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

# Merritt permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Merritt, https://www.merritt.ca)  
**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:**
- Online: CloudPermit (City of Merritt permit portal), https://ca.cloudpermit.com/gov/login
- Phone: Planning & Development Services (Building & Inspections), 250-378-8615

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** 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'. (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.)
  - Source: [City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024, s. 3.3(b)](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres, that does not"
  - Source: [CloudPermit Step-by-Step Guide, Start a new application](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/CloudPermit-Step-by-Step-Guide.pdf)
  - Official wording: "you would select “accessory structures” for smaller structures like"
  - Source: [Building Services, Building Services page](https://www.merritt.ca/business-development/planning-development/building-services/)
  - Official wording: "Accessory buildings under 100 sq ft"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** 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.
  - Source: [City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024, s. 3.3(e)](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "decks or patios which are less than 600mm from the ground or finished grade and have no walls or" … "roofs;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** 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.
  - Source: [City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024, s. 3.3, Appendix A](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres, that does not" … "Attached garages" … "Attached carports"
  - Source: [CloudPermit Step-by-Step Guide, Start a new application](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/CloudPermit-Step-by-Step-Guide.pdf)
  - Official wording: "sheds and detached garages"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** 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.
  - Source: [City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, 2026 consolidation, s. 4.16, 7.3.6(l)](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, 2026 consolidation, Table 4.11](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "If less than 0.6 metres from" … "Grade, not subject to regulations"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024 (s. 3.3); Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (s. 4.16).
  - Source: [City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024, title](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024”"
  - Source: [City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, 2026 consolidation, title](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In 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.

## Good to know

- **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.
- **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.
- **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.
- **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.
- 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.
- Sheds and bike lockers up to 1.25 m high and 3 m2, screened as the bylaw describes, may sit closer to the front.
- Setbacks, heights and coverage vary by zone and are not listed here for other zones. Ask Planning at 250-378-8615.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Services (City of Merritt)](https://www.merritt.ca/business-development/planning-development/building-services/)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024 (PDF)](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF)](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Merritt building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/building-permit.md)
- [Merritt building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Merritt fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/fence-rules.md)
- [Merritt secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/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)
- [Logan Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Lytton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Princeton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [City of Merritt Building Bylaw No. 2382, 2024 (PDF)](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bylaw_2382_2024_City_of_Merritt_Building_Code_and_Regulation-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Services, City of Merritt](https://www.merritt.ca/business-development/planning-development/building-services/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [CloudPermit Step-by-Step Guide (PDF), City of Merritt](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/CloudPermit-Step-by-Step-Guide.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2386, 2024 (PDF), Schedule E](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Fees-and-Charges-Amendments-as-at-December-2025-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Merritt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/deck-shed-garage-permit/_