---
title: North Cowichan permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in North Cowichan?"
place: North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/north-cowichan
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Municipality of North Cowichan
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# North Cowichan permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In North Cowichan a one-storey shed or accessory building of 10 m² or less needs no building permit. A deck needs one unless it is on grade and under 0.61 m (2 ft) high. A detached garage or larger accessory building needs a permit. Zoning setbacks apply either way.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Municipality of North Cowichan, https://www.northcowichan.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer: $150 plus 1% of construction value once the value is over $5,000.  
**How long:** The Municipality does not state a processing time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Services, 250-746-3105
- Email: Building Services, building@northcowichan.ca
- Phone: Planning (zoning questions), 250-746-3104

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** No building permit for a one-storey accessory building of 10 m² (107 sq ft) or less (not counting roof overhang); zoning setbacks still apply. Kits, packages and pre-assembled structures larger than 10 m² need a permit. Fabric-covered seasonal shelters up to 50 m² are also exempt.
  - Source: [When a Building Permit Is Not Required, handout page 1](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-12/Building%20Permit%20-%20Not%20Required.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A one storey accessory building no more than 107 square feet / 10 square metres" … "Fabric covered seasonal shelters used within the limitations of the manufacturer with a floor area up to 50 square metres / 540 square feet."
  - Source: [Detached Garage / Accessory Building Permit, Step 2: Kits, packages and pre-assembled structures](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/permits-forms-applications/detached-garage-accessory-building)
  - Official wording: "Permits are required for kits, packages and pre-assembled structures larger than 10 sq m. (107 sq ft)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** A deck needs a building permit unless it is on grade and less than 0.61 m (2 ft) high; only those decks are excluded from 'structure' in the Building Bylaw. Zoning setbacks and lot coverage still apply. The Municipality has a Deck Permit application checklist.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 2003, No. 3172, s. 3 "structure"](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/Building%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "excludes concrete slabs on finished or natural grade, and decks on grade which are less than 0.61 m (2') in height." … "excludes concrete slabs on finished or natural grade, and decks on grade which are less than" … "0.61 m (2') in height. [BL3892]"
  - Source: [Deck Permit](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/permits-forms-applications/deck-permit)
  - Official wording: "Deck permit application checklist" … "Include footing plan, floor plan, cross-section plan"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** A detached garage or accessory building (over 10 m²) needs a building permit: planning compliance form, site plan, drawings, title search. A Highway Access Permit is also required if a new driveway access is needed. Carports are not mentioned separately.
  - Source: [Detached Garage / Accessory Building Permit, Steps 1-2](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/permits-forms-applications/detached-garage-accessory-building)
  - Official wording: "A Highway Access Permit is required if a new driveway access is required to serve the new detached garage / shed." … "You must submit a completed Planning Compliance form with every building permit application."
  - Source: [Building Services, Projects requiring permits](https://www.northcowichan.ca/business-development/building-services)
  - Official wording: "Detached garage & accessory buildings"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** Set by zone. In R3, accessory buildings: at least 5.0 m from the front lot line, 1.0 m from side lot lines and 1.5 m from the rear; maximum height 5.0 m. In any zone, no accessory building within 1.22 m of the principal building.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF, current to September 14, 2026), R3 zone s. 58(6), (7); s. 16](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968)
  - Official wording: "The minimum permitted setbacks for the R3 zone are as follows:" … "Yard, Rear, 1.5 m (4.92') [BL3323]" … "The maximum permitted building heights for the R3 zone are as follows:" … "No accessory building shall be located within 1.22 m (4') of any principal building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 3172 and Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 2003, No. 3172, cover](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/Building%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw 2003 Bylaw 3172"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF, current to September 14, 2026), cover](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW 1997 No. 2950"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In North Cowichan, permits for decks, sheds and garages come under the [Building Bylaw 2003, No. 3172](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/Building%20Bylaw.pdf). Separately, the [Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968) sets where you can build.

- **Shed or accessory building:** no building permit for a one-storey building of 10 m² (107 sq ft) or less, not counting roof overhang. Kits, packages and pre-assembled structures larger than 10 m² need a permit. Fabric-covered seasonal shelters up to 50 m² are also exempt.
- **Deck:** needs a building permit unless it is on grade and less than 0.61 m (2 ft) high.
- **Garage or larger accessory building:** needs a building permit (planning compliance form, site plan, drawings, title search). A Highway Access Permit is also required if you need a new driveway access.
- **Carport:** the pages we read do not mention carports separately; ask Building Services.

## Steps

1. Look up your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and check setbacks and lot coverage.
2. Use the Municipality's deck or garage checklist and email the application to building@northcowichan.ca.
3. Pay the fee when the fee slip arrives, then book inspections.

## Good to know

- Zoning rules apply even when no permit is needed. They are set by zone. In the R3 zone, for example, accessory buildings must be at least 5.0 m from the front lot line, 1.0 m from side lot lines and 1.5 m from the rear, and no higher than 5.0 m. In any zone, an accessory building cannot be within 1.22 m of the principal building.
- A garage with plumbing, gas or electrical connections needs electrical and gas permits from Technical Safety BC.

## Official forms and pages

- [Deck Permit, Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/permits-forms-applications/deck-permit)
- [Detached Garage / Accessory Building Permit, Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/permits-forms-applications/detached-garage-accessory-building)
- [When a Building Permit Is Not Required (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-12/Building%20Permit%20-%20Not%20Required.pdf)

## Related questions

- [North Cowichan building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit.md)
- [North Cowichan building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit-fees.md)
- [North Cowichan zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/zoning-lookup.md)
- [North Cowichan fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/fence-rules.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)
- [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Detached Garage / Accessory Building Permit, Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/permits-forms-applications/detached-garage-accessory-building) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Deck Permit, Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/permits-forms-applications/deck-permit) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Services, Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/business-development/building-services) (read 2026-11-06)
- [When a Building Permit Is Not Required (PDF), Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-12/Building%20Permit%20-%20Not%20Required.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw 2003, No. 3172 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/Building%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF, current to September 14, 2026)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Municipality of North Cowichan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/deck-shed-garage-permit/_