Richmond permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
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.
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.Building Approvals FAQs, Do I need a Permit for a deck or garden shed?; Building Regulation Bylaw 7230, s. 5.1.2; A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF), s. 2(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOne 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. of a single storage building or structure less than 10 square metres in area, in which there are no mechanical services Construct a new accessory building. |
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| 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.Building Approvals FAQs, Do I need a Permit for a deck or garden shed?; Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Schedule - Building Regulation; A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF), Building Permit Application Guidelines · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingpatios and decks less than 600 mm (2.0 feet) above grade (iv) decks or porches $613.00 $926.00 per m² Decks More than 600 mm Above Grade Landscaping, including patios and decks less than 600 mm (2.0 feet) above grade; |
| 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.A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF), s. 2(a) and title; Building Regulation Bylaw 7230, s. 5.1.2; Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Schedule - Building Regulation · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingConstruct a new accessory building. carport, garage, sundeck or other work of a single storage building or structure less than 10 square metres in area, in which there are no mechanical services (iii) detached garage $742.00 $1,120.00 per m² |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 4 General Development Regulations, s. 4.14.4; Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 4 General Development Regulations, s. 4.7.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe 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. 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 |
| Bylaw | Building Regulation Bylaw No. 7230 (permits); Richmond Zoning Bylaw No. 8500, Section 4 (General Development Regulations)Building Regulation Bylaw 7230, title; Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 4 General Development Regulations; Bulletin Building-44 Residential Zones - Fence Heights · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUILDING REGULATION BYLAW BYLAW NO. 7230 4. General Development Regulations 4.1 General Provisions 4.1.1 The general development regulations of Section 4 apply in all zones, unless otherwise Richmond Zoning Bylaw No. 8500 |
How it works
In Richmond, Building Regulation Bylaw 7230 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
- Check your zoning, setbacks and height limits with Zoning Information (604-276-4017) or the Richmond Interactive Map.
- Prepare drawings to scale. The homeowner guide lists what is required for decks more than 600 mm above grade.
- Apply on MyPermit or at the Permits Counter in City Hall, and pay the plan processing fee.
- 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
The same question in other places
Vancouver · Burnaby · North Vancouver · New Westminster · Delta · District of North Vancouver
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Approvals FAQs, City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
- A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Regulation Bylaw 7230 (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 4 General Development Regulations (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
- Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636 (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
- Bulletin Building-44 Residential Zones - Fence Heights, City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
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