{"title":"Salt Spring Island 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/salt-spring-island","name":"Salt Spring Island","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"shared","owner_label":"More than one level of government","owner_body":null,"short_answer":"On Salt Spring Island, decks 600 mm or more above grade, and sheds, garages and carports of 10 m² or more, need a Capital Regional District (CRD) building permit. Every new accessory building or deck also needs Islands Trust land-use approval first.","aliases":["shed permit salt spring","garage permit salt spring island","deck permit salt spring","carport permit","accessory building permit"],"cost":"CRD building permit: $300 application fee plus 1.4% of construction value. Islands Trust fees are separate; ask the Trust.","how_long":"The CRD's target is 4 weeks to review a complete application.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Islands Trust Salt Spring office","value":"250-537-9144","note":"Unit 4, 121 McPhillips Avenue, V8K 2T6."},{"type":"phone","label":"CRD Building Inspection, Salt Spring","value":"250-360-3230"},{"type":"email","label":"CRD permit questions","value":"permitquestion@crd.bc.ca"}],"documents":["Drawings listed in the CRD guide for a detached garage or shed","Islands Trust Building Permit Review Response Form"],"forms":[{"title":"CRD Building Permit Guide (PDF)","url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/building_permit_guide"},{"title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF)","url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Salt Spring Island building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Salt Spring Island building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Salt Spring Island zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Salt Spring Island fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/fence-rules/"}],"nearby":[],"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":"CRD building permit not needed for an accessory building under 10 m² that creates no hazard. Larger sheds need a CRD building permit. Every new accessory building also needs Islands Trust land-use (zoning) approval before the building permit.","short":"No if under 10 m², no hazard","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/bylawno3741consolidated","title":"CRD Building Regulation Bylaw No. 3741 (PDF, consolidated January 2026)","section":"s. 2.1.3(3)","quotes":["for accessory buildings less than 10 square meters in area that do not create a","hazard;"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/building_permit_guide","title":"CRD Building Permit Guide (PDF)","section":"Other Documents, item 12","quotes":["Planning Approval of zoning and development permit confirmation is required for all new:","Accessory buildings"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"A building permit is needed to build, repair or alter a deck, except a deck whose surface is under 600 mm above grade. Decks also need Islands Trust planning approval.","short":"Yes, unless under 600 mm above grade","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/building-inspections-permits/apply-building-permit","title":"Apply for a Building Permit, CRD","section":"When do I need a building permit?","quotes":["Construct, repair or alteration of a deck"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/bylawno3741consolidated","title":"CRD Building Regulation Bylaw No. 3741 (PDF, consolidated January 2026)","section":"s. 2.1.3(7)","quotes":["construction of a deck, the surface of which is less than 600 mm above grade."]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/building_permit_guide","title":"CRD Building Permit Guide (PDF)","section":"Other Documents, item 12","quotes":["• Change to building exterior • Decks • Additions that change the footprint of the building"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"No exemption is listed for garages or carports other than the under-10 m² accessory building rule, so they are treated like other buildings. The guide lists drawings required for a detached garage. A carport counts as an accessory building under the Land Use Bylaw.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/building_permit_guide","title":"CRD Building Permit Guide (PDF)","section":"Building Permit Application Drawings","quotes":["Detached Garage and Sheds"]},{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.12.2","quotes":["For the purposes of this Bylaw, a carport is deemed to be an accessory building,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"Unless a zone says otherwise: height 6 m (lots 1.2 ha or less) or 7 m (larger); total floor area 70 m² or 185 m²; setbacks 7.5 m front and rear, 3 m interior side, 4.5 m exterior side. One structure of 10 m² or less and 2.5 m high may sit in an interior side or rear setback.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.8.2","quotes":["The maximum height for accessory buildings is 6 m on lots 1.2 ha or less in area,","and 7 m on lots greater than 1.2 ha in area.","except that on any lot, one structure with a floor area no more than 10 square metres and a height no greater than 2.5 m may be placed within the setback area from an interior side or rear lot line,"]},{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.12.5","quotes":["must not exceed 70 square metres for lots that are 1.2 ha or less in area and 185","square metres for lots that are greater than 1.2 ha in area."]},{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF)","section":"s. 4.3.1","quotes":["Setback from front lot line: 7.5 m","Setback from interior side lot line: 3.0 m","Setback from exterior side lot line: 4.5 m","may be placed within the setback area"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"CRD Building Regulation Bylaw No. 5, 2010 (No. 3741) for permits; Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (1999) for height, size and setbacks. Both apply on Salt Spring Island.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/bylawno3741consolidated","title":"CRD Building Regulation Bylaw No. 3741 (PDF, consolidated January 2026)","section":"s. 1.1.1","quotes":["Islands, and Salt Spring Island electoral areas in the Capital Regional District."]},{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF)","section":"s. 2.1.1","quotes":["The provisions of this Bylaw apply to that portion of Salt Spring Island Local Trust","Area that lies within Electoral Area “F” of the Capital Regional District"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nSalt Spring Island is not a municipality, so two bodies are involved. The CRD issues building permits under [Bylaw No. 3741](https://www.crd.ca/media/file/bylawno3741consolidated). The Islands Trust sets zoning rules under [Land Use Bylaw No. 355](https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/).\n\n- **Shed:** no CRD permit for an accessory building under 10 m² that creates no hazard. Larger sheds need one.\n- **Deck:** a CRD permit is needed to build, repair or alter a deck, except one whose surface is under 600 mm above grade.\n- **Garage or carport:** no exemption is listed other than the under-10 m² rule, so they are treated like other buildings. A carport counts as an accessory building under the Land Use Bylaw.\n\nEvery new accessory building and deck also needs Islands Trust land-use approval before the building permit.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Ask the Islands Trust for land-use approval first (250-537-9144), and get its Building Permit Review Response Form.\n2. If a CRD permit is needed, follow the building-permit steps. The CRD guide lists the drawings required for a detached garage.\n3. Pay the CRD fees when invoiced.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Unless your zone says otherwise, accessory buildings have these limits: height 6 m on lots of 1.2 ha or less, 7 m on larger lots; total floor area 70 m² or 185 m²; setbacks of 7.5 m front and rear, 3 m interior side and 4.5 m exterior side.\n- One structure of 10 m² or less and 2.5 m high may sit in an interior side or rear setback.\n- Accessory buildings must be 3 m from other buildings, except carports.\n- An accessory building cannot have a shower, bathtub, kitchen or more than three rooms.\n- One building under 25 m² is left out of the floor-area total.\n- Zones can set different limits, so confirm yours with the Islands Trust.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/building-inspections-permits/apply-building-permit","title":"Apply for a Building Permit, CRD","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/building_permit_guide","title":"CRD Building Permit Guide (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/media/file/bylawno3741consolidated","title":"CRD Building Regulation Bylaw No. 3741 (PDF, consolidated January 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/salt-spring-island/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}