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

# Nanaimo 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 Nanaimo, a shed, garage or other detached building over 10 square metres (107.64 square feet) needs a building permit. A new deck needs one unless it is low, uncovered, not the main entrance and not attached to the house. The City's pages do not mention carports.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nanaimo, https://www.nanaimo.ca)  
**Cost:** Based on the value of construction; see the building permit fees answer. The minimum fee and first $1,000 of construction value is $105.  
**How long:** The City's commitment is to process a complete residential application in three weeks.  
**Where:**
- Online: Online Building Permit Application (eApply for non-dwelling accessory buildings), https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/online-building-permit-application
- Phone: Building Inspections, 250-755-4429
- Email: Building Inspections, building.inspections@nanaimo.ca

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A building permit is required for a new shed or other standalone accessory building over 10 m² (107.64 ft²).
  - Source: [Accessory Building Permit](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/accessory-building-permit)
  - Official wording: "A building permit is required when you are constructing a new accessory building." … "detached garages, sheds, and other standalone buildings over 10m² (107.64 ft²)"
  - Source: [Application for a Residential Building Permit, When do I need a building permit?](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit)
  - Official wording: "any detached building over 107.64 ft² / 10 m²"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** A building permit is required to build a new deck, repair structural members, or rebuild a deck or its stairs. None is needed only if the deck is not the main entrance, is no more than 2 feet above grade within 4 feet of its edge, has no roof and is not attached to the dwelling.
  - Source: [Single/Two Family Dwelling Alteration Permit, Building a deck](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/alteration-permit)
  - Official wording: "A building permit is required to build a new deck, repair existing structural members and to rebuild an existing deck and/or stairs." … "the deck is not part of the principle entrance into your dwelling;" … "the deck is not more than two feet above grade within four feet of the edge of the deck;" … "the deck is not covered with a roof;" … "the deck is not attached to the dwelling; and,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** A new detached garage over 10 m² (107.64 ft²) needs a building permit.
  - Source: [Accessory Building Permit](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/accessory-building-permit)
  - Official wording: "detached garages, sheds, and other standalone buildings over 10m² (107.64 ft²)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** Accessory buildings must be at least 1.2 m from other buildings and not in front, side or flanking setback areas. Rear setback is 1.5 m (1.0 m at a lane) in R1 to R7, R10, R14, AR1, AR2; 3.0 m elsewhere. Height is 4.5 m, 5.0 m or 5.5 m by roof pitch, or 7 m outside the required yard setback area. Floor area is 100 m² in total in those zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.6 Accessory Uses, s. 6.6.2 to 6.6.6](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Accessory buildings shall not be closer than 1.2m to any principal building or other accessory building" … "R1, R2, R3, R4, 1.5m 1.0m" … "All Other Zones 3.0m 1.5m" … "< 6:12 4.5m" … "≥ 6:12* 5.0m" … "≥ 8:12* 5.5m" … "The total combined Gross Floor Area of all accessory buildings on" … "the lot shall not exceed 100m2." … "An accessory building shall not be permitted within the front yard, side yard, or flanking side yard setback" … "the maximum permitted height for the" … "is located outside of the required yard setback area for a principal"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224; Zoning Bylaw No. 4500, s. 6.6 (Accessory Uses - Buildings and Structures)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224 (PDF, consolidated 2026-OCT-05), s. 1](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7224.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.6 Accessory Uses](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 4500" … "6.6 ACCESSORY USES - BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Nanaimo requires a building permit for a new shed, garage or other standalone accessory building over 10 m² (107.64 sq ft). The City pages do not say what applies below 10 m², but zoning rules (setbacks, height) apply regardless. A new detached garage over 10 m² needs a permit. Carports are not mentioned on the City's pages, so ask Building Inspections. An attached garage is part of the dwelling and falls under the general rules for additions.

## Decks

A permit is required to build a new deck, repair structural members, or rebuild a deck or its stairs. A deck needs none only if all of these are true:

- It is not the main entrance to your home.
- It is no more than 2 feet above grade within 4 feet of its edge.
- It has no roof.
- It is not attached to the dwelling.

No permit is needed for minor non-structural repairs to a deck approved under a permit, or to replace railings that were approved.

## Steps

1. Check zoning in [Zoning Bylaw 4500](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) section 6.6 for your zone.
2. Apply online with the signed application, an Appointment of Agent form if needed, and plans. Non-dwelling accessory buildings use the City's eApply system.
3. Book inspections once the permit is issued.

## Good to know

- Accessory buildings must be at least 1.2 m from other buildings and not in the front, side or street-side setback areas. In R1 to R7, R10, R14, AR1 and AR2 the rear setback is 1.5 m (1.0 m at a lane), and total floor area is 100 m². Other zones have 3.0 m rear setbacks and other area limits.
- Height is 4.5 m, 5.0 m or 5.5 m depending on roof pitch, or 7 m outside the required yard setback area.
- Fabric-covered sheds are allowed under the Zoning Bylaw. Shipping containers are handled by the City's Locate Permit page.
- Covenants, watercourse setbacks, rights-of-way and property-line distances can affect where a deck may go whether or not a permit is needed.

## What you'll need

- Signed building permit application
- Appointment of Agent form, if you are not the registered owner
- Site plan and drawings

## Official forms and pages

- [Accessory Building Permit page](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/accessory-building-permit)
- [Alteration Permit page (decks)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/alteration-permit)
- [Zoning Bylaw 4500 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
- [Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7224.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Nanaimo building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/building-permit.md)
- [Nanaimo building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Nanaimo fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fence-rules.md)
- [Nanaimo secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/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)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Accessory Building Permit, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/accessory-building-permit) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Single/Two Family Dwelling Alteration Permit, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit/alteration-permit) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Application for a Residential Building Permit, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/residential-building-permit) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.6 Accessory Uses](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224 (PDF, consolidated 2026-OCT-05)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7224.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.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 Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/deck-shed-garage-permit/_