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

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

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of North Saanich, https://www.northsaanich.ca)  
**Cost:** Permit fees are set in Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building department, 250-655-5470
- In person: Municipal Hall, Planning and Community Services, 1620 Mills Road, North Saanich, BC V8L 5S9

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** 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.
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), s. 5.1.2(a)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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;"
  - Source: [Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020), Do I need a Building Permit? brochure (April 2020)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/When-building-permit-needed.pdf)
  - Official wording: "construct a new accessory building or" … "structure greater than 10m2 (107 ft2)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** 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.
  - Source: [Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020), Do I need a Building Permit? brochure (April 2020)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/When-building-permit-needed.pdf)
  - Official wording: "construct, cover or enclose a porch or sun" … "deck"
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), s. 2.2.1](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A building permit before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** 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.
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), s. 5.1.2](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No construction shall commence or continue unless a building permit for the" … "work has been issued by the Building Official, except as follows:"
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 202.3](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** 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%.
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 502.1.4(a)-(f)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(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"
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 502.2.4(a)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(a) Maximum 125 m² (1345 ft²)"
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 502.3.4(a)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(a) Maximum combined 150 m² (1615 ft²)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150; Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255
  - Source: [Permits, Applying for a Building Permit](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/permits)
  - Official wording: "Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150"
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), Cover and title](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT BYLAW NO. 1255"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The 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.

Garages 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.

## Steps

1. Check the size and services: over 10 m² or with any services means a permit.
2. Check the zoning limits for your zone (below) before you design.
3. Apply at Municipal Hall with a site plan and drawings (see the building-permit answer).
4. If unsure about a deck or carport, call 250-655-5470.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Nothing may be within 15 m of the marine shoreline except staircases, walkways and retaining walls (s. 110.3).
- The zoning copy is the February 2023 consolidation, and later amendments exist. Confirm current limits with the District.

## Official forms and pages

- [Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/When-building-permit-needed.pdf)
- [Building Permit Application Information package (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/media/file/building-permit-information-package)

## Related questions

- [North Saanich building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/building-permit.md)
- [North Saanich fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/fence-rules.md)
- [North Saanich building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/building-permit-fees.md)
- [North Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/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)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/When-building-permit-needed.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Permits, District of North Saanich](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/permits) (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 District of North Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit/_