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Kimberley permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

Kimberley, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

ShedsA 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.Building Permits & Inspections, Do you need a Building Permit?; Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018, s. 3.3(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Construction of any new detached building or structure over 10 square metres (108 square feet)
an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres;
DecksStructural 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.Building Permits & Inspections, Do you need a Building Permit?; Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 4.09(4)(g) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Structural repair, alterations or additions to an existing building (including decks)
Enclosing a deck, carport or porch
walkways, decks and
decorative walls, provided such features are not greater than 0.6 meters in
height.
Garages and carportsA 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.Building Permits & Inspections, Do you need a Building Permit?; Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 4.08(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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)
Where an accessory building or structure is attached to the principal building, it
must be considered part of the principal building.
Zoning limitsIn 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.04(6)-(7); Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.03(6)-(7); Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 4.08(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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;
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.
No accessory buildings or accessory structure may be placed, constructed, sunk
BylawCity 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).Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018, title page; Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), title page; Building Permits & Inspections, Submitting your application · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
BUILDING BYLAW NO. 2620, 2018
CITY OF KIMBERLEY ZONING BYLAW NO.1850, 1994 ADOPTED: MARCH 28, 1994 CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY: Jan. 14, 2026
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

How it works

Building Bylaw 2620 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 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

The same question in other places

Cranbrook · Canal Flats · Fernie · Creston · Kaslo · Sparwood

Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Building Permits & Inspections, City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 2620, 2018 (PDF), City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Building Permit Application Guide (PDF), City of Kimberley (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.