District of North Vancouver permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in the District of North Vancouver?
Short answer
In the District of North Vancouver (not the City), a shed under 10 m² on a single-family lot needs no building permit, nor does a deck under 2 ft high. A deck over 2 ft, and new garages and carports, need one. All must meet zoning setbacks and heights.
Key facts
| Sheds | An accessory building under 10 m² (107 sq ft) on a single-family lot is outside the Construction Bylaw, so no building permit. Larger sheds need a permit. Sheds must meet zoning setbacks and heights whatever their size.Construction Bylaw 8271, 2017, s. 3.3.5; Zoning guide, single-family residential RS1-5, Section A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingan accessory building with a floor area less than 10 square metres or a trellis, sheds or accessory buildings exceeding 10m2 (107 sq.ft.) - sheds must always meet |
|---|---|
| Decks | No permit for a deck under 2 ft (600 mm) high, or a detached deck under 10 m² (108 sq ft). A deck over 2 ft needs a building permit, whether detached or attached to the house.Building decks in single-family zones, Zoning Bylaw Requirements for Decks · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDecks less than 2 ft (600 mm) in height and detached decks less than 108 sq.ft. (10m2) in area do not require a building permit; A building permit is required for a deck detached from the house where the deck is higher than 2 ft. A building permit is required for a deck higher than 2 ft. (600 mm) that is attached to a house |
| Garages and carports | New garages and carports need a building permit. The Construction Bylaw's under-10 m² exemption covers accessory buildings, which the R1/R2 zones define as excluding detached garages.Zoning guide, single-family residential RS1-5, Section A; Section 525 to Zoning Bylaw 3210, R1 and R2 zones, Subsection 525-1.50, Accessory Buildings and Structures · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingnew homes, garages, and carports This definition does not include detached Garages or Coach Houses. |
| Zoning limits | R1/R2 zones: shed-type accessory buildings 3.7 m high (flat) or 4.6 m (sloped 3:12+), one storey; setbacks 6.1 m front, 1.2 m rear and side; detached garages 3.7 m or 5.5 m high; all garages and accessory buildings together 92.9 m² maximum. Decks and balconies up to 4.6 m high.Section 525 to Zoning Bylaw 3210, R1 and R2 zones, R1/R2 s. 5, 6, 4, 9 (Tables 5.1, 6.1, 4.1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAccessory Buildings and Structures Detached Garages Flat roof or Sloped roof 3.7 m (12 ft) 1 storey Table 6.1: Minimum Setbacks 92.9 m² (1,000 ft²) The maximum height for a Deck, Balcony, Veranda, or other outdoor occupied space is 4.6 |
| Bylaw | Construction Bylaw 8271, 2017 (permits); Zoning Bylaw 3210 (Bylaw 3210, 1965), Section 525 for R1 and R2 zones (added by Bylaw 8799)Construction Bylaw 8271, 2017, cover; Section 525 to Zoning Bylaw 3210, R1 and R2 zones, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPART 1 INTERPRETATION Citation 1.1 This bylaw may be cited as "CONSTRUCTION BYLAW 8271, 2017". Definitions 1.2 In the absence of specific definition in section 1.4, the words used in this bylaw have the Valuation Service" or "RS Means". Zoning Bylaw means the District's Zoning Bylaw No. 3210. Administrative Directions Section 525 to Bylaw 3210: Zoning Bylaw (Bylaw 8799) |
How it works
Permits come from the Construction Bylaw 8271; size and placement come from Zoning Bylaw 3210. This is the District of North Vancouver, not the City of North Vancouver.
- Shed: an accessory building under 10 m² (107 sq ft) on a single-family lot is outside the Construction Bylaw, so no building permit. Larger sheds need one. Sheds must meet zoning setbacks and heights whatever their size.
- Deck: no permit for a deck under 2 ft (600 mm) high, or a detached deck under 10 m² (108 sq ft), according to the District's deck bulletin. A deck over 2 ft needs a building permit, whether detached or attached to the house.
- Garage or carport: new garages and carports need a building permit. The under-10 m² exemption covers accessory buildings, which the R1 and R2 zones define as excluding detached garages. No size threshold for garages or carports was found.
Steps
- Check your zone and the limits for it (see zoning-lookup).
- If a permit is needed, follow the building-permit steps. For a deck or addition, the checklist asks for a survey by a BC Land Surveyor.
- Call the Building Department on 604-990-2480 if you are unsure.
Good to know
- In R1 and R2 zones (Section 525): shed-type accessory buildings are limited to 3.7 m high (flat roof) or 4.6 m (sloped 3:12 or steeper), one storey, with setbacks of 6.1 m front and 1.2 m rear and side. Detached garages are limited to 3.7 m or 5.5 m high. All garages and accessory buildings together may total at most 92.9 m². Decks and balconies are limited to 4.6 m high.
- The older RS zones have different numbers. Other zones were not read.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
North Vancouver · Belcarra · West Vancouver · Port Moody · Vancouver · Burnaby
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Construction Bylaw 8271, 2017 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Building decks in single-family zones (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Section 525 to Zoning Bylaw 3210, R1 and R2 zones (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning guide, single-family residential RS1-5 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw 3210 (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. How answers are checked.