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North Saanich permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

North Saanich, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

ShedsNo 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.Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), s. 5.1.2(a); Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020), Do I need a Building Permit? brochure (April 2020) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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;
construct a new accessory building or
structure greater than 10m2 (107 ft2)
DecksNo 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.Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020), Do I need a Building Permit? brochure (April 2020); Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), s. 2.2.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
construct, cover or enclose a porch or sun
deck
A building permit before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure;
Garages and carportsGarages 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.Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), s. 5.1.2; Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 202.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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:
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
Zoning limitsR-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%.Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 502.1.4(a)-(f); Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 502.2.4(a); Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 502.3.4(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
(a) Maximum 125 m² (1345 ft²)
(a) Maximum combined 150 m² (1615 ft²)
BylawBuilding and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150; Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255Permits, Applying for a Building Permit; Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), Cover and title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150
DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT BYLAW NO. 1255

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: 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 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

The same question in other places

Sidney · Central Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · Langford · View Royal

Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Do I need a Building Permit? (PDF, April 2020) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150 (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Permits, District of North Saanich (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. How answers are checked.