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

# Langford permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Langford, a new structure over 10 m² (107 ft²) needs a building permit, and the City publishes a permit checklist for garages and carports. The bylaw does not say whether a smaller shed or a deck needs one, so call the Building Department (250-474-6692) before you build.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Langford, https://www.langford.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Department, 250-474-6692
- Online: Online permit portal, https://filerequestpro.com/up/digital-submission
- In person: City Hall, Building Department, 2nd Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue, Langford, BC V9B 2X8

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A new structure greater than 10 m² (107 ft²) needs a building permit. The City says permits are required for many accessory structures such as sheds and encourages calling first. Structures of 10 m² or less: the bylaw is silent on whether a permit is needed.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Permit information](https://langford.ca/builders/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Erecting any new structure greater than 10 m2 or 107 ft2"
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Building Regulations, Pools & Fences](https://langford.ca/residents/resident-resources/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "many accessory structures and major renovations such as decks, sheds, and suites" … "Property owners are encouraged to always call first to ask if a permit is needed for the work they plan."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** Not confirmed. The sources read give no deck height or size threshold.
- **Garages and carports:** Yes, the City publishes a building permit checklist for 'Accessory Buildings – Garage or Carport'; a new structure over 10 m² (107 ft²) needs a permit, and the Building Bylaw requires a permit to construct a new building.
  - Source: [Application Checklist, Accessory Buildings, Garage or Carport, checklist](http://www.langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Checklist-Accessory-Building-Garage-or-Carport.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Application Checklist: Accessory Buildings – Garage or Carport"
  - Source: [Building Permits, Permit information](https://langford.ca/builders/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Erecting any new structure greater than 10 m2 or 107 ft2"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008 (Consolidated to June 1, 2026), s. 2.1.4](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1160-Building-Bylaw-2008-Consolidated-to-20260601-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall construct a new building, or alter, reconstruct, demolish, remove, repair"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** Height: the greater of 4.5 m or 60% of the house height. Total floor area 30 m², or 65 m² (lots 200 to 799 m²), 80 m² (800 to 999 m²), 180 m² plus extra (1,000 m² or more). Not within 1 m of side or rear lot lines, 6 m of an exterior side line, 1 m of the house, or 15 m of the front lot line unless the front setback is met.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.05, s. 3.05.02(3)-(5)](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zoning-Bylaw-20260629.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Either 4.5 m (14.8 ft) or 60% of the height of the principal dwelling, whichever is" … "may not" … "exceed 30 m2 (323 ft2), except under the following circumstances." … "200 m2 – 799 m2 65 m2 (700 ft2)" … "800 m2 – 999 m2 80 m2 (861 ft2)" … "no accessory building may be located within 1 m" … "(3.3 ft) of a side lot line or rear lot line or within 6 m (19.7 ft) of an exterior side lot line" … "No accessory building may be located within 1 m (3.3 ft) of any principal building" … "no accessory building may be located within 15 m"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008; Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999, s. 3.05
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008 (Consolidated to June 1, 2026), title](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1160-Building-Bylaw-2008-Consolidated-to-20260601-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008 (Consolidated to June 1, 2026)"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.05, s. 3.05](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zoning-Bylaw-20260629.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Buildings and Structures"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Building Bylaw requires a permit to construct a new building. The City's Building Permits page says a new structure greater than 10 m² (107 ft²) needs one, and its enforcement page says permits are required for many accessory structures such as sheds, decks and suites and encourages you to call first. The City publishes checklists for decks and for garages or carports.

- **Shed:** over 10 m² needs a permit. For 10 m² or less, the bylaw is silent.
- **Deck:** the sources we read give no height or size threshold. The City lists decks among structures that need permits, so call first.
- **Garage or carport:** a permit checklist exists, and a new structure over 10 m² needs a permit.

## Steps

1. Call the Building Department (250-474-6692) and describe the deck, shed, carport or garage.
2. Check zoning limits (below) with Planning.
3. Download the checklist for your project and prepare the drawings it lists.
4. Submit the application online or at City Hall.

## Good to know

- Zoning Bylaw 300, section 3.05.02, limits accessory buildings in agricultural, residential, rural residential, multiple residential and CD zones, though some zones differ. Height is the greater of 4.5 m or 60% of the house height. Total floor area is 30 m², or 65 m² on lots of 200 to 799 m², 80 m² on lots of 800 to 999 m², and 180 m² plus extra on lots of 1,000 m² or more.
- Placement: not within 1 m of side or rear lot lines, 6 m of an exterior side lot line, or 1 m of the house, and not within 15 m of the front lot line unless the front setback is met.
- A garage with a suite has its own rules; see the secondary suite answer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Deck application checklist (PDF)](http://www.langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Checklist-Deck-New-or-Addition.pdf)
- [Garage, carport or accessory building checklist (PDF)](http://www.langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Checklist-Accessory-Building-Garage-or-Carport.pdf)
- [Building Permits page](https://langford.ca/builders/building-permits/)

## Related questions

- [Langford building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/building-permit.md)
- [Langford building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Langford fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/fence-rules.md)
- [Langford secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/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)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Sooke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits, City of Langford](https://langford.ca/builders/building-permits/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, City of Langford](https://langford.ca/residents/resident-resources/bylaw-enforcement/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 1160, 2008 (Consolidated to June 1, 2026) (PDF)](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1160-Building-Bylaw-2008-Consolidated-to-20260601-1.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Application Checklist, Accessory Buildings, Garage or Carport (PDF)](http://www.langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Checklist-Accessory-Building-Garage-or-Carport.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 300, 1999 (consolidated June 29, 2026), section 3.05 (PDF)](https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zoning-Bylaw-20260629.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Langford. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/deck-shed-garage-permit/_