---
title: Slocan permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Slocan?"
place: Slocan, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/slocan
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Slocan permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Slocan a new garage, carport or storage shed needs a building permit; no size threshold is stated. An unroofed deck no more than 600 mm (2 ft) above grade is outside the Building Bylaw. Higher decks, and enclosing a porch or roofing a sun deck, need a permit.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Permit fee depends on the value of the work; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** The Village's page and the building bylaw do not state a processing time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Village Office, 250-355-2277 (Monday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (confirm by phone). Book the building inspector here.)

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A new accessory building such as a carport, garage or storage shed needs a building permit. No size threshold is stated.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.slocancity.com/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Construct a new accessory building such as a carport, garage or storage shed"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Decks:** An unroofed deck no more than 600 mm (2 ft) above grade is outside the Building Bylaw. Higher decks, and enclosing a porch or roofing over a sun deck, need a permit.
  - Source: [RDCK Building Bylaw No. 2200, 2010 (PDF, consolidated for convenience), s. 5.2.3](https://www.rdck.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Building-Consol-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "decks without roofs having a difference in elevation to grade not exceeding 600 millimeters (2ft)"
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.slocancity.com/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Enclose a porch or roof over a sun deck"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Garages and carports:** Yes: a new garage or carport needs a building permit.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.slocancity.com/building-permits/)
  - Official wording: "Construct a new accessory building such as a carport, garage or storage shed"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Zoning limits:** Accessory buildings: 4.5 m maximum height; in R-1 at least 4.5 m from front and exterior side lot lines and 1.5 m from rear and interior side lines; all buildings together cover at most 33% of the site (R-1, R-2; 45% in R-3). Not for habitation; only after the principal building.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), ss. 4.9(2), 4.6, 5.4.3, 5.4.5](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the maximum height of an accessory" … "building or structure in any zone shall be 4.5 metres." … "No accessory building or structure shall be located within 4.5 metres of the front or exterior" … "Buildings and structures shall not cover more than 33 per cent of the site in total." … "shall be used for human habitation."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** RDCK Building Bylaw No. 2200, 2010 (permits) and Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (zoning limits).
  - Source: [Bylaws, Bylaws page](https://www.slocancity.com/bylaws/)
  - Official wording: "#2200 – BUILDING BYLAW, 2010"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), title](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW No. 633, 2013"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

In the Village of Slocan, permits come from the RDCK Building Service ([Building Bylaw No. 2200](https://www.rdck.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Building-Consol-1.pdf)) and size and placement limits come from the [Zoning Bylaw No. 633](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf).

- **Shed, garage, carport:** a new accessory building needs a building permit. No size threshold is stated, so ask the building inspector about a small shed.
- **Deck:** an unroofed deck no more than 600 mm (2 ft) above grade is outside the Building Bylaw. Higher decks, enclosing a porch, or roofing over a sun deck need a permit. The Village page lists a Deck and Exterior Roof checklist.

## Steps

1. Check zoning limits (below) for your zone.
2. Use the RDCK checklist for your project (accessory building or deck).
3. Apply through the Village Office (see the building-permit answer).

## Good to know

- Accessory buildings: 4.5 m maximum height. In R-1, at least 4.5 m from front and exterior side lot lines and 1.5 m from rear and interior side lines.
- All buildings together may cover at most 33% of the site in R-1 and R-2, and 45% in R-3.
- An accessory building is not for habitation and may be built only after the principal building.
- Other zones differ. Check the bylaw for the C and M zones or ask the Village Office.

## Official forms and pages

- [Checklist 6, Accessory Building (RDCK, PDF)](https://www.rdck.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RDCK_Building-Permit_Checklist6-Accessory-Building-REVISED-MAR-10-2025.pdf)
- [Checklist 8, Deck and Exterior Roof (RDCK, PDF)](https://www.rdck.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RDCK_Building-Permit_Checklist8-DeckExt-Roof-REVISED-March-10-2025.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 633 (PDF)](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Slocan building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/building-permit.md)
- [Slocan building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Slocan fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/fence-rules.md)
- [Slocan zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/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)
- [Silverton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [New Denver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-denver/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits, Village of Slocan](https://www.slocancity.com/building-permits/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [RDCK Building Bylaw No. 2200, 2010 (PDF, consolidated for convenience)](https://www.rdck.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Building-Consol-1.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws](https://www.slocancity.com/bylaws/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/deck-shed-garage-permit/_