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

# Sooke permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Sooke, https://sooke.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Building Safety, District of Sooke, 250-642-1634
- Email: Building Safety, building@sooke.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 2205 Otter Point Road, Sooke, BC V9Z 1J2 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020 (PDF, consolidated July 11, 2022), s. 4(4)(c)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/mkzjluxa/building-bylaw-no-780-2020-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "an unoccupied accessory building with a floor area of less than ten 10 square metres"
  - Source: [Building and Renovating, Building and Renovating page](https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/building-and-renovating/)
  - Official wording: "Construct a new accessory building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** 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.
  - Source: [Building and Renovating, Building and Renovating page](https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/building-and-renovating/)
  - Official wording: "Remodel or construct a deck"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752, consolidated October 2026, Schedule 3, Security Deposit Fees](https://www.sooke.ca/media/fm0fpxls/fees-charges-bylaw-no-752-consolidated-october2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ground/main floor deck addition under 10 square metres with no roof" … "Unenclosed ground/main floor deck addition over 10 square meters."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** 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.
  - Source: [Building and Renovating, Building and Renovating page](https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/building-and-renovating/)
  - Official wording: "Construct a new accessory building" … "Enclose your carport"
  - Source: [Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026, s. 3.4(f)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)
  - Official wording: "attached to a principal building by" … "means of an enclosed structure including any garage or carport is deemed to"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026, s. 3.4(c), (d), (e)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026, s. 3.18(c)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026, Schedule 201 (R1) ss. 201.7 to 201.9](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020, and Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020 (PDF, consolidated July 11, 2022), title page](https://www.sooke.ca/media/mkzjluxa/building-bylaw-no-780-2020-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 780, 2020"
  - Source: [Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026, s. 3.4](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Sooke'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.

Zoning 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.

## Steps

1. Look up your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and check its setbacks, height and lot coverage.
2. If a permit is needed, follow the building-permit steps: application, site plan, drawings and title search.
3. Pay the fees and wait for the permit before building.
4. Book inspections during construction.

## Good to know

- 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.
- A ticket for an unlawful accessory building is $100.
- When unsure, call Building Safety at 250-642-1634 or building@sooke.ca.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building and Renovating, District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/building-and-renovating/)
- [Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020 (PDF)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/mkzjluxa/building-bylaw-no-780-2020-consolidated.pdf)
- [Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Sooke building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/building-permit.md)
- [Sooke building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Sooke fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/fence-rules.md)
- [Sooke zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/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)
- [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building and Renovating, District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/building-and-renovating/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw No. 780, 2020 (PDF, consolidated July 11, 2022), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/mkzjluxa/building-bylaw-no-780-2020-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013, consolidated to April 2026 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752, consolidated October 2026 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/fm0fpxls/fees-charges-bylaw-no-752-consolidated-october2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf) (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 Sooke. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/deck-shed-garage-permit/_