Salmon Arm permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?
In Salmon Arm a garage or carport needs a City building permit. A deck or patio more than 600 mm above grade needs one, and so does a roofed deck. A one-storey accessory building under 10 m² that is not a potential unsafe condition does not. Zoning rules apply to all of them.
Key facts
| Sheds | A one-storey accessory building under 10 m² that is not a potential unsafe condition does not come under the Building Bylaw, so needs no permit. Larger accessory buildings need a building permit.Building Bylaw No. 4725, s. 6.3(a), 9.1; Application and Guide for Building Permits (PDF, updated July 2026), Checklist for Standard Building Permit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga one storey accessory building with a floor area of less than 10m2, that does not constitute every owner must apply for and obtain a permit, prior to (a) construction or replacement of new buildings and structures; include permits for decks, outbuildings, garages, carports, additions &/or |
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| Decks | A deck or patio more than 600 mm (about 2 ft.) above the ground or finished grade needs a building permit. Only an unroofed deck or patio less than 600 mm above grade is exempt; a roofed deck is not covered by that exemption.Application and Guide for Building Permits (PDF, updated July 2026), Guide, When is a building permit required; Building Bylaw No. 4725, s. 6.3(h) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingdecks or patios which are more than 600mm from the unroofed decks or patios which are less than 600mm from the ground or finished grade; |
| Garages and carports | Yes. Garages and carports are standard building permit projects. Only a one-storey accessory building under 10 m² is exempt.Application and Guide for Building Permits (PDF, updated July 2026), Checklist for Standard Building Permit; Building Bylaw No. 4725, s. 6.3(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinginclude permits for decks, outbuildings, garages, carports, additions &/or a one storey accessory building with a floor area of less than 10m2, that does not constitute |
| Zoning limits | Example, R-10 zone: accessory buildings up to 6.0 m high; accessory buildings together up to 10% of the parcel (within 45% for all buildings); setbacks of 6.0 m from the front and exterior side lines and 1.0 m from rear and interior side lines. At least 40% of the parcel must stay permeable. Other zones differ.Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), s. 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.14 (R-10 Zone); Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), s. 4.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe maximum height of an accessory building shall be 6.0 metres (19.7 feet). 10% may comprise any and all other accessory buildings. Water permeable surfaces, as regulated in Section 4 of this Bylaw, shall cover at minimum 40% of the parcel area. Front parcel line shall be 6.0 metres (19.7 feet) Interior side parcel line shall be 1.0 metre (3.3 feet) Exterior side parcel line shall be 6.0 metres (19.7 feet) uncovered patios or terraces not greater than 0.6 metre (2.0 ft.) above surrounding grade; |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 4725 (permit rules) and Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (height, setbacks, coverage)Building Bylaw No. 4725, title; Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCity of Salmon Arm Building Bylaw No. 4725 TO ZONING BYLAW NO. 2303, 1995 |
How it works
Building Bylaw No. 4725 exempts a one-storey accessory building under 10 m² that is not a potential unsafe condition, so a shed that size needs no permit. Larger accessory buildings need one. Garages and carports are standard building permit projects. A deck or patio more than 600 mm (about 2 ft.) above the ground or finished grade needs a permit; only an unroofed deck or patio less than 600 mm above grade is exempt, so a roofed deck is not covered by that exemption.
The Zoning Bylaw (height, setbacks, coverage) applies to every shed, with or without a permit.
Good to know
- Example, R-10 zone: accessory buildings up to 6.0 m high; accessory buildings together up to 10% of the parcel (within 45% for all buildings); setbacks of 6.0 m from the front and exterior side lines and 1.0 m from rear and interior side lines; at least 40% of the parcel must stay permeable. Other zones set their own limits.
- Uncovered patios up to 0.6 m above grade may sit in setbacks (Zoning Bylaw s. 4.3.3).
- An accessory building used as a dwelling needs an approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (Zoning Bylaw s. 4.2).
- For the application steps, see the building-permit answer.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Bylaw No. 4725 (PDF), City of Salmon Arm (read 2026-11-05)
- Application and Guide for Building Permits (PDF, updated July 2026), City of Salmon Arm (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, consolidated August 2026), City of Salmon Arm (read 2026-11-05)
- Fee for Services Bylaw No. 2498 (PDF, consolidated August 24, 2026), City of Salmon Arm (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.