North Vancouver permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?
In the City of North Vancouver a building permit is required for any structure over 10 m² (108 sq. ft.), which covers most garages and carports. A smaller shed needs no building permit but must meet zoning rules. The City states no deck height threshold.
Key facts
| Sheds | A permit is required for a structure over 10 m² (108 sq. ft.); a smaller one needs no building permit but must still meet zoning and other City bylaws. A permanently installed shipping container or storage pod counts as an accessory building.Construction Regulation Bylaw, 2003, No. 7390, s. 8.1.1, s. 8.1.1(a); Accessory Building Handout, handout p. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingexcept a structure having an area not exceeding 10m² A Building Permit is required for any permanent structure over 108 sq.ft. in size. do not require a Building Permit but must comply with City bylaws. |
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| Decks | No deck height threshold is stated. The City has a building permit checklist for new decks and deck alterations; the bylaw's only size exemption is for structures of 10 m² or less.Residential Renovation and Addition Non-Strata, Residential Renovation and Addition page; Construction Regulation Bylaw, 2003, No. 7390, s. 8.1.1, s. 8.1.1(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingYou'll also find information on new decks and alterations to existing decks. Deck Checklist except a structure having an area not exceeding 10m² |
| Garages and carports | Yes: a building permit is required for any structure over 10 m² (s. 8.1.1(a)), which covers most garages and carports. A new garage or carport has its own checklist; a garage for a new dwelling is part of the main permit. In the Ground Oriented zone an application form is required for a deck, garage or carport.New Garages and Carports, New Garages & Carports page; Ground Oriented Housing, Ground Oriented Housing page; Construction Regulation Bylaw, 2003, No. 7390, s. 8.1.1, s. 8.1.1(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBuilding permit information and forms related to the construction of new garages and carports. If you're building a new dwelling unit, the garage is included in the main dwelling permit application. Construction of a deck, garage or carport you must complete an application form for the following: or other structure, except a structure having an area not exceeding 10m²; |
| Zoning limits | One- and two-unit zones (s. 514): total accessory floor area at most the lesser of 0.1 × lot area or 55.7 m² (two-unit lots 0.13 × or 81.8 m²; 10 m² on a lot with a coach house); height 3.658 m; behind the front face; setbacks 1.22 m rear, 0.61 m interior side, 3.048 m exterior side and from the house.Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (PDF, consolidated March 2, 2026), s. 514, Part 5B, s. 514(1),(2),(4),(5) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshall not exceed the lesser of 0.1 times the Lot Area or 55.7 square metres (600 square shall not exceed the lesser of 0.13 times the Lot Area or 81.8 square metres (880 shall not exceed a maximum height of 3.658 metres (12 feet) from the shall be sited behind the front face of the Principal Building 1.22 metres (4 feet) from the Rear Lot Line; 0.61 metres (2 feet) from the Interior Side Lot Line. 3.048 metres (10 feet) from an Exterior Side Lot Line; on any Lot with an Accessory Coach House Use, shall not exceed 3.048 metres (10 feet) from a Principal Building on the Lot; |
| Bylaw | Construction Regulation Bylaw, 2003, No. 7390 (permit, s. 8.1.1); Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (accessory buildings s. 514; Ground Oriented zone Part 5B)Construction Regulation Bylaw, 2003, No. 7390, s. 8.1.1, title page; Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (PDF, consolidated March 2, 2026), s. 514, Part 5B, title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingConstruction Regulation Bylaw, 2003, No. 7390 CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE – MARCH 2, 2026 SIZE, SHAPE AND SITING OF ACCESSORY BUILDINGS |
How it works
Under the City of North Vancouver's Construction Regulation Bylaw, a permit is required for any structure over 10 m² (108 sq. ft.). A smaller structure needs no building permit but must still meet the Zoning Bylaw and other City bylaws. A permanently installed shipping container or storage pod counts as an accessory building.
The City has a checklist for new decks and deck alterations but states no deck height threshold. A new garage or carport has its own checklist; a garage for a new house is part of the main permit.
Rules depend on your zone. In the Ground Oriented zone (adopted December 8, 2025) an application form is required for a deck, garage or carport, and the garage page says it does not apply there. Contact permitinquiry@cnv.org or 604-982-WORK (9675).
Steps
- Check your zone in CityMap.
- Download the checklist and application form.
- Email the package to permitapplications@cnv.org.
Good to know
In RS-1, RS-2, RT-1 and RT-2 zones (Zoning Bylaw s. 514):
- Total accessory floor area: the lesser of 0.1 times the lot area or 55.7 m². Two-unit lots: 0.13 times or 81.8 m². On a lot with a coach house: 10 m².
- Height 3.658 m, behind the front face of the house.
- Setbacks: 1.22 m from the rear lot line, 0.61 m from an interior side line, 3.048 m from an exterior side line and from the house.
- Buildings over 10 m² go in the rear 25% of the lot depth and 4.57 m from a corner intersection.
The Ground Oriented zone sets building setbacks of 3.0 m front, 1.5 m rear and 1.2 m interior side.
What you'll need
- Building Permit Application Form and the Deck or New Garage and Carport Checklist
- Site plan showing setbacks to property lines
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
District of North Vancouver · Belcarra · Port Moody · West Vancouver · Vancouver · Burnaby
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- New Garages and Carports, City of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-05)
- Residential Renovation and Addition Non-Strata, City of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-05)
- Ground Oriented Housing, City of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-05)
- Accessory Building Handout (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Construction Regulation Bylaw, 2003, No. 7390 (PDF), s. 8.1.1 (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (PDF, consolidated March 2, 2026), s. 514, Part 5B (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.