---
title: Sechelt permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Sechelt?"
place: Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sechelt
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Sechelt
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Sechelt permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Sechelt a deck needs a building permit unless it is free-standing and under 0.6 m (2 ft) above the ground at every point. A shed under 10 m² (107 sq. ft.) may not need one. Garages and carports are not named, so confirm with the Building Department.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Sechelt, https://www.sechelt.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer; the fee depends on the value of the work.  
**How long:** The District says a building permit can take 2 to 6 weeks, possibly longer.  
**Where:**
- Online: Cloudpermit, https://ca.cloudpermit.com/gov/login
- In person: Municipal Hall, 2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie Street, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0 (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (days of the week not stated on the page))
- Phone: Building Department, 604-740-8468
- Phone: Planning Department, 604-740-8459

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** Building permits are required for accessory buildings. One under 10 m² (107 sq. ft.) of floor area may not need a permit, depending on use, but a plan showing its location on the lot should be submitted to check zoning.
  - Source: [Building Permits](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Building permits are required for all new construction, alterations, additions, decks, pools, chimneys, house moves, temporary buildings/structures, demolitions, structural repair, renovations and accessory buildings." … "An accessory building, with less than 10 sq. metres (107 sq. ft.) in floor area, may not require a building permit depending on use, but a plan should be submitted showing its site location on the lot"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** Decks need a building permit, except a free-standing deck whose surface is less than 0.6 m (2 ft) above the ground at every point. Exempt decks must still meet zoning siting rules. (Sources differ: The Feb 2022 consolidation says 'deck additions'; the District's page quotes the same section as 'free standing decks'. Bylaw 409 is the consolidation of February 3, 2022. Amending bylaws 409-11 (2023) and 409-13 (2025) were posted only as unreadable scans, so any change they make could not be checked.)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022), s. 1.5.2(8)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(8) deck additions, except a deck where the difference in elevation between the deck surface and the ground surface within 1.2 m of the deck at any point is 0.6 m (2 ft) or more and the condition that the deck is sited in accordance with the Zoning Bylaw"
  - Source: [Building Permits, Scope and Exemptions](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "(6) free standing decks, except a deck where the difference in elevation between the deck surface and the ground surface at any point is 0.6 metres (2 ft) or more" … "Building permits are required for all new construction, alterations, additions, decks, pools, chimneys, house moves, temporary buildings/structures, demolitions, structural repair, renovations and accessory buildings."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** Garages and carports are not named on the pages or in the exemption list read. The page says permits are required for new construction, additions and accessory buildings, and only an accessory building under 10 m² may not need one. Confirm with the Building Department.
  - Source: [Building Permits](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Building permits are required for all new construction, alterations, additions, decks, pools, chimneys, house moves, temporary buildings/structures, demolitions, structural repair, renovations and accessory buildings." … "may not require a building permit depending on use"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** Zoning Bylaw: the combined floor area of all accessory buildings is capped by lot area (35 m² under 500 m²; 50 m² to 900 m²; 100 m² to 2,000 m²; 150 m² to 1 ha; 250 m² over 1 ha). One building under 10 m² and 4 m high may be within 1.0 m of a lot line. In the R1 zone, accessory structures need 1.5 m setbacks, may be 5.0 m high, and lot coverage is 35%.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), s. 2.4](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "2.4.3 The combined Gross Floor Area of all Accessory Buildings is dependent on Lot Area" … "Less than 500 m2 35 m2" … "Greater than 1 ha 250 m2" … "a) The Accessory Building or Structure has a Gross Floor Area less than 10 m2." … "b) The Height of the Accessory Building or Structure does not exceed 4 m."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), s. 1.1 (R1 zone)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Accessory 1.5 m 1.5 m 1.5 m 1.5 m Structure" … "Accessory Structure 5.0 m" … "1.1.6 The maximum Lot Coverage is 35%."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (s. 1.5.2) and Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (s. 2.4)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022), s. 1.5.2](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw does not apply to:"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), s. 2.4](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "2.4 Accessory Uses, Buildings and Structures"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The District of Sechelt requires a building permit under [Building Bylaw 409](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf) for accessory buildings, and for decks unless they are low and free-standing. Zoning rules in [Zoning Bylaw 580](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf) apply even where no permit is needed.

- **Deck:** a permit is needed, except for a free-standing deck whose surface is less than 0.6 m (2 ft) above the ground at every point. An exempt deck must still meet zoning siting rules.
- **Shed:** an accessory building under 10 m² (107 sq. ft.) of floor area may not need a permit, depending on use. Submit a plan showing its location on the lot so the District can check zoning.
- **Garage or carport:** neither is named in the exemptions. The District says permits are required for new construction, additions and accessory buildings, so assume one is needed and confirm.

## Steps

1. Check your zone and the limits below.
2. Call the Building Department (604-740-8468) to confirm whether your project needs a permit.
3. Apply through Cloudpermit with a site plan and drawings.
4. Book inspections through Cloudpermit or 604-885-1986.

## Good to know

- Zoning caps the combined floor area of all accessory buildings by lot area: 35 m² under 500 m²; 50 m² to 900 m²; 100 m² to 2,000 m²; 150 m² to 1 ha; 250 m² over 1 ha.
- One building under 10 m² and 4 m high may be within 1.0 m of a lot line.
- As an example, in the R1 zone accessory structures need 1.5 m setbacks, may be 5.0 m high, and lot coverage is 35%. Other zones differ.
- An accessory building may not be used as a dwelling except as the bylaw allows.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permits, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/building-permits/)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Sechelt building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/building-permit.md)
- [Sechelt building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Sechelt fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/fence-rules.md)
- [Sechelt zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/zoning-lookup.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)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/building-permits/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/xynpo3be/409-2003-building-bylaw-consolidation.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025)](https://www.sechelt.ca/media/rdjpiexj/580-2022-zoning-bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building and Renovating, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/business-and-development/building-and-renovating/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contacts Directory, District of Sechelt](https://www.sechelt.ca/contacts-directory/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 District of Sechelt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/deck-shed-garage-permit/_