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

# Parksville permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Parksville a one-storey accessory building under 10 m² beside a single dwelling is outside the Building Bylaw, so a small shed needs no building permit. A larger building does. The bylaw sets no deck or garage size threshold, so ask the Building Department. Zoning setbacks still apply.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Parksville, https://www.parksville.ca)  
**Cost:** Permit fees are based on construction value (see building-permit-fees). An accessory building permit carries a $500 refundable damage deposit.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building, 250 954-3065
- Email: Building, building@parksville.ca
- Email: Community Planning (setbacks, zoning), planning@parksville.ca

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A one-storey accessory building under 10 m² of floor area serving a single dwelling unit is outside the Building Bylaw, so it needs no building permit. A larger building is covered by the bylaw, which bars building without a permit.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387 (consolidated, PDF), s. 3(b)(ii), s. 5(a)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1098)
  - Official wording: "A one storey building that is less than 10 m2 in floor area, accessory to a single dwelling unit" … "start or continue constructing, altering, demolishing, reconstructing, relocating, removing or changing the occupancy of a building, structure, or work"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** None set. Parksville's Building Bylaw 1387 sets no deck height or size threshold.
- **Garages and carports:** Not confirmed. The bylaw does not name garages or carports.
- **Zoning limits:** RS-1: accessory buildings up to 5.0 m high; setbacks 4.5 m front and exterior, 1.2 m rear, 0.6 m interior; lot coverage 33%; floor area ratio 0.60. RS-2 and RS-3: also 5.0 m, but 3.0 m exterior setback and 3.0 m from the principal building. Other zones differ.
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw, 1994, No. 2000 (consolidated to July 29, 2026, PDF), s. 202.2, 202.3, 202.6, 202.8 (RS-1)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161)
  - Official wording: "Height of Accessory Buildings and Structures 5.0 m" … "Accessory Buildings and Structures 4.5 m 1.2 m 4.5 m 0.6 m" … "202.6 Maximum Lot Coverage: 33%" … "202.8 Maximum Floor Area Ratio: 0.60" … "Accessory buildings and structures shall be located not less than 3.0 metres from any portion of the principal building."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387; Zoning and Development Bylaw, 1994, No. 2000
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387 (consolidated, PDF), s. 1](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1098)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387"
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw, 1994, No. 2000 (consolidated to July 29, 2026, PDF), cover](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161)
  - Official wording: "CITY OF PARKSVILLE ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT BYLAW NO. 2000"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Parksville's [Building Bylaw 1387](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1098) does not apply to a one-storey building under 10 m² of floor area that is accessory to a single dwelling unit, so a small shed needs no building permit. A larger building is covered, and the bylaw bars building without a permit. The 10 m² exemption is only from the Building Bylaw; zoning setbacks and height still apply.

The bylaw sets no deck height or size threshold, and does not name garages or carports. The City's Building page lists example plans for a deck addition, an accessory building and a garage conversion.

## Steps

1. Check the zoning limits for your zone (see zoning-lookup). In RS-1, accessory buildings can be up to 5.0 m high, with setbacks of 4.5 m front and exterior, 1.2 m rear and 0.6 m interior, 33% lot coverage and a floor area ratio of 0.60.
2. For a deck, garage or carport, or a shed of 10 m² or more, call Building (250 954-3065) or email building@parksville.ca with the size and height before you start.
3. If a permit is needed, follow the building-permit answer.

## Good to know

- In RS-2 and RS-3, accessory buildings are also up to 5.0 m high, with a 3.0 m exterior setback and at least 3.0 m from the principal building. Other zones differ.
- An accessory building permit carries a $500 refundable damage deposit.
- The Inspection Policy says decks and handrails must be installed where required before the final inspection.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building page (example plans for decks and accessory buildings)](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=42)
- [Building Bylaw 1387 (PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1098)
- [Zoning and Development Bylaw 2000 (PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161)

## Related questions

- [Parksville building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/building-permit.md)
- [Parksville building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Parksville fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/fence-rules.md)
- [Parksville zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/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)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387 (consolidated, PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1098) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building, City of Parksville](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=42) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permit Submission Requirements (PDF), City of Parksville](https://www.parksville.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID42atID11779.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning and Development Bylaw, 1994, No. 2000 (consolidated to July 29, 2026, PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/70161) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 3 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Parksville. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/deck-shed-garage-permit/_