{"title":"Merritt permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","question":"Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?","slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/merritt","name":"Merritt","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":"City of Merritt","url":"https://www.merritt.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Merritt a garage or carport needs a building permit. A deck needs one unless it is under 600 mm above the ground with no walls or roof. A shed under 10 m2 is outside the Building Bylaw, though the City's web page says 100 sq ft, so confirm first.","aliases":["shed permit merritt","deck permit merritt","garage permit merritt","carport permit merritt","accessory building merritt"],"cost":"Building permit fees apply: $200 at application plus a fee based on the value of the work (2026). No permit fee for exempt structures.","how_long":"The City's pages do not state a processing time.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"CloudPermit (City of Merritt permit portal)","value":"https://ca.cloudpermit.com/gov/login"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning & Development Services (Building & Inspections)","value":"250-378-8615"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Building Services (City of Merritt)","url":"https://www.merritt.ca/business-development/planning-development/building-services/"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024 (PDF)","url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF)","url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Merritt building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Merritt building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Merritt fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Merritt secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/secondary-suite/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/logan-lake","name":"Logan Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lytton","name":"Lytton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kamloops","name":"Kamloops","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/princeton","name":"Princeton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ashcroft","name":"Ashcroft","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/peachland","name":"Peachland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/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 shed or other accessory building with a floor area under 10 m² (that is not a potential unsafe condition) is outside the Building Bylaw. A larger one needs a building permit; in CloudPermit use 'accessory structures'.","short":"No if under 10 m²; larger needs permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.3(b)","quotes":["an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres, that does not"]},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/CloudPermit-Step-by-Step-Guide.pdf","title":"CloudPermit Step-by-Step Guide (PDF), City of Merritt","section":"Start a new application","quotes":["you would select “accessory structures” for smaller structures like"]},{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/business-development/planning-development/building-services/","title":"Building Services, City of Merritt","section":"Building Services page","quotes":["Accessory buildings under 100 sq ft"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Building Services page says under 100 sq ft (about 9.3 m²); the bylaw says under 10 m². Bylaw followed. A zoning-compliant location is still needed even without a permit."},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"A deck or patio less than 600 mm above the ground or finished grade, with no walls or roof, does not need a building permit. A higher deck, or one with walls or a roof, is not exempt.","short":"Yes, unless under 600 mm with no walls or roof","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.3(e)","quotes":["decks or patios which are less than 600mm from the ground or finished grade and have no walls or","roofs;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"The Building Bylaw lists no exemption for garages or carports (only accessory buildings under 10 m² are exempt), so they need a building permit. Detached garages use the 'accessory structures' type in CloudPermit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.3, Appendix A","quotes":["an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres, that does not","Attached garages","Attached carports"]},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/CloudPermit-Step-by-Step-Guide.pdf","title":"CloudPermit Step-by-Step Guide (PDF), City of Merritt","section":"Start a new application","quotes":["sheds and detached garages"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"Accessory buildings need a principal building first, must meet each zone's rules, sit at the principal building's front setback, and cannot be a dwelling, suite or short-term rental. R1 zone: 1.2 m from interior side, exterior side and rear lines; max height the lesser of 5 m or 1.5 storeys; 1.5 m between accessory buildings and other structures.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation","section":"s. 4.16, 7.3.6(l)","quotes":["An Accessory Building must not be erected on any Parcel unless:","Accessory Buildings must conform with the development regulations outlined in each","Accessory Buildings have the same Front Setback as the Principal Building.","An Accessory Building may not be used as a Dwelling Unit, Secondary Suite, Short-","1.5 metres between Accessory Buildings and other Structures","N/A Building 1.2 metres 1.2 metres metres or","1.5 metres between Accessory Buildings and other Structures; and"]},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation","section":"Table 4.11","quotes":["If less than 0.6 metres from","Grade, not subject to regulations"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024 (s. 3.3); Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (s. 4.16).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024 (PDF)","section":"title","quotes":["“City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024”"]},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation","section":"title","quotes":["Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nIn the City of Merritt, the [Building Bylaw](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) exempts only a short list of structures. Even when no building permit is needed, the [Zoning Bylaw](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf) still requires a compliant location.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Shed:** an accessory building with a floor area under 10 m2 (that is not a potential unsafe condition) is outside the Building Bylaw. A larger one needs a building permit; in CloudPermit use \"accessory structures\". The City's web page says under 100 sq ft, so confirm before building.\n- **Deck:** a deck or patio less than 600 mm above the ground or finished grade, with no walls or roof, needs no building permit. A higher deck, or one with walls or a roof, is not exempt.\n- **Garage or carport:** the bylaw lists no exemption for them, so they need a building permit. Use \"accessory structures\" in CloudPermit for a detached garage.\n- **Zoning:** an accessory building needs a principal building first, must meet each zone's rules, sits at the principal building's front setback, and cannot be a dwelling, suite or short-term rental. In the R1 zone it must be 1.2 m from interior side, exterior side and rear lines, no higher than the lesser of 5 m or 1.5 storeys, and 1.5 m from other buildings and structures.\n- Decks may project 1.5 m into front or exterior side setbacks and 3.0 m into rear setbacks. Zoning defines a deck as more than 0.6 m above grade.\n- Sheds and bike lockers up to 1.25 m high and 3 m2, screened as the bylaw describes, may sit closer to the front.\n- Setbacks, heights and coverage vary by zone and are not listed here for other zones. Ask Planning at 250-378-8615.","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/business-development/planning-development/building-services/","title":"Building Services, City of Merritt","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/CloudPermit-Step-by-Step-Guide.pdf","title":"CloudPermit Step-by-Step Guide (PDF), City of Merritt","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Fees-and-Charges-Amendments-as-at-December-2025-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2386, 2024 (PDF), Schedule E","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/merritt/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}