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

# New Westminster permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In New Westminster, a new accessory building over 10 square metres, such as a garage, needs a City building permit. The City lists sheds and carports with garages as accessory buildings. The City's web pages and bylaws we read do not state when a deck needs a permit, so call the Building Division.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of New Westminster, https://www.newwestcity.ca)  
**Cost:** A non-refundable application fee plus a permit fee based on construction value; see building-permit-fees for the amounts.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Division, 604-527-4580
- Online: Apply for a detached accessory building through MyCity, https://www.newwestcity.ca/building-permits/single-detached-dwellings-and-duplexes
- Phone: Planning Division (zoning, setbacks), 604-527-4532

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** New accessory buildings over 10 m² require a building permit. The City's online application lists sheds, with garages, carports and workshops, as detached accessory buildings.
  - Source: [Residential Building Permits](https://www.newwestcity.ca/building-permits/single-detached-dwellings-and-duplexes)
  - Official wording: "New accessory buildings over 10 square meters, such as a garages, also require permits."
  - Source: [Residential Building Permits, Select A Building Type](https://www.newwestcity.ca/building-permits/single-detached-dwellings-and-duplexes)
  - Official wording: "Choose this option for alterations to a Detached Accessory Building (e.g., Garage, Carport, Shed, Workshop)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** Not confirmed. The City's deck construction guidelines could not be read.
- **Garages and carports:** A garage over 10 m² needs a building permit, applied for with the Detached Accessory Structure guide and checklist. Carports are listed with garages as detached accessory buildings in the online application; no separate carport rule was found.
  - Source: [Residential Building Permits](https://www.newwestcity.ca/building-permits/single-detached-dwellings-and-duplexes)
  - Official wording: "New accessory buildings over 10 square meters, such as a garages, also require permits."
  - Source: [Residential Building Permits, Select A Building Type](https://www.newwestcity.ca/building-permits/single-detached-dwellings-and-duplexes)
  - Official wording: "Choose this option for alterations to a Detached Accessory Building (e.g., Garage, Carport, Shed, Workshop)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** In RS-1: all detached accessory buildings together up to 10% of site area; one storey; roof up to 4.57 m (peaked) or 3.6 m (pitch 4:12 or less); not in the required front yard; no dormers; garages and carports at least 6.71 m from a lane (less lane width). Other zones differ.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 300 One and Two Unit Residential (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 310.16 and 310.21](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/300_One_and_Two_Unit_Residential___As_of_June_8_2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The maximum permitted detached accessory area is 10% of the site area." … "shall not exceed one storey, nor the following maximum building" … "in the case of a peaked roof, no portion of the roof shall exceed a height of 4.57 metres (15 feet)" … "shall not be located in the required front yard;" … "shall not have dormers; and" … "shall contain no plumbing fixtures other than one toilet and one sink." … "shall not be located less than twice the width of the minimum required" … "closer to a lane than 6.71 metres (22 feet), less the width of such lane"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019; Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (s. 310 for RS-1)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019, title page](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8125__2019_Building(2%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 8125, 2019"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, Adoption and Amendment Information](https://www.newwestcity.ca/zoning-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 was adopted by Council on September 17, 2001 and is consolidated as of June 8, 2026."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of New Westminster's Residential Building Permits page says new accessory buildings over 10 square metres, such as garages, need a building permit. Its online application lists sheds, garages, carports and workshops as detached accessory buildings. Zoning rules on size and setbacks apply as well.

## Steps

1. Call the Building Division (604-527-4580) if your deck or small shed is a borderline case.
2. Read the [garage guide](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Guide_for_Residential_Detached_Garage.pdf) and the permit checklist.
3. Apply for a detached accessory building permit through MyCity, or by email with the application package.
4. Include the erosion and sediment control form and tree permit forms the garage guide asks for (see tree-removal).

## Good to know

- Decks: the City pages and bylaws we read give no height or size threshold. The City publishes deck construction guidelines, but we could not read them. Ask the Building Division.
- Sheds and carports: no separate carport rule was found. No official text we read says in plain words that a shed of 10 square metres or less needs no permit. Ask before you build.
- Zoning limits in the RS-1 zone ([Zoning Bylaw 6680](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/300_One_and_Two_Unit_Residential___As_of_June_8_2026.pdf), s. 310): all detached accessory buildings together up to 10% of the site area, one storey, not in the required front yard, and no dormers. Roof height is up to 4.57 metres (peaked) or 3.6 metres (pitch 4:12 or less). Garages and carports must be at least 6.71 metres from a lane (less the lane width).
- Other zones have their own rules. Check with the Planning Division (604-527-4532).

## What you'll need

- Residential and Accessory Building Permit Application Package and the garage checklist
- Erosion and sediment control form
- Tree permit forms

## Official forms and pages

- [Residential Building Permits page](https://www.newwestcity.ca/building-permits/single-detached-dwellings-and-duplexes)
- [Guide for Residential Detached Garage (PDF)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Guide_for_Residential_Detached_Garage.pdf)

## Related questions

- [New Westminster building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/building-permit.md)
- [New Westminster building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/building-permit-fees.md)
- [New Westminster fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/fence-rules.md)
- [New Westminster tree removal rules and permits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/tree-removal.md)
- [New Westminster secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/secondary-suite.md)
- [New Westminster zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/zoning-lookup.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)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Residential Building Permits, City of New Westminster](https://www.newwestcity.ca/building-permits/single-detached-dwellings-and-duplexes) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permits (contact), City of New Westminster](https://www.newwestcity.ca/building-permits) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Guide for Residential Detached Garage (PDF), City of New Westminster](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Guide_for_Residential_Detached_Garage.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 300 One and Two Unit Residential (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/300_One_and_Two_Unit_Residential___As_of_June_8_2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019 (PDF)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8125__2019_Building(2%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw, City of New Westminster](https://www.newwestcity.ca/zoning-bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of New Westminster. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/deck-shed-garage-permit/_