New Westminster permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
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.
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.Residential Building Permits; Residential Building Permits, Select A Building Type · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNew accessory buildings over 10 square meters, such as a garages, also require permits. Choose this option for alterations to a Detached Accessory Building (e.g., Garage, Carport, Shed, Workshop) |
|---|---|
| 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.Residential Building Permits; Residential Building Permits, Select A Building Type · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNew accessory buildings over 10 square meters, such as a garages, also require permits. Choose this option for alterations to a Detached Accessory Building (e.g., Garage, Carport, Shed, Workshop) |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 300 One and Two Unit Residential (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 310.16 and 310.21 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe 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 |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019; Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (s. 310 for RS-1)Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019, title page; Zoning Bylaw, Adoption and Amendment Information · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUILDING BYLAW NO. 8125, 2019 Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 was adopted by Council on September 17, 2001 and is consolidated as of June 8, 2026. |
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
- Call the Building Division (604-527-4580) if your deck or small shed is a borderline case.
- Read the garage guide and the permit checklist.
- Apply for a detached accessory building permit through MyCity, or by email with the application package.
- 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, 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
The same question in other places
Burnaby · Coquitlam · Port Coquitlam · Port Moody · Belcarra · Surrey
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Residential Building Permits, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Permits (contact), City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Guide for Residential Detached Garage (PDF), City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 300 One and Two Unit Residential (PDF, as of June 8, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw, City of New Westminster (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. How answers are checked.