{"title":"Lions Bay permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","question":"Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Lions Bay?","slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Lions Bay","url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca"},"short_answer":"In Lions Bay a deck needs a building permit. A shed, garage or other accessory building needs one if it is 10 m² or more; under 10 m² it does not. Zoning limits still apply to all of them.","aliases":["deck permit lions bay","shed permit lions bay","garage permit lions bay","carport permit lions bay"],"cost":"Based on the value of the work; see the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"The Village does not state a processing time.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building Services","value":"604-921-9333 ext. 1009"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Services","value":"building@lionsbay.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office","value":"400 Centre Road, Lions Bay, BC V0N 2E0","note":"Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Building Permits, Village of Lions Bay","url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/building-services/building-permits"},{"title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (PDF)","url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Lions Bay building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Lions Bay building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Lions Bay fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Lions Bay zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/gibsons","name":"Gibsons","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/squamish","name":"Squamish","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"topic":{"title":"Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},"facts":{"shed":{"label":"Sheds","value":"A permit is needed for an accessory building, shed or detached garage of 10 m² or more. The Building Bylaw does not apply to an accessory building under 10 m².","short":"Yes, if 10 m² or more","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 3.3(b)","quotes":["an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres;"]},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/building-services/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Village of Lions Bay","section":"examples","quotes":["Adding an accessory building, equipment room, shed, or detached garage more then 10m2"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"Yes. The Village's Building Permits page lists 'Building a deck or gazebo' as needing a permit. No height threshold is stated, and the Building Bylaw's exemptions (s. 3.3) do not list decks.","short":"Yes; no height threshold stated","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/building-services/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Village of Lions Bay","section":"examples","quotes":["Building a deck or gazebo"]},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 3.3","quotes":["This bylaw does not apply to:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"A garage or other accessory building of 10 m² or more needs a building permit; one under 10 m² does not. Carports are not named, but any building or structure not exempted by s. 3.3 of the Building Bylaw needs a permit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/building-services/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Village of Lions Bay","section":"examples","quotes":["Adding an accessory building, equipment room, shed, or detached garage more then 10m2"]},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 9.3(c)","quotes":["but not for garages, carports, and garden structures;","an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres;","constructing, repairing, or altering a building or structure, including a retaining wall"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"RS-1 zone: no more than two accessory buildings or structures per parcel; height up to 3.65 m (4.65 m with a 3-in-12 or steeper roof); combined floor area up to 77 m². Setbacks as for a house: 7.5 m front and rear, 2.4 m side (the Brunswick Beach Overlay Area differs, s. 7.6); a tool shed or greenhouse up to 19 m² may sit in the rear setback. No kitchen; no dwelling use.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 7.10, 7.5, 4.7.4, 4.5","quotes":["No more than two accessory buildings or structures shall be located on a parcel.","The height of an accessory building or structure shall not exceed 3.65 metres or, where","The maximum combined floor area of all accessory buildings shall not exceed 77 m2.","7.5 metres from a front or rear parcel line; or","a free standing tool storage shed or","An accessory building or structure shall not be used as a dwelling unit.","Despite sections 7.4, 7.5 and 7.8.2, the following regulations apply to the area outlined in a heavy","No building or structure shall be located within:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (s. 3.3); Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (s. 4.5, 4.7, 7.10).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as “Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026”."]},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Zoning and Development Bylaw No.520, 2017\"."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nIn Lions Bay the [Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf) requires a permit for any building or structure not exempted in section 3.3. The Village's Building Permits page lists \"building a deck or gazebo\" as needing a permit and states no height below which a deck is exempt.\n\nAn accessory building, shed or detached garage of 10 m² or more needs a permit. The bylaw does not apply to one under 10 m². Carports are not named, so a carport needs a permit unless it falls under an exemption.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the zoning limits below for your lot.\n2. Apply for a building permit (see the building-permit answer) if your project needs one.\n3. Book inspections as work progresses.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- In the RS-1 (single detached residential) zone, under the [Zoning and Development Bylaw](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf): no more than two accessory buildings or structures per parcel; height up to 3.65 m (4.65 m with a 3-in-12 or steeper roof); combined floor area up to 77 m².\n- Setbacks are the same as for a house: 7.5 m front and rear, 2.4 m side. A tool shed or greenhouse up to 19 m² may sit in the rear setback. The Brunswick Beach Overlay Area differs.\n- An accessory building may not have a kitchen or be used as a dwelling.\n- Other zones have different rules. Ask Building Services.\n- Required parking is 2 off-street spaces per single detached dwelling, or 3 with a secondary suite.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/building-services/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Village of Lions Bay","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}