Mission permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

Mission, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In the City of Mission, adding or increasing a deck needs a building permit, as do detached garages, carports and other accessory buildings over 15 m² (161.4 ft²). The bylaw exempts a single-storey accessory building of 15 m² or less, but the City's page says pool houses need a permit at any size.

Key facts

Sheds	No permit for a single-storey accessory building (or unmodified shipping container) serving a one- or two-family home if its floor area is 15 m² (161.4 ft²) or less (Building Bylaw s. 7.19(a)). Larger ones need a permit. The City page also says pool houses (sheds) need a permit regardless of size.Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), sections 7.19 and Schedule A, s. 7.19(a); Building Permits, Building Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No Permit is required: does not exceed 15 square meters (161.4 square feet) in Detached accessory buildings and structures greater than 15m2 (161.4ft2), such as: Accessory buildings less than 15m2 (161.4ft2), unless they create a hazard Pool houses (sheds) regardless of size
Decks	The City lists 'adding or increasing a deck' as work that needs a building permit, and detached deck structures over 15 m² also need one. No minimum deck height is given.Building Permits, Building Permits page; Residential Decks Submission Checklist, Residential Decks submission checklist · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Adding or increasing a deck Deck structures RESIDENTIAL DECKS 2 sets of design plans (Site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, sections, and details).
Garages and carports	A detached garage or carport over 15 m² (161.4 ft²) needs a building permit, and so does converting a carport into a garage or living space. A single-storey accessory building of 15 m² or less serving a one- or two-family home needs none.Building Permits, Building Permits page; Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), sections 7.19 and Schedule A, s. 7.19(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Converting a carport into a garage or living space Detached accessory buildings and structures greater than 15m2 (161.4ft2), such as: does not exceed 15 square meters (161.4 square feet) in
Zoning limits	Setbacks, height and lot coverage for accessory buildings are set zone by zone in the Zoning Bylaw. Accessory buildings or structures that do not need a building permit are exempt from interior side and rear yard setbacks. An accessory building joined to the house by a continuous foundation, walls and roof is treated as part of the house.Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020, s. 104 H · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording All Accessory Buildings or Structures, not requiring a building permit, are exempted from Yard (Interior Side) and Yard (Rear) setbacks. it shall be considered a part of the Principal Building and shall comply in all respects with the requirements for the Principal Use regulations within
Bylaw	Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (s. 7.19); Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020 (s. 104 H and the regulations for each zone)Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), sections 7.19 and Schedule A, s. 7.19; Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020, s. 104 H · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No Permit is required: H. Accessory Building and Structure Regulations

How it works

The City of Mission's Building Bylaw 3590-2003 requires a permit for most structures. The exemption (s. 7.19) covers a single-storey accessory building, or an unmodified shipping container, serving a one- or two-family home, if its floor area is 15 m² (161.4 ft²) or less. Zoning rules on setbacks, height and lot coverage still apply even when no permit is needed.

Steps

Confirm your zoning, setbacks, height and lot coverage with Development Planning (604-820-3748) or the City's WebMap before you design.
Download the Accessory Building or Residential Decks checklist and gather the forms, plans, survey and title search.
Start with a Pre-Submission Review, then pay the non-refundable application fee when the application is accepted.
Pay the permit fee before the permit issues, then book inspections online.

Good to know

Decks: the City lists "adding or increasing a deck" as needing a building permit, and detached deck structures over 15 m² also need one. No minimum deck height is stated.
Garages and carports: a detached garage or carport over 15 m² needs a permit, and so does converting a carport into a garage or living space.
Pool houses: the City's page says a pool house (shed) needs a permit regardless of size, but the bylaw exempts accessory buildings of 15 m² or less. Confirm with Inspection Services.
Accessory-building setbacks, height and lot coverage are set zone by zone in the Zoning Bylaw. Buildings that need no permit are exempt from interior side and rear yard setbacks. A building joined to the house by a continuous foundation, walls and roof is treated as part of the house.
Sealed sprinkler plans are needed if the floor area is over 100 m² or over 50% of the principal building's floor area, whichever is less.
Starting work before the permit issues increases the fee by 100%, or $250 if that is greater.
Electrical and gas permits come from Technical Safety BC (1-866-566-7233), not the City.

What you'll need

Building Permit Application and Owner's Undertaking forms
Title search printed within 30 days and copies of covenants and easements
Design plans; accessory buildings also need a sealed topographic survey and a sealed stormwater plan; decks need 2 sets of design plans

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Abbotsford · Township of Langley · Maple Ridge · Langley City · Pitt Meadows · Chilliwack

Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Building Permits, City of Mission (read 2026-11-05)
Building Bylaw 3590-2003 (PDF, consolidated), sections 7.19 and Schedule A (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020 (PDF), s. 104 H (read 2026-11-05)
Accessory Building Submission Checklist (PDF), City of Mission (read 2026-11-05)
Residential Decks Submission Checklist (PDF), City of Mission (read 2026-11-05)
WebMap, City of Mission (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. How answers are checked.