---
title: Mackenzie permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?"
place: Mackenzie, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/mackenzie
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Mackenzie
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Mackenzie permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Mackenzie the District's Building Bylaw requires a permit before any new structure is built, and sets no size cut-off for sheds. The District lists decks 24 inches or higher above the ground. Garages and carports are not named. Check with the Building Inspector.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Mackenzie, https://districtofmackenzie.ca)  
**Cost:** Building permit fees start at $50. See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not stated by the District.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Public Works (Building Inspection), 250-997-3761
- In person: District Main Office, 1 Mackenzie Boulevard, Mackenzie, BC V0J 2C0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** No size threshold is stated. The Building Bylaw requires a permit before any new construction of a structure, and a 'structure' is anything fixed to the land other than a fence. Check with the Building Inspector.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1066, 2000, s. 9.1.1(a) and s. 3.1](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bylaw-No.-1066-1185-1320-Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "any new construction, repair, reconstruction" … "but excludes a fence"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Decks:** The District's Building Permits page lists building a deck 24 inches or higher above the ground among the work that may need a building permit.
  - Source: [Building Permits](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/business-development/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Building a deck that is 24 inches or higher above the ground"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Garages and carports:** Garages and carports are not named. The Building Bylaw requires a permit before any new construction of a structure, and the District page says you may need one when building or adding to a building. Check with the Building Inspector.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1066, 2000, s. 9.1.1](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bylaw-No.-1066-1185-1320-Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "any new construction, repair, reconstruction"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Zoning limits:** In any R-zone, accessory buildings together may cover at most 10% of the parcel or 75 m², whichever is less, and none may be in the front yard. R1 zone: height 4.8 m; setbacks 1.2 m (side and rear), 3.5 m (exterior side); all buildings 40% of the parcel. Other zones differ.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Section 4, Accessory Buildings, Structures and Uses](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must not exceed 10% of the area of the parcel or 75 metres², whichever is less" … "An accessory building must not have any portion of the accessory building located in the front"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, R1 zone regulations](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Interior side parcel line 1.2 m" … "Rear parcel line 1.2 m" … "Accessory building 4.8 m" … "Maximum parcel coverage (all buildings) 40%"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 1066, 2000; Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017.
  - Source: [Bylaws and Regulations, Frequently requested bylaws](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/government-town-hall/bylaws-and-regulations/)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw No. 1066, Amended by 1185, 1320" … "Bylaw No. 1368, Amended by 1517, 1518"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District of Mackenzie's [Building Bylaw No. 1066](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bylaw-No.-1066-1185-1320-Building-Bylaw.pdf) requires a permit before any new construction of a structure, and a "structure" is anything fixed to the land other than a fence. The bylaw sets no size threshold for sheds. The District's Building Permits page says you may need a permit for a deck 24 inches or higher above the ground. Garages and carports are not named on the page or in the bylaw, so the general rule applies. Check with the Building Inspector.

## Steps

1. Call Public Works at 250-997-3761 and describe the deck, shed, garage or carport.
2. Check the zoning limits below (and your zone's section of the [Zoning Bylaw](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf)).
3. If a permit is needed, apply as described in the building-permit answer.

## Good to know

- In any R-zone, accessory buildings together may cover at most 10% of the parcel or 75 m², whichever is less, and none may be in the front yard.
- R1 zone: height 4.8 m; setbacks 1.2 m (side and rear) and 3.5 m (exterior side); all buildings together 40% of the parcel. R2 also allows 4.8 m. RR1 accessory buildings may be 9.2 m high (only one over 5.5 m), with 7.5 m setbacks. Other zones differ.
- On a corner parcel, an accessory building must meet the same exterior side setback as the house.
- An accessory building may not be used as a dwelling unless it is a permitted detached suite.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permits, District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/business-development/building-permits/)
- [Building Bylaw No. 1066, 2000 (PDF)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bylaw-No.-1066-1185-1320-Building-Bylaw.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017 (PDF)](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Mackenzie building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/building-permit.md)
- [Mackenzie building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Mackenzie fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/fence-rules.md)
- [Mackenzie zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Mackenzie secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/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)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits, District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/business-development/building-permits/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw No. 1066, 2000 (PDF), District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bylaw-No.-1066-1185-1320-Building-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017 (PDF), District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bylaw-No.-1368-Zoning-Industrial-and-Townsite-Maps.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws and Regulations, District of Mackenzie](https://districtofmackenzie.ca/government-town-hall/bylaws-and-regulations/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 District of Mackenzie. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/deck-shed-garage-permit/_