Prince George permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?
Short answer
In Prince George a building permit is needed for a new sun deck, a detached garage, a shed of 10 m² (108 sq ft) or more, and enclosing a carport. One shed per property under 10 m² and patios at grade are exempt. Zoning rules on size and setbacks apply either way.
Key facts
| Sheds | A new accessory building such as a shed needs a building permit, except one shed per property that is under 10 m² (108 sq ft).Building Permits, Do you need a permit? (web page) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingConstruction of a new accessory building (detached garage, shed, etc.). One shed per property, provided it is less than 108 square feet (10 m2) |
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| Decks | A new sun deck needs a building permit; so does enclosing a porch or putting a roof over a sun deck. Patios at grade do not. No height threshold is stated.Building Permits, Do you need a permit? (web page) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingConstruction of a new sun deck. The enclosure of a porch or roof over a sun deck. Installing new fences, patios at grade, planters, or landscaping. |
| Garages and carports | A new detached garage (accessory building) needs a building permit, and so does enclosing a carport. The page does not say whether building a new open carport needs one.Building Permits, Do you need a permit? (web page) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingConstruction of a new accessory building (detached garage, shed, etc.). The enclosure of a carport. |
| Zoning limits | Zone by zone. RS1 and RS2: accessory buildings total 90 m² ground floor, 7.0 m high, set back 4.5 m front, 1.2 m interior side, 3.0 m exterior side, 1.2 m rear. RS3: 70 m². RS4: 60, 70 or 90 m² by lot width. Site coverage including accessory buildings: RS1 30%, RS2 40%, RS3 and RS4 45%.City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026), s. 10.1.6, 10.2.6, 10.3.6, 10.4.7, 4.5.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe total maximum combined ground floor area of accessory buildings and structures on a site is 90.0 m². The maximum total combined ground floor area of accessory buildings and structures on a site is 90 m². The maximum total combined gross floor area of accessory buildings and structures on a site is 70.0 m². For lot widths less than 9.0 m, the maximum total combined ground floor area of accessory buildings and structures on a site is 60.0 m². The minimum rear yard is 1.2 m. No accessory building or structure shall be erected on any lot unless the principal building to which the accessory building is incidental has been erected or will be erected simultaneously The maximum site coverage is 30%. The maximum site coverage is 40%. including principal and accessory buildings and structures permitted by this Bylaw |
| Bylaw | City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024 (permits); City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (accessory building limits)City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024, s. 1; City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026), ss. 4.5, 10.1 to 10.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as the "City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024". City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 - CONSOLIDATED |
How it works
The City of Prince George requires a building permit (see the Building Bylaw) for:
- a new accessory building such as a detached garage or shed, except one shed per property under 10 m² (108 sq ft);
- a new sun deck, or enclosing a porch or putting a roof over a sun deck;
- enclosing a carport.
Patios at grade do not need a permit. The City page states no deck height threshold, and it does not say whether a new open carport needs a permit. Ask Development Services.
Even when no permit is needed, the Zoning Bylaw still controls size and placement.
Steps
- Look up your zone in PGMap.
- Check the zone's accessory building rules in the Zoning Bylaw (size, height, setbacks, site coverage).
- If a permit is needed, apply to Development Services (see the building permit answer).
- If your plan breaks a zoning rule, ask Development Services about a variance first.
Good to know
- In RS1 and RS2, all accessory buildings together may have 90 m² of ground floor, up to 7.0 m high, set back 4.5 m from the front, 1.2 m from an interior side lot line, 3.0 m from an exterior side lot line and 1.2 m from the rear. RS3 allows 70 m²; RS4 allows 60, 70 or 90 m² depending on lot width.
- Site coverage including accessory buildings: RS1 30%, RS2 40%, RS3 and RS4 45%.
- A carriage or cottage house is counted separately, with its own limits (100 m² ground floor, 8.0 m high).
- Other zones (RT, RM, rural, commercial) have their own limits.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Vanderhoof · Quesnel · Fort St James · Fraser Lake · Mackenzie · Tumbler Ridge
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Permits, City of Prince George (read 2026-11-05)
- City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557, 2004, Schedule A-1 (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. How answers are checked.