Hope permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Hope?
In Hope, a single-storey shed or accessory building under 10 m² does not need a building permit. Decks, garages, carports and larger sheds need one when the work is valued at $2,000 or more. Zoning limits on height and setbacks apply either way.
Key facts
| Sheds | A single-storey accessory building under 10 m² total floor area is outside the Building Bylaw's definition of construction. A larger shed or accessory building needs a building permit if the work is valued at $2,000 or more.Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024, s. 1.01 "construction"; s. 12.01(h); Permits, Licences & Applications, Building Permit Package · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingexcept for single story accessory buildings less than 10m2 total floor area all other construction or repairs to a structure if the value of construction is Garages, accessory buildings, and detached structures |
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| Decks | No height threshold is set. A deck needs a building permit when the work is valued at $2,000 or more. The District lists decks and covered patios among projects that commonly need one, and the package includes a Deck Addition Guide.Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024, s. 12.01(h); Permits, Licences & Applications, Building Permit Package; Fees & Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, Schedule G, Schedule G, item 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingall other construction or repairs to a structure if the value of construction is $2,000 or more or, in the case of a building to which the farm Building Code applies Decks and covered patios Deck Addition Guide Carport or deck $20.00 |
| Garages and carports | Yes in general. The District lists garages, accessory buildings and detached structures among projects that commonly need a building permit, and Schedule G sets rates for attached garages, detached garages and carports. The bylaw's general rule is a permit for construction valued at $2,000 or more.Permits, Licences & Applications, Building Permit Package; Fees & Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, Schedule G, Schedule G, item 1; Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024, s. 12.01(h) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingGarages, accessory buildings, and detached structures Carport or deck $20.00 Attached garage $25.00 Detached garage or accessory building $30.00 all other construction or repairs to a structure if the value of construction is |
| Zoning limits | In the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (RS-1) zone: accessory building up to 5 m high; setbacks 4 m front, 1 m rear, 1 m interior side, 2.5 m exterior side; all buildings up to 50% of the lot (35% on septic only). Other zones have their own limits. No sleeping or living in an accessory building.Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 10.1.5 table (RS-1); Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, s. 5.5.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAccessory Building or 5 metres (~16.5 feet) Front Lot Line *** 4 metres (~13 feet) 4 metres (~13 feet) 4 metres (~13 feet) Rear Lot Line 4 metres (~13 feet) 1.5 metres (~5 feet) 1 metre (~3.5 feet) Interior Side Lot Line **** 1.2 metres (~4 feet) 1.2 metres (~4 feet) 1 metre (~3.5 feet) Exterior Side Lot Line 2.5 metres (~8 feet) 2.5 metres (~8 feet) 2.5 metres (~8 feet) All Buildings ** 50% Properties serviced by septic tank only shall have a maximum site coverage of 35%. No accessory building or structure shall be utilized as a dwelling unit, sleeping unit or have habitable No accessory building or structure shall be utilized as a dwelling unit, sleeping unit or have habitable |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 972; Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012 (s. 5.5 and zone tables); Fees & Charges Bylaw No. 1363, Schedule GBuilding Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024, Title page; Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025, Title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUILDING BYLAW NO. 972 ZONING BYLAW NO. 1324, 2012 |
How it works
Under the Building Bylaw No. 972, a single-storey accessory building under 10 m² of floor area is outside the definition of construction, so it needs no building permit. A larger shed or accessory building, a deck, a garage or a carport needs one if the work is valued at $2,000 or more. The District lists decks, covered patios, garages and accessory buildings among projects that commonly need a permit. No deck height threshold is set.
Zoning applies even to small sheds. In the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (RS-1) zone of the Zoning Bylaw, an accessory building can be up to 5 m high, with setbacks of 4 m front, 1 m rear, 1 m interior side and 2.5 m exterior side. All buildings together can cover up to 50% of the lot (35% on septic only). Nobody may sleep or live in an accessory building. It is allowed only once the house exists or is built at the same time. Other zones have their own limits.
Steps
- Check your zone with Planning (planning@hope.ca or 604-869-5671).
- If a permit is needed, get the Building Permit Package from the Permits, Licences & Applications page and follow the building-permit answer.
- Book inspections as the work goes on.
Good to know
- A deck or garage that adds a dwelling unit may be blocked in mapped water-capacity areas; see the secondary-suite answer.
- Zoning offences: a bylaw notice is $500 ($400 if paid early); a municipal ticket is $1,000.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Kent · Harrison Hot Springs · Chilliwack · Princeton · Abbotsford · Mission
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Bylaw No. 972, consolidated to June 2024 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
- Fees & Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, Schedule G, District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
- Permits, Licences & Applications, District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
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.