Sechelt permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
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.
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.Building Permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBuilding 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 |
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| 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.Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022), s. 1.5.2(8); Building Permits, Scope and Exemptions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official 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 (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. |
| 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.Building Permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBuilding 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 |
| 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%.Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), s. 2.4; Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), s. 1.1 (R1 zone) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording2.4.3 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. 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%. |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (s. 1.5.2) and Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (s. 2.4)Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022), s. 1.5.2; Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), s. 2.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw does not apply to: 2.4 Accessory Uses, Buildings and Structures |
How it works
The District of Sechelt requires a building permit under Building Bylaw 409 for accessory buildings, and for decks unless they are low and free-standing. Zoning rules in Zoning Bylaw 580 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
- Check your zone and the limits below.
- Call the Building Department (604-740-8468) to confirm whether your project needs a permit.
- Apply through Cloudpermit with a site plan and drawings.
- 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
The same question in other places
Gibsons · Bowen Island · Lantzville · Nanaimo · Lions Bay · West Vancouver
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Permits, District of Sechelt (read 2026-11-06)
- Building Bylaw No. 409, 2003 (PDF, consolidated February 3, 2022) (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025) (read 2026-11-06)
- Building and Renovating, District of Sechelt (read 2026-11-06)
- Contacts Directory, District of Sechelt (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. How answers are checked.