{"title":"North Saanich permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","question":"Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?","slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of North Saanich","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca"},"short_answer":"In North Saanich one storage shed up to 10 m² (107 ft²) with no mechanical services needs no building permit. A larger accessory building, a garage or carport, and a porch or sun deck do need one. Zoning size, height and setback limits apply either way.","aliases":["shed permit north saanich","garage permit","carport permit","deck permit north saanich"],"cost":"Permit fees are set in Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A; see the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building department","value":"250-655-5470"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall, Planning and Community Services","value":"1620 Mills Road, North Saanich, BC V8L 5S9"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF)","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/When-building-permit-needed.pdf"},{"title":"Building Permit Application Information package (PDF)","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/media/file/building-permit-information-package"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"North Saanich building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/building-permit/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"North Saanich fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"North Saanich building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"North Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"topic":{"title":"Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},"facts":{"shed":{"label":"Sheds","value":"No building permit for one storage building per parcel up to 10 m² (107 ft²) with no mechanical services. A larger accessory building needs a permit. Zoning size, height and setback limits still apply.","short":"No for one storage building up to 10 m²","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019)","section":"s. 5.1.2(a)","quotes":["not more than one storage building per parcel not exceeding a total","of ten (10) square metres (107 square feet) in building area, in respect of which there are no mechanical services;"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/When-building-permit-needed.pdf","title":"Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020)","section":"Do I need a Building Permit? brochure (April 2020)","quotes":["construct a new accessory building or","structure greater than 10m2 (107 ft2)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"No height threshold is stated. The District's brochure lists constructing, covering or enclosing a porch or sun deck as needing a building permit, and the bylaw requires a permit before constructing any building or structure.","short":"Yes; no height threshold stated","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/When-building-permit-needed.pdf","title":"Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020)","section":"Do I need a Building Permit? brochure (April 2020)","quotes":["construct, cover or enclose a porch or sun","deck"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019)","section":"s. 2.2.1","quotes":["A building permit before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"Garages and carports are not named in the exemptions, so a building permit is required (the only exemption is one storage building up to 10 m² with no services). A building attached to the house and sharing its foundation counts as part of the house.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019)","section":"s. 5.1.2","quotes":["No construction shall commence or continue unless a building permit for the","work has been issued by the Building Official, except as follows:"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 202.3","quotes":["A building will be deemed to be part of the principal building and not an accessory","building if such a building is attached to the principal building and shares a foundation with"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"R-1, R-2, R-3 accessory buildings: total floor area 100, 125 or 150 m² (up to three buildings under 10 m² not counted), height 5.6 m, front and rear setbacks 7.6 m, side 3 m (1.5 m if under 14 m²), 3 m from other buildings. Lot coverage (all buildings): R-1 25%, R-2 25% or 20% by lot size, R-3 15%.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 502.1.4(a)-(f)","quotes":["(a) Maximum combined 100 m² (1076 ft²)","(b) Maximum height of 5.6 metres (18.4 ft.)","(B) 1.5 metres (4.92 ft.) for accessory buildings that are less than 14","No accessory building or structure may be located within 3 metres (9.8","(a) Maximum Lot Coverage              25%","(a) Maximum Lot Coverage              15 %","(ii) 20% otherwise"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 502.2.4(a)","quotes":["(a) Maximum 125 m² (1345 ft²)"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 502.3.4(a)","quotes":["(a) Maximum combined 150 m² (1615 ft²)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150; Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/permits","title":"Permits, District of North Saanich","section":"Applying for a Building Permit","quotes":["Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"Cover and title","quotes":["DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT BYLAW NO. 1255"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe District of North Saanich requires a building permit before you build, with one narrow exception in [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf): one storage building per parcel up to 10 m² (107 ft²) with no mechanical services. A larger accessory building needs a permit.\n\nGarages and carports are not named in the exemptions, so they need a permit. A building attached to the house and sharing its foundation counts as part of the house. No height threshold is stated for decks. The District's brochure lists constructing, covering or enclosing a porch or sun deck as needing a permit.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the size and services: over 10 m² or with any services means a permit.\n2. Check the zoning limits for your zone (below) before you design.\n3. Apply at Municipal Hall with a site plan and drawings (see the building-permit answer).\n4. If unsure about a deck or carport, call 250-655-5470.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- In the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones, [Zoning Bylaw No. 1255](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf) allows accessory buildings a total floor area of 100, 125 or 150 m² (up to three buildings under 10 m² not counted), a height of 5.6 m, front and rear setbacks of 7.6 m, and side setbacks of 3 m (1.5 m if under 14 m²). They must be 3 m from other buildings.\n- Lot coverage for all buildings is 25% in R-1, 25% or 20% in R-2 depending on lot size, and 15% in R-3.\n- In the Rural Agricultural zones, for example RA-1, accessory buildings are 5.6 m high with 7.6 m setbacks on all sides, and no area cap is stated.\n- Nothing may be within 15 m of the marine shoreline except staircases, walkways and retaining walls (s. 110.3).\n- The zoning copy is the February 2023 consolidation, and later amendments exist. Confirm current limits with the District.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/When-building-permit-needed.pdf","title":"Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/permits","title":"Permits, District of North Saanich","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}