{"title":"Sooke permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","question":"Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Sooke?","slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/sooke","name":"Sooke","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Sooke","url":"https://sooke.ca"},"short_answer":"In Sooke a deck, a garage, a carport enclosure and any shed of 10 m² or more need a District building permit. An unoccupied accessory building under 10 m² is outside the Building Bylaw, but zoning rules on size and setbacks still apply.","aliases":["shed permit sooke","deck permit sooke","garage permit sooke","carport permit sooke"],"cost":"See the building-permit-fees answer. A single-family parking structure carries a $1,000 or 1% security deposit. An unlawful accessory building ticket is $100.","how_long":"Not stated on the District's pages.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building Safety, District of Sooke","value":"250-642-1634"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Safety","value":"building@sooke.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"2205 Otter Point Road, Sooke, BC V9Z 1J2","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Building and Renovating, District of Sooke","url":"https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/building-and-renovating/"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020 (PDF)","url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/mkzjluxa/building-bylaw-no-780-2020-consolidated.pdf"},{"title":"Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF)","url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Sooke building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Sooke building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Sooke fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Sooke zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/metchosin","name":"Metchosin","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"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":"An unoccupied accessory building under 10 m² is outside the Building Bylaw, so no building permit. A shed or other accessory building of 10 m² or more needs a building permit.","short":"No if under 10 m² and unoccupied","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/mkzjluxa/building-bylaw-no-780-2020-consolidated.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020 (PDF, consolidated July 11, 2022), District of Sooke","section":"s. 4(4)(c)","quotes":["an unoccupied accessory building with a floor area of less than ten 10 square metres"]},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/building-and-renovating/","title":"Building and Renovating, District of Sooke","section":"Building and Renovating page","quotes":["Construct a new accessory building"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"The District's page lists building or remodelling a deck as needing a building permit and gives no height threshold. The fee schedule lists unenclosed ground or main floor deck additions, under and over 10 m², in its security deposit tiers.","short":"Yes; no height threshold stated","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/building-and-renovating/","title":"Building and Renovating, District of Sooke","section":"Building and Renovating page","quotes":["Remodel or construct a deck"]},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/fm0fpxls/fees-charges-bylaw-no-752-consolidated-october2026.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752, consolidated October 2026 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"Schedule 3, Security Deposit Fees","quotes":["ground/main floor deck addition under 10 square metres with no roof","Unenclosed ground/main floor deck addition over 10 square meters."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"Yes: constructing a new accessory building needs a building permit, and enclosing a carport needs one. A garage attached by an enclosed structure counts as part of the house.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/building-and-renovating/","title":"Building and Renovating, District of Sooke","section":"Building and Renovating page","quotes":["Construct a new accessory building","Enclose your carport"]},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf","title":"Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"s. 3.4(f)","quotes":["attached to a principal building by","means of an enclosed structure including any garage or carport is deemed to"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"Accessory buildings are allowed only after or with a principal building, may not be used as a dwelling unless the bylaw allows, and total floor area cannot exceed the principal building's. In R1 (lots 1,215 m² or smaller) accessory buildings may be up to 2 storeys and 9 m high, with 50% lot coverage, 4 m front, 1.2 m side and 1.5 m rear setbacks. Open decks under 0.6 m above grade are exempt from setbacks.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf","title":"Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"s. 3.4(c), (d), (e)","quotes":["No accessory building or structure shall be situated on a lot unless the principal","An accessory building shall not be used as a dwelling unit or sleeping unit","The floor area of an accessory building or buildings shall not exceed the"]},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf","title":"Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"s. 3.18(c)","quotes":["Open decks or patios without a roof structure, ancillary to a residential","having a floor level less than 0.6 m above the adjoining grade"]},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf","title":"Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"Schedule 201 (R1) ss. 201.7 to 201.9","quotes":["b) Accessory Buildings: 2 storeys, up to a maximum height of 9 m","For lots 1215 m2 or smaller: 50%","a) Minimum Setbacks for Lots ≤ 1215 m2"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020, and Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/mkzjluxa/building-bylaw-no-780-2020-consolidated.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020 (PDF, consolidated July 11, 2022), District of Sooke","section":"title page","quotes":["BUILDING BYLAW NO. 780, 2020"]},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf","title":"Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026 (PDF), District of Sooke","section":"s. 3.4","quotes":["3.4 Accessory Uses a) Accessory uses must be conducted on the same lot as the principal use.","opinions, as the District of Sooke takes no responsibility for information provided by it. Amendments to Bylaw No. 600, Sooke Zoning Bylaw, 2013"]}],"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\nSooke's [Building Bylaw No. 780](https://www.sooke.ca/media/mkzjluxa/building-bylaw-no-780-2020-consolidated.pdf) does not apply to an unoccupied accessory building under 10 m², so a small shed needs no building permit. The District's page says constructing a new accessory building, building or remodelling a deck, and enclosing a carport need one. A shed or other accessory building of 10 m² or more therefore needs a permit. A garage joined to the house by an enclosed structure counts as part of the house. The District's page gives no height threshold for decks.\n\nZoning applies either way. Under [Zoning Bylaw No. 600](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf), an accessory building may be built only after or with a principal building, cannot be lived in unless the bylaw allows it, and its total floor area cannot exceed the principal building's. Open decks under 0.6 m above grade are exempt from setbacks.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Look up your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and check its setbacks, height and lot coverage.\n2. If a permit is needed, follow the building-permit steps: application, site plan, drawings and title search.\n3. Pay the fees and wait for the permit before building.\n4. Book inspections during construction.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Example only: in the R1 zone on lots of 1,215 m² or smaller, accessory buildings may be up to 2 storeys and 9 m high, with 50% lot coverage and setbacks of 4 m front, 1.2 m side and 1.5 m rear. Other zones and larger lots differ.\n- A ticket for an unlawful accessory building is $100.\n- When unsure, call Building Safety at 250-642-1634 or building@sooke.ca.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/building-and-renovating/","title":"Building and Renovating, District of Sooke","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/mkzjluxa/building-bylaw-no-780-2020-consolidated.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020 (PDF, consolidated July 11, 2022), District of Sooke","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf","title":"Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026 (PDF), District of Sooke","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/fm0fpxls/fees-charges-bylaw-no-752-consolidated-october2026.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752, consolidated October 2026 (PDF), District of Sooke","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/sooke/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}