---
title: Kimberley permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?"
place: Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kimberley
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Kimberley
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Kimberley permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Kimberley a new detached shed, garage or carport over 10 m² (108 ft²) needs a City building permit. Structural work on a deck, and an attached garage or carport, also need one. A building under 10 m² needs none, but zoning rules still apply.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Kimberley, https://www.kimberley.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees are $50 for work valued at $1,000 or less, then $10 for each $1,000 or part of $1,000, plus a security deposit. See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Official, 250-427-9655
- Email: Building Official, building.official@kimberley.ca
- In person: City Hall, 340 Spokane Street, Kimberley, BC V1A 2E8

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A building permit is needed for a new detached building or structure over 10 m² (108 ft²). The Building Bylaw does not apply to an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 m².
  - Source: [Building Permits & Inspections, Do you need a Building Permit?](https://www.kimberley.ca/development/building/permits-inspections)
  - Official wording: "Construction of any new detached building or structure over 10 square metres (108 square feet)"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018, s. 3.3(b)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/122885)
  - Official wording: "an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** Structural repair, alteration or addition to an existing building, including decks, needs a building permit; enclosing a deck needs one too. No height threshold is stated. The zoning setback exception covers decks 0.6 m or lower as landscape features.
  - Source: [Building Permits & Inspections, Do you need a Building Permit?](https://www.kimberley.ca/development/building/permits-inspections)
  - Official wording: "Structural repair, alterations or additions to an existing building (including decks)" … "Enclosing a deck, carport or porch"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 4.09(4)(g)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
  - Official wording: "walkways, decks and" … "decorative walls, provided such features are not greater than 0.6 meters in" … "height."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** A new detached garage or carport over 10 m² needs a building permit. An attached garage or carport is an addition to an existing building and needs one too, as does enclosing a carport.
  - Source: [Building Permits & Inspections, Do you need a Building Permit?](https://www.kimberley.ca/development/building/permits-inspections)
  - Official wording: "Construction of any new detached building or structure over 10 square metres (108 square feet)" … "Enclosing a deck, carport or porch" … "Structural repair, alterations or additions to an existing building (including decks)"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 4.08(2)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
  - Official wording: "Where an accessory building or structure is attached to the principal building, it" … "must be considered part of the principal building."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** In the RS zone: accessory buildings must be at least 1.5 m from front and side lines and 1.5 m from the rear line (0.5 m with a developed rear lane); height 6 m (8 m if it contains a dwelling unit); site coverage 0.4 for one dwelling unit. In the RL zone: setbacks 6 m front/rear and 3 m sides, height 6 m, coverage 0.15. No accessory building before the principal use exists.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.04(6)-(7)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
  - Official wording: "No person shall site an accessory building or structure which has:" … "a front yard less than 1.5m (5 ft.);" … "a rear yard less than 0.5 m (1.6 ft.) where a developed rear lane exists;" … "Maximum height of an accessory building or structure which does not contain" … "an accessory dwelling unit: 6m (19.7 ft.)." … "a single dwelling unit is 0.4;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.03(6)-(7)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
  - Official wording: "a rear yard less than 6 m (19.7 ft.);" … "a side yard less than 3 m (9.8 ft.)." … "The site coverage must not exceed 0.15."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 4.08(1)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
  - Official wording: "No accessory buildings or accessory structure may be placed, constructed, sunk"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Kimberley Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018 and Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (and Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016, 1999 for the alpine area).
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018, title page](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/122885)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 2620, 2018"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), title page](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
  - Official wording: "CITY OF KIMBERLEY ZONING BYLAW NO.1850, 1994 ADOPTED: MARCH 28, 1994 CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY: Jan. 14, 2026"
  - Source: [Building Permits & Inspections, Submitting your application](https://www.kimberley.ca/development/building/permits-inspections)
  - Official wording: "Setback information can be found within the City of Kimberley Zoning Bylaw No. 1850 (and amendments) and the Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016, 1999"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Building Bylaw 2620](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/122885) does not apply to an accessory building with a floor area under 10 m², but the City's page says a new detached building or structure over 10 m² needs a permit. Exactly 10 m² is not addressed. The [Zoning Bylaw](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474) applies to all of them, permit or not.

## Steps

1. Look up your zone first. Limits differ by zone, and the alpine resort area has its own bylaw (Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw 2016).
2. Prepare a plot plan showing the new structure and its distances to every property line, plus drawings.
3. Submit the application form, title certificate and drawings to the Building Official.
4. Book inspections as the permit directs.

## Good to know

- Decks: structural repair, alteration or addition to an existing building, including decks, needs a permit, as does enclosing a deck. No height threshold is stated. Decks 0.6 m or lower count as landscape features for the zoning setback exception.
- Garages and carports: a new detached one over 10 m² needs a permit. An attached garage or carport is an addition to an existing building and needs one too, as does enclosing a carport.
- RS zone: accessory buildings at least 1.5 m from the front and side lines and from the rear line (0.5 m with a developed rear lane); height 6 m (8 m if it contains a dwelling unit); site coverage 0.4 for one dwelling unit.
- RL zone: setbacks 6 m front and rear and 3 m at the sides; height 6 m; coverage 0.15.
- No accessory building before the principal use exists.
- The City's guide says exempt work may still need a development permit inside development permit areas.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permits and Inspections (City page)](https://www.kimberley.ca/development/building/permits-inspections)
- [Building Permit Application Guide (PDF)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/974)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated, PDF)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
- [Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016, 1999 (consolidated, PDF)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133475)

## Related questions

- [Kimberley building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/building-permit.md)
- [Kimberley building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Kimberley fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/fence-rules.md)
- [Kimberley zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/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)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Fernie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Sparwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits & Inspections, City of Kimberley](https://www.kimberley.ca/development/building/permits-inspections) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018 (PDF), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/122885) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permit Application Guide (PDF), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/974) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Kimberley. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/deck-shed-garage-permit/_