---
title: Oliver permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Oliver?"
place: Oliver, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/oliver
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Oliver
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Oliver permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Oliver, a garage or any structure that supports a roof, including a covered deck or patio, needs a building permit. The Town does not say plainly whether sheds of 10 m² or less are exempt, and gives no rule for uncovered decks, so ask first.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Oliver, https://www.oliver.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer: $150 application fee plus 1% of construction value.  
**How long:** See the building-permit answer for the Town's target times.  
**Where:**
- Email: Development Services (Building), planning@oliver.ca
- Phone: Development Services, 250-485-6250 (Pre-application meetings are encouraged.)
- In person: Town Hall, 6150 Main Street, PO Box 638, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A permit is needed for new construction of a building or structure over 10 m² gross floor area or one storey, and for any structure that supports a roof (gazebo, shade structure, garage). The Town does not say small sheds are exempt; ask. Accessory buildings up to 10 m² may go anywhere on a lot except the front setback.
  - Source: [Building Permit Hub, Does My Project Require A Permit; Accessory Structures](https://www.oliver.ca/building)
  - Official wording: "New construction of a building or structure exceeding 10 square metres in gross floor area or one storey in height" … "Small accessory buildings or structures up to 10 square metres may be placed anywhere on a lot" … "Constructing any structure that supports a roof such as a gazebo, shade structure, garage, covered deck or patio, etc."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** A covered deck or patio (any structure that supports a roof) needs a building permit. The page gives no height threshold for an uncovered deck.
  - Source: [Building Permit Hub, Does My Project Require A Permit](https://www.oliver.ca/building)
  - Official wording: "Constructing any structure that supports a roof such as a gazebo, shade structure, garage, covered deck or patio"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** A garage needs a building permit (any structure that supports a roof, such as a garage). The page does not mention carports by name.
  - Source: [Building Permit Hub, Does My Project Require A Permit](https://www.oliver.ca/building)
  - Official wording: "Constructing any structure that supports a roof such as a gazebo, shade structure, garage, covered deck or patio"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** In residential zones all accessory buildings and structures combined may not cover more than 90 m² of the property. Trellises, pergolas, play structures, fences and retaining walls are allowed anywhere on a lot (subject to fence and wall rules). In RS1 and RSM zones fabric-covered structures count as accessory buildings and only one is permitted.
  - Source: [Building Permit Hub, Accessory Structures](https://www.oliver.ca/building)
  - Official wording: "all accessory buildings and structures combined may not cover more than 90 square metres of the property" … "fabric‑covered structures are treated the same as accessory buildings, and only one is permitted"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw 1404 (permits); Zoning Bylaw 1423 (zoning).
  - Source: [Building Permit Application Package, Page 1](https://www.oliver.ca/sites/3/files/2026-09/BP%20Application%20-%20Package%202026%20Oct%20V1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw 1404 states that every owner must apply for and obtain a permit"
  - Source: [Building Permit Hub, Find Out What Uses Your Property Is Zoned For](https://www.oliver.ca/building)
  - Official wording: "Town of Oliver Zoning Bylaw 1423"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Town of Oliver requires a building permit for new construction of a building or structure over 10 m² of gross floor area or over one storey, and for any structure that supports a roof, such as a gazebo, shade structure or garage. Building Bylaw 1404 is the permit bylaw; zoning rules in Zoning Bylaw 1423 also apply.

- **Shed:** over 10 m² or one storey needs a permit. The Town does not say in plain words that smaller sheds need none, so ask.
- **Deck:** a covered deck or patio needs a permit. The Town's pages give no height rule for an uncovered deck.
- **Garage:** needs a permit.
- **Carport:** the Town's page does not name carports. A carport has a roof, so ask.

## Zoning limits

- Accessory buildings up to 10 m² may go anywhere on a lot except the front setback.
- In residential zones, all accessory buildings and structures combined may not cover more than 90 m² of the property.
- Trellises, pergolas, play structures, fences and retaining walls are allowed anywhere on a lot, subject to fence and wall rules.
- In RS1 and RSM zones, fabric-covered structures count as accessory buildings and only one is permitted.

## Steps

1. Check your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Ask Development Services (250-485-6250, planning@oliver.ca) whether your project needs a permit.
3. If it does, follow the building-permit steps.

## Good to know

- Height and setback limits for accessory buildings are in the zoning bylaw, which the Town's readable pages do not restate.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permit Hub, Town of Oliver](https://www.oliver.ca/building)
- [Building Permit Application Package (PDF), Town of Oliver](https://www.oliver.ca/sites/3/files/2026-09/BP%20Application%20-%20Package%202026%20Oct%20V1.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Oliver building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/building-permit.md)
- [Oliver building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Oliver fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/fence-rules.md)
- [Oliver zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/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)
- [Osoyoos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permit Hub, Town of Oliver](https://www.oliver.ca/building) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Permit Application Package (PDF), Town of Oliver](https://www.oliver.ca/sites/3/files/2026-09/BP%20Application%20-%20Package%202026%20Oct%20V1.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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Oliver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/deck-shed-garage-permit/_