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

# Port Alberni permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** Port Alberni requires a building permit to construct a building or structure, but no City page states a size or height cutoff for sheds or decks, and none exempts garages or carports. Ask the Building Department at 250-720-2835 before you build.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Alberni, https://www.portalberni.ca)  
**Cost:** Permit fee is based on the value of work; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Residential permits take 8 to 10 weeks according to the City's page.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Services, 250-720-2835
- Email: Building, building@portalberni.ca
- In person: Development Services, Upper, 4835 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 1V9

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** Not confirmed. No City page states a size or height cutoff for sheds or decks.
- **Decks:** Not confirmed. No City page states a size or height cutoff for sheds or decks.
- **Garages and carports:** Building Services says a permit is required to construct, repair or alter a building or structure, and the City has a Standard Building Permit package for accessory buildings. No exemption for garages or carports is stated.
  - Source: [Building Services, Building Services FAQ](https://www.portalberni.ca/building-services)
  - Official wording: "Construct, repair or alter a building or structure"
  - Source: [Application Forms for Building and Renovations, Application forms](https://www.portalberni.ca/content/application-forms-building-and-renovations)
  - Official wording: "Standard Building Permit Application - Accessory Building, Renovations, and Additions"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** In R, RR and RM zones: accessory buildings total at most 90 m², 5.5 m high and one storey; at least 1.0 m from a rear or side lot line; garage or carport off a lane at least 1.5 m from the lane. In A, R, RR and RM zones, no more than two-thirds of the rear yard width or 50% of the lot area behind the house. A zone: 4.5 m high.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 6.10.3 to 6.10.7](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf)
  - Official wording: "accessory buildings may be located in required rear and side yards provided that no portion of the building is located within 1.0 m (3.3 ft) of a rear or side lot line." … "located not less than 1.5 m (4.9 ft) from the laneway lot line." … "In R, RR, and RM zones, the total floor area of all accessory buildings shall not exceed 90 m2" … "nor 50% of the lot area to the rear of the principal building of any lot shall be occupied by accessory buildings." … "In the A zone, the total floor area of all accessory buildings shall not exceed 90 m2" … "In A, R, RR, or RM zones, not more than two-thirds of the width of the rear yard nor"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (section 6.10 Accessory Buildings) and Building Bylaw No. 5077
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 6.10](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf)
  - Official wording: "trailer or recreational vehicle for the duration of their stay. 6.10 Accessory Buildings 6.10.1 Accessory buildings shall not be erected unless:" … "Bylaw No. 5105 Bylaw No. 5105"
  - Source: [Standard Building & Plumbing Permits (Part 9 Buildings) | City of Port Alberni, Step One](https://www.portalberni.ca/standard-building-plumbing-permits-part-9-buildings)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw No. 5077, Zoning Bylaw No. 5105"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City's [Building Services page](https://www.portalberni.ca/building-services) says you need a permit to construct, repair or alter a building or structure. It lists no size or height cutoff below which a shed or deck needs no permit, and no exemption for garages or carports. The City has an application package for renovations, additions and accessory buildings. Confirm with Building Services before you start.

Zoning also limits accessory buildings. In R, RR and RM zones, accessory buildings total at most 90 m², 5.5 m high and one storey, and must sit at least 1.0 m from a rear or side lot line. A garage or carport off a lane must be at least 1.5 m from the lane. In A, R, RR and RM zones, they may take no more than two-thirds of the rear yard width or 50% of the lot area behind the house. In the A zone the height limit is 4.5 m. See [Zoning Bylaw 5105](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf) section 6.10.

## Steps

1. Call Building Services (250-720-2835) with the size, height and location of your project.
2. Check your zone's limits in the Zoning Bylaw.
3. Prepare a metric site plan, drawings and a land title search no more than 30 days old.
4. Apply as described in the building permit answer.

## Good to know

- An accessory building cannot be used as a dwelling.
- In P, C, M, W and RM zones, an accessory building in a required rear yard may be at most 4.5 m high. On corner lots, the main building's side yard setbacks apply.
- Retaining walls over 1.2 m need a building permit.
- Electrical work needs a permit from a different agency.

## What you'll need

- Land title search no more than 30 days old
- Metric site plan with distances to property lines
- Drawings of the deck, shed or garage

## Official forms and pages

- [Application Forms for Building and Renovations](https://www.portalberni.ca/content/application-forms-building-and-renovations)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Port Alberni building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/building-permit.md)
- [Port Alberni fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/fence-rules.md)
- [Port Alberni zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/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)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Services, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/building-services) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Application Forms for Building and Renovations, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/content/application-forms-building-and-renovations) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Standard Building & Plumbing Permits (Part 9 Buildings) | City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/standard-building-plumbing-permits-part-9-buildings) (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; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Port Alberni. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/deck-shed-garage-permit/_