Port Alice permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Port Alice?
Short answer
In Port Alice a deck needs a building permit, and so does a garage or carport. A storage shed under 10 m² (such as a pump-house) does not, if it is sited correctly. Setbacks and height limits are in the Zoning Bylaw, which could not be read.
Key facts
| Sheds | A storage shed under 10 m² (such as a pump-house) does not need a building permit as long as it is sited correctly. Any new accessory building otherwise needs one.Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingconstructing a storage shed less than 10 m2 in size construct a new accessory building |
|---|---|
| Decks | Building or remodelling a deck needs a building permit; the guide gives no height threshold.Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingremodel or construct a deck |
| Garages and carports | Yes: the guide lists drawings required for attached garages, detached garages and carports with a building permit application.Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 4, What drawings must I submit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAttached Garage Detached Garage and Sheds Carports |
| Zoning limits | Setbacks, height and lot coverage could not be read (zoning bylaw is scanned). In Development Permit Areas, a development permit is not required for decks or for accessory buildings and garden sheds under 47 m² (500 ft²).Official Community Plan (PDF, July 2023 version), OCP s. 6.3.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA Development Permit is not required for decks, accessory buildings / garden sheds less than 47 |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 610, 2010 (per the Planning page) and Port Alice Zoning Bylaw No. 688Planning, Planning page; Bylaws library, Bylaws library page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingVillage’s Building Bylaw No 610, 2010 688 Port Alice Zoning Bylaw |
How it works
Based on the Village's 2021 Residential Building Permit Guide:
- Deck: building or remodelling a deck needs a building permit. The guide gives no height threshold.
- Shed: a storage shed under 10 m² (such as a pump-house) does not need a permit as long as it is sited correctly. Any other new accessory building needs one.
- Garage or carport: the guide lists drawings required for attached garages, detached garages and carports with a permit application. It gives no size exemption.
Steps
- Phone the Village office, 250-284-3391, to confirm the setbacks, height and lot coverage for your zone.
- Fill in the Application for Building or Plumbing Permit and attach plans (see building-permit).
- Submit at 1061 Marine Drive with the fees.
Good to know
- Setbacks, height and lot coverage are in the Zoning Bylaw No. 688, a scanned PDF that could not be read, so this page does not state them.
- The Official Community Plan says that in Development Permit Areas a development permit is not required for decks, or for accessory buildings and garden sheds under 47 m² (500 ft²). That is separate from the building permit.
- The 2021 guide does not replace current bylaws. The Planning page names Building Bylaw No. 610, 2010, while the library lists No. 560; ask which applies.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Port Hardy · Tahsis · Sayward · Gold River · Campbell River · Tofino
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Residential Building Permit Guide 2021 (PDF), Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour (read 2026-11-08)
- Official Community Plan (PDF, July 2023 version), Village of Port Alice (read 2026-11-08)
- Planning, Village of Port Alice (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaws library, Village of Port Alice (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact, Village of Port Alice (read 2026-11-08)
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.