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

# Nelson permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Nelson, decks and new roofs over decks need a building permit. A shed, garage or carport needs one too, unless it is under 3 m high and under 10 square metres. Zoning rules on height, setbacks and coverage apply even when no permit is needed.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nelson, https://www.nelson.ca)  
**Cost:** $100 for work valued up to $5,000, plus $9 for each $1,000 or part of $1,000 above that.  
**Where:**
- In person: Development Services and Engineering, City Hall, Second floor, Suite 101, 310 Ward Street, Nelson, BC V1L 5S4 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Development Services and Engineering, 250-352-8260
- Email: Development Services, development@nelson.ca

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A permit is needed for any new building over 10 m² (108 sq ft). The Building Bylaw exempts only an accessory building less than 3 m high and with a floor area less than 10 m²; a smaller building that poses a risk or hazard still needs a permit.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3456, 2019 (Consolidated, PDF), s. 4.3(b)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/77460)
  - Official wording: "an accessory building less than 3 metres in height and with a floor area of less than 10 square metres;"
  - Source: [Building Permits, City page, Building Permit Required](https://www.nelson.ca/162/Building-Permits)
  - Official wording: "Construction of any new building over 10 square metres (108 square feet)" … "Construction of any new building under 10 square metres that poses a risk or hazard"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** Yes. The City lists 'construction of decks and new roofs over decks' and 'construction, structural alterations or repairs to exterior decks above ground level' as needing a building permit. No height threshold is stated.
  - Source: [Building Permits, City page, Building Permit Required](https://www.nelson.ca/162/Building-Permits)
  - Official wording: "Construction of decks and new roofs over decks" … "Construction, structural alterations or repairs to exterior decks above ground level"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** Not named separately. The Zoning Bylaw lists a garage and a carport as typical accessory buildings, so the same rule applies: a permit is needed unless the building is under 3 m high and under 10 m² floor area; any new building over 10 m² needs one.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3652, 2026, Part 1, definitions](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/31803)
  - Official wording: "include garage, carport, and greenhouses, but"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3456, 2019 (Consolidated, PDF), s. 4.3(b)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/77460)
  - Official wording: "an accessory building less than 3 metres in height and with a floor area of less than 10 square metres;"
  - Source: [Building Permits, City page](https://www.nelson.ca/162/Building-Permits)
  - Official wording: "Construction of any new building over 10 square metres (108 square feet)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** Zone-specific. In the R1 zone: accessory buildings may be up to 4.5 m high; a carport or other accessory building must be at least 1.5 m from the rear lot line; carports 1.5 m and other accessory buildings 3 m from the front lot line; at least 1 m from the house (a carport may attach on one side); lot coverage 35% for 1 dwelling unit.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3652, 2026, Part 3, s. 14; Part 10, R1 zone ss. 9, 11, 12](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/31803)
  - Official wording: "An accessory building must be completely detached from the principal" … "building, with a distance of at least 1 m from the principal building." … "Accessory Building 4.5 m" … "Front lot line 3m 1.5 m 3m" … "Maximum permitted lot coverage 35% 40% 45%"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 3456, 2019 (s. 4.3 exemptions) and Zoning Bylaw No. 3652, 2026 (Part 3, s. 12 to 14, and the zone's own regulations)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3456, 2019 (Consolidated, PDF), s. 1.1](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/77460)
  - Official wording: "The Corporation of the City of Nelson Building Bylaw No. 3456, 2019"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3652, 2026, adoption page](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/31803)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 3652, 2026”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Building Bylaw 3456](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/77460), the only accessory building exempt from a permit is one under 3 m high with a floor area under 10 m². The City's Building Permits page says any new building over 10 m² (108 sq ft) needs a permit, and so does a smaller one that poses a risk or hazard. It also lists decks, new roofs over decks, and exterior decks above ground level. It states no deck height threshold. The zoning bylaw names garages and carports as accessory buildings, so the same rule applies.

[Zoning Bylaw 3652](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/31803) applies whether or not you need a permit. Limits are set zone by zone, so check your zone. Decks and structures over 0.6 m above grade count toward lot coverage.

## Steps

1. Find your zone and its height, setback and coverage limits (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Download the Decks and Porches or Detached Accessory Buildings checklist.
3. Submit the building permit application, checklist items and fee to Development Services on the second floor of City Hall.

## Good to know

- Example from the R1 zone: accessory buildings up to 4.5 m high; carports 1.5 m and other accessory buildings 3 m from the front lot line; at least 1.5 m from the rear lot line; at least 1 m from the house (a carport may attach on one side); lot coverage 35% for one dwelling unit. Other zones differ.
- R1 side setbacks for accessory buildings are 1.2 m if the front lot line is wider than 9.2 m, otherwise 1 m.

## What you'll need

- Building permit application with the Decks and Porches checklist, or the Residential Detached Accessory Buildings checklist

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permit Checklist - Decks and Porches (PDF)](https://www.nelson.ca/DocumentCenter/View/183/Building-Permit-Checklist---Decks-and-Porches-PDF)
- [Building Permit Checklist - Residential Detached Accessory Buildings (PDF)](https://www.nelson.ca/DocumentCenter/View/189/Building-Permit-Checklist---Residential-Detached-Accessory-Buildings-PDF)
- [Building Permits page](https://www.nelson.ca/162/Building-Permits)

## Related questions

- [Nelson building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/building-permit.md)
- [Nelson fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/fence-rules.md)
- [Nelson zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Nelson building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/building-permit-fees.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)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Slocan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits, City of Nelson](https://www.nelson.ca/162/Building-Permits) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 3456, 2019 (Consolidated, PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/77460) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 3652, 2026 (PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/31803) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3092 (Consolidated, revised April 28, 2026, PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404) (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 Nelson. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/deck-shed-garage-permit/_