 325 square metres and no" … "No accessory building or structure shall be sited, placed or constructed on a lot unless:" … "No building or structure shall be sited within 7.5 metres of a side lot line that abuts a highway."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (permits); Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (zoning limits)
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, Part 1](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420)
  - Official wording: "Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003"
  - Source: [Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998, Title page](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1622)
  - Official wording: "Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (consolidated)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the District's [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420), a permit is needed before constructing a building or structure, except one of 10 m² or less in building area. That means a shed or other accessory building of 10 m² or less does not need a building permit, and a larger one does.

The bylaw has no separate rule for decks, garages or carports, so the same 10 m² rule applies to them. Garages and carports are valued for the permit fee in Appendix L of the bylaw.

Zoning rules apply whether or not you need a permit. They vary by zone. For example, in the RR1 zone an accessory building may be up to 6 m high, 7.5 m from the front lot line (and from a side lot line on a road), 3 m from other side lot lines and 10 m from the rear. Total accessory floor area is up to 325 m², with no single building over 200 m². Other zones have their own numbers.

## Steps

1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and read its accessory building rules in the [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1622).
2. Measure the building area of your project. If it is over 10 m², apply for a building permit (see the building-permit answer).
3. If you are unsure, call or email the Building Official.

## Good to know

- Buildings and structures must also stay 30 m from the sea, lakes, ponds, wetlands and watercourses.
- Appendix L lists sundecks as a construction-value rate only, not a permit threshold.
- A building bigger than 10 m² needs a permit even if it meets zoning.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420)
- [Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1622)

## Related questions

- [Highlands building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/building-permit.md)
- [Highlands building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Highlands fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/fence-rules.md)
- [Highlands zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Highlands secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/secondary-suite.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)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1622) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Construction Values (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-02/Construction%20Values_201306040901063981.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Highlands. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/deck-shed-garage-permit/_