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

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

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

**Short answer:** In Port Coquitlam a building permit is required to build, add to, repair or roof over a deck, and for a detached garage, carport or shed over 100 square feet or considered a hazard. Even a small shed must meet the Zoning Bylaw size, height and setback rules.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Coquitlam, https://www.portcoquitlam.ca)  
**Cost:** Based on the value of construction; see the building permit fees answer.  
**How long:** The City does not state a processing time; contact the Building Division.  
**Where:**
- Online: Accessory Building Permit page (eApply link), https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/business-development/property-development-building/building-permits/accessory-building-permit
- Online: Decks Permit page, https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/business-development/property-development-building/building-permits/decks-permit
- Phone: Building, 604-927-5444
- Email: Building, building@portcoquitlam.ca

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A building permit is required for a new or added detached accessory building (such as a garage or shed) over 100 square feet, or one considered a hazard, on land zoned single family (RS), two family (RD) or agricultural (A).
  - Source: [Accessory Building Permit, Accessory Building Permit page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/business-development/property-development-building/building-permits/accessory-building-permit)
  - Official wording: "A Building Permit is required when you wish to add to or construct a new detached accessory building that is over a 100 square feet or considered a hazard." … "such as a garage or shed on property zoned Single Family (RS), Two Family (RD) or Agricultural (A)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** A building permit is required to construct a deck, add onto an existing deck, repair a deck or put a roof cover over a deck (page covers RS, RD and A zones). It is not required for non-structural minor modifications. No height threshold is stated.
  - Source: [Decks Permit, Decks Permit page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/business-development/property-development-building/building-permits/decks-permit)
  - Official wording: "A building permit is required when you wish to construct a deck, add onto the existing deck, repair a deck or put a roof cover over deck." … "A building permit is not required for non-structural minor modifications."
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/business-development/property-development-building/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Build, demolish, repair or alter a building or structure, including carports, decks and pools"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** Yes. The City lists garages and carports among the structures that need a building permit. A detached garage over 100 square feet (or considered a hazard) goes through the Accessory Building Permit.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/business-development/property-development-building/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Build, demolish, repair or alter a building or structure, including carports, decks and pools"
  - Source: [Accessory Building Permit, Accessory Building Permit page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/business-development/property-development-building/building-permits/accessory-building-permit)
  - Official wording: "Building permits are required before you build, demolish, repair or alter most buildings, decks, mezzanines, retaining walls, garages, carports," … "that is over a 100 square feet or considered a hazard"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** Detached accessory buildings: in A and RS zones combined area is limited to the lesser of 12% of the lot or 90 m². Depth up to 7.5 m. Height 3 m (flat roof or pitch under 4 in 12) up to 4.8 m (6 in 12 or more). At least 1.2 m from a lane or rear line, outside front and side setbacks, 1.5 m from the house if over 10 m². (Sources differ: The bylaw (s. 2.8.1, 2.8.4) lets eaves and gutters project an extra 0.6 m into the setback, while the City page says setbacks are measured to the overhang, so the two are not consistent. Bylaw wins; check with Planning. Accessory buildings may not be used for habitation; a sink and toilet are allowed in A and RS zones, but no shower or bathtub (s. 2.3, 2.4).)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3630, Section III, s. 2.5 to 2.8](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/3630%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw%202008.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must not exceed the lesser of 12% of the lot area or 90m2." … "No detached accessory residential building or structure shall have a building depth of more than 7.5m." … "3m measured to the highest point of a flat roof or to the top of the peak for a" … "4.8m to the top of the peak of a pitched roof with a slope of 6 in 12 or more." … "1.2m of any lane or rear property line excluding projections, eaves and gutters" … "with a floor area exceeding 10m2, within 1.5m of a principal building." … "4.2m to the top of the peak of a pitched roof with a slope of 4 in 12 or more but" … "2.8.4 An interior or exterior side yard specified for the zone excluding projections,"
  - Source: [Accessory Building Permit, Accessory Building Permit page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/business-development/property-development-building/building-permits/accessory-building-permit)
  - Official wording: "Note that setbacks for accessory buildings are measured from the property line to the overhang, not the property line to the exterior walls."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building and Plumbing Bylaw, 2009, No. 3710; Zoning Bylaw, 2008, No. 3630 (Section III, s. 2)
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw 3710, s. 1](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-07/3710%20-%20Building%20%26%20Plumbing%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building and Plumbing Bylaw, 2009, No. 3710"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3630, Title page / Section III s. 2](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/3630%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw%202008.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW, 2008 Bylaw No. 3630" … "2. ACCESSORY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Port Coquitlam requires a building permit to construct, add onto, repair or put a roof cover over a deck. It also requires one for a new or added detached accessory building (such as a garage or shed) over 100 square feet, or one considered a hazard, on single family, two family or agricultural land. The City lists garages and carports among structures needing a permit; it states no separate size threshold for carports. A permit does not replace the Zoning Bylaw: setbacks and coverage still apply.

## Steps

1. Check your zoning and flood construction level on PoCoMAP.
2. Design within the Zoning Bylaw limits below. If you cannot, ask Planning about a variance.
3. Apply through eApply (accessory buildings) or submit the deck application and checklist to the Building Division.
4. Book inspections through MyPortCoquitlam, including the final inspection.

## Good to know

- Decks: non-structural minor modifications do not need a permit. No height threshold is stated.
- In A and RS zones, under [Zoning Bylaw 3630](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/3630%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw%202008.pdf) the combined area of detached accessory buildings is limited to the lesser of 12% of the lot or 90 m². Depth up to 7.5 m. Height 3 m (flat roof or pitch under 4 in 12) up to 4.8 m (6 in 12 or more).
- Place them at least 1.2 m from a lane or rear line, outside front and side setbacks, and 1.5 m from the house if over 10 m².
- No living in an accessory building; a sink and toilet are allowed in A and RS zones, but no shower or bathtub.
- Eaves: the City page says setbacks are measured to the overhang, but the bylaw lets eaves and gutters project an extra 0.6 m. Confirm with Planning.

## What you'll need

- Completed building permit application and checklist (deck or accessory building form)
- Site plan showing setbacks, which the City page says are measured to the overhang

## Official forms and pages

- [Guide for Building a Deck (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/media/file/guide-building-deck-residential-sfd-or-tfd-final-july-2017)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3630 (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/3630%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw%202008.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Port Coquitlam building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/building-permit.md)
- [Port Coquitlam building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Port Coquitlam fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/fence-rules.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)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Decks Permit, City of Port Coquitlam](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/business-development/property-development-building/building-permits/decks-permit) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Accessory Building Permit, City of Port Coquitlam](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/business-development/property-development-building/building-permits/accessory-building-permit) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permits, City of Port Coquitlam](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/business-development/property-development-building/building-permits) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3630 (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/3630%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw%202008.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building and Plumbing Bylaw 3710 (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2025-07/3710%20-%20Building%20%26%20Plumbing%20Bylaw.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Port Coquitlam. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/deck-shed-garage-permit/_