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

# Richmond permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Richmond a garage or carport needs a building permit. A deck needs one if it is more than 600 mm (2 ft) above ground. One storage shed under 10 m² with no mechanical services does not, but it must still follow the Zoning Bylaw.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Richmond, https://www.richmond.ca)  
**Cost:** Fees are based on construction value, and for a house lot the City deems it by floor area per m²: detached garage $742, deck $613 (see building-permit-fees).  
**Where:**
- Online: MyPermit, https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/e-plan/mypermit.htm
- Phone: Building Approvals, 604-276-4118
- Email: Building Approvals, building@richmond.ca
- Phone: Zoning Information, 604-276-4017

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** One accessory building (a single storage building) under 10 m² with no mechanical services does not need a building permit, but its location must still meet the Zoning Bylaw. Any other new accessory building needs a permit.
  - Source: [Building Approvals FAQs, Do I need a Permit for a deck or garden shed?](https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/building-approvals/faqs.htm)
  - Official wording: "One accessory building with a floor area less than 10 square metres (107.6 square feet) does not require a permit, unless it contains operating mechanical equipment." … "However, the location must conform to the Zoning Bylaw."
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw 7230, s. 5.1.2](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7230_070824_Consolidated_With_BL_1057273185.pdf)
  - Official wording: "of a single storage building or structure less than 10 square metres in area, in which there are no mechanical services"
  - Source: [A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF), s. 2(a)](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/pc_326229.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Construct a new accessory building."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** A deck less than 600 mm (2 feet) above grade needs no permit. A deck more than 600 mm above grade needs a building permit: the City's homeowner guide lists the drawings required for 'Decks More than 600 mm Above Grade', and the fee schedule has a rate for decks.
  - Source: [Building Approvals FAQs, Do I need a Permit for a deck or garden shed?](https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/building-approvals/faqs.htm)
  - Official wording: "patios and decks less than 600 mm (2.0 feet) above grade"
  - Source: [Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Schedule - Building Regulation](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_8636_Consolidated_with_ABLs_10699__10702_and_10720_11102578073.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(iv) decks or porches $613.00 $926.00 per m²"
  - Source: [A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF), Building Permit Application Guidelines](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/pc_326229.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Decks More than 600 mm Above Grade" … "Landscaping, including patios and decks less than 600 mm (2.0 feet) above grade;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** Yes. A new garage or carport is a new accessory building, which needs a building permit; the only exemption is one storage building under 10 m² with no mechanical services. The fee schedule has a rate for a detached garage.
  - Source: [A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF), s. 2(a) and title](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/pc_326229.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Construct a new accessory building." … "carport, garage, sundeck or other work"
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw 7230, s. 5.1.2](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7230_070824_Consolidated_With_BL_1057273185.pdf)
  - Official wording: "of a single storage building or structure less than 10 square metres in area, in which there are no mechanical services"
  - Source: [Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Schedule - Building Regulation](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_8636_Consolidated_with_ABLs_10699__10702_and_10720_11102578073.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(iii) detached garage $742.00 $1,120.00 per m²"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** Unless a zone says otherwise: detached accessory buildings in residential zones may be 4.0 m high (pitched roof) or 3.0 m (flat) if over 10 m², or 3.0 m and 2.5 m if under 10 m². In single detached zones, up to 70 m² in the rear yard, covering at most 40% of it, over 20 m from the front lot line, and 1.2 m or 2.4 m (longer wall) from rear and side lot lines.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 4 General Development Regulations, s. 4.14.4](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/DevRegs24223.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the maximum height for detached accessory buildings less than 10 m2 is 3.0 m" … "the maximum height for detached accessory buildings greater than 10 m2 is 4.0 m" … "and 2.5 m for a detached accessory building with a flat roof" … "minimum setback from the rear lot line, and side lot line, not abutting a public road is 1.2 m" … "the minimum setback from the rear lot line, and side lot line, not abutting a public road is 2.4 m."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 4 General Development Regulations, s. 4.7.7](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/DevRegs24223.pdf)
  - Official wording: "detached accessory buildings up to 70.0 m2 may be located within the rear yard" … "cover no more than 40% of the rear yard" … "the setback from the front lot line is greater than 20.0 m"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Regulation Bylaw No. 7230 (permits); Richmond Zoning Bylaw No. 8500, Section 4 (General Development Regulations)
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw 7230, title](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7230_070824_Consolidated_With_BL_1057273185.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING REGULATION BYLAW BYLAW NO. 7230"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 4 General Development Regulations](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/DevRegs24223.pdf)
  - Official wording: "4. General Development Regulations 4.1 General Provisions 4.1.1 The general development regulations of Section 4 apply in all zones, unless otherwise"
  - Source: [Bulletin Building-44 Residential Zones - Fence Heights](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/building4457407.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Richmond Zoning Bylaw No. 8500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In Richmond, [Building Regulation Bylaw 7230](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7230_070824_Consolidated_With_BL_1057273185.pdf) exempts only one storage building under 10 m² with no mechanical services. Any other new accessory building, including a garage or carport, needs a building permit. A deck less than 600 mm (2 ft) above grade needs no permit; the City's guide lists the drawings required for decks more than 600 mm above grade, and the fee schedule has a rate for decks. Either way, the building must meet the Zoning Bylaw.

## Steps

1. Check your zoning, setbacks and height limits with Zoning Information (604-276-4017) or the Richmond Interactive Map.
2. Prepare drawings to scale. The homeowner guide lists what is required for decks more than 600 mm above grade.
3. Apply on MyPermit or at the Permits Counter in City Hall, and pay the plan processing fee.
4. Book inspections online once the permit is issued.

## Good to know

- Unless your zone says otherwise, a detached accessory building in a residential zone may be 4.0 m high with a pitched roof or 3.0 m with a flat roof if over 10 m², or 3.0 m and 2.5 m if under 10 m².
- In single detached zones, a detached accessory building may be up to 70 m² in the rear yard, covering at most 40% of it, more than 20 m from the front lot line, and 1.2 m (wall 6 m or less) or 2.4 m (longer wall) from the rear and side lot lines.
- An attached garage may be 6.0 m high (pitched roof) or 4.5 m (flat roof).
- Each zone may set its own rules, which override these general ones. Deck setbacks and projections are in Zoning Bylaw sections 4.7 to 4.9.
- A shed with plumbing, gas or other mechanical services does not qualify for the exemption.

## Official forms and pages

- [A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF)](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/pc_326229.pdf)
- [Home Building and Renovations Guide](https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/building-approvals/homeguide.htm)
- [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 4 General Development Regulations (PDF)](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/DevRegs24223.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Richmond building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/building-permit.md)
- [Richmond fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/fence-rules.md)
- [Richmond building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Richmond tree removal rules and permits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/tree-removal.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)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Delta](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Approvals FAQs, City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/building-approvals/faqs.htm) (read 2026-11-05)
- [A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF), City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/pc_326229.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Regulation Bylaw 7230 (PDF), City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7230_070824_Consolidated_With_BL_1057273185.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 4 General Development Regulations (PDF), City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/DevRegs24223.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636 (PDF), City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_8636_Consolidated_with_ABLs_10699__10702_and_10720_11102578073.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bulletin Building-44 Residential Zones - Fence Heights, City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/building4457407.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 Richmond. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/deck-shed-garage-permit/_