{"title":"Princeton permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","question":"Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?","slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/princeton","name":"Princeton","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Princeton","url":"https://www.princeton.ca"},"short_answer":"In Princeton, a shed, garage or carport over 10 m² needs a building permit. An unroofed residential deck 600 mm (24 in) or less above the ground does not. Zoning limits on size, height and placement still apply.","aliases":["shed permit princeton","garage permit princeton bc","deck permit princeton","carport permit princeton","accessory building princeton"],"cost":"See the building-permit-fees answer ($195 plan processing fee plus $13.20 per $1,000 of permit value). A security deposit applies to accessory buildings over 25 m².","how_long":"Not stated for this type of project; the Town's guide says smaller projects usually take 7 working days.","where":[{"type":"email","label":"Building Department","value":"building@princeton.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Building Services Admin Clerk","value":"250-295-3135 ext 103 or 778-720-6116","note":"Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020 (PDF)","url":"https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/38942/"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013 (PDF)","url":"https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Princeton building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Princeton building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Princeton zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Princeton fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/fence-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/keremeos","name":"Keremeos","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/summerland","name":"Summerland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/hope","name":"Hope","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/penticton","name":"Penticton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/peachland","name":"Peachland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/oliver","name":"Oliver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"topic":{"title":"Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},"facts":{"shed":{"label":"Sheds","value":"A shed or other accessory building over 10 m² (total area) needs a building permit; under 10 m² the Building Bylaw does not apply (if it creates no hazard). Zoning limits still apply.","short":"Yes, if over 10 m²","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princeton.ca/p/building-services","title":"Building Services, Town of Princeton","section":"Building Services page","quotes":["to build an accessory structure larger than 10 square metres total area;"]},{"url":"https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/38942/","title":"Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020 (PDF), Town of Princeton","section":"s. 3.3(a)(v) and 3.3(h)","quotes":["accessory buildings less than 10m2 (107 ft2) in building area that do not create a","an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"No building permit for an unroofed residential deck 600 mm (24 in) or less above the adjacent ground, or where the surface within 1.2 m of the deck slopes more than 1 in 2. Other decks are not exempt, and an exterior deck is inspected during construction.","short":"Yes, unless unroofed and 600 mm or less above ground","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/38942/","title":"Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020 (PDF), Town of Princeton","section":"s. 3.3(d) and s. 10.31(h)","quotes":["unroofed residential decks if the deck surface is 600 mm (24 inches) or less above","construction of an exterior deck; and","the adjacent ground level, or the adjacent surface within 1.2 m of the walking","surface of the deck has a slope of more than 1 in 2;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"A garage or carport over 10 m² needs a building permit (the accessory-building rule). Zoning treats a garage or carport attached to a house as part of the house.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princeton.ca/p/building-services","title":"Building Services, Town of Princeton","section":"Building Services page","quotes":["to build an accessory structure larger than 10 square metres total area;"]},{"url":"https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/","title":"Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013 (PDF), Town of Princeton","section":"s. 6.3.2","quotes":["attached to a principal building is deemed to be a portion of the principal building;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"In residential zones garages, carports, sheds and greenhouses together are limited to 75 m² (RS2: 50 m²) and may not be between the front lot line and the house. Accessory height is 7.5 m in most residential zones (RSM: 4.5 m). RS1 accessory setbacks: 6.0 m front, 1.2 m rear and side, 4 m exterior side.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/","title":"Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013 (PDF), Town of Princeton","section":"s. 6.3.1, 6.3.3","quotes":["structure or any combination of these buildings shall not exceed 75m2. (807ft2) in area;","Accessory buildings and structures shall not be located between the front parcel line and a principal building;","accessory building 4.5 m (15 ft)","principal building 7 m (23 ft)"]},{"url":"https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/","title":"Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013 (PDF), Town of Princeton","section":"s. 11.2 (RS1), s. 12.2.5 (RS2)","quotes":["Minimum setback of accessory","rear parcel line 1.2 m (4 ft)","Maximum floor area of accessory 50 m2 (538 ft2)","accessory building 7.5m (25 ft)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Town of Princeton Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020; Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/38942/","title":"Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020 (PDF), Town of Princeton","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020"]},{"url":"https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/","title":"Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013 (PDF), Town of Princeton","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["Town of Princeton Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nIn the Town of Princeton, a shed or other accessory building over 10 m² total area needs a building permit under the [Building Bylaw](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/38942/). Under 10 m² the bylaw does not apply, if the building creates no hazard. A garage or carport over 10 m² needs a permit too. The [Zoning Bylaw](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/) treats a garage or carport attached to a house as part of the house.\n\nNo permit is needed for an unroofed residential deck 600 mm (24 in) or less above the adjacent ground, or where the surface within 1.2 m of the deck slopes more than 1 in 2. Other decks are not exempt, and an exterior deck is inspected during construction.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check zoning limits (below) for your lot.\n2. Contact the Building Department about your project.\n3. Apply for the permit and pay the fee (see building-permit-fees).\n4. Book inspections with at least 48 hours' notice.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- In residential zones, garages, carports, sheds and greenhouses together are limited to 75 m² (RS2: 50 m²) and may not be between the front lot line and the house.\n- Accessory height is 7.5 m in most residential zones (RSM: 4.5 m).\n- RS1 accessory setbacks: 6.0 m front, 1.2 m rear and side, 4 m exterior side.\n- On corner lots, accessory buildings keep the same setbacks from an abutting street as the house. Combined accessory area may not exceed the main building's floor area.\n- An accessory building over 25 m² needs a security deposit with the application.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princeton.ca/p/building-services","title":"Building Services, Town of Princeton","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/38942/","title":"Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020 (PDF), Town of Princeton","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/","title":"Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013 (PDF), Town of Princeton","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/53141/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1026, 2022, Schedule E, Building Permits (PDF), Town of Princeton","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}