---
title: Squamish permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Squamish?"
place: Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/squamish
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Squamish
sources_read: 2026-11-09
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Squamish permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Squamish, a deck under 0.6 m high everywhere needs no building permit. If it reaches 0.6 m anywhere, it needs a permit and must meet setbacks. A shed of 10 m² or less is permit-exempt but must still meet zoning setbacks.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Squamish, https://squamish.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: The building department, 604-815-6872

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** A shed up to 10 square metres is exempt from a building permit. Setbacks still apply.
  - Source: [FAQ - Building Permit, Do I need a permit for a deck or garden shed?](https://squamish.ca/building-and-land-development/building-permit/faq-building-permit/)
  - Official wording: "Sheds that are a maximum of 10 m^{2} (107 ft^{2}) do not require a building permit. Minimum setbacks to property lines still apply and will depend on property zoning. Sheds larger than 10 m^{2} (107 ft^{2}) require a permit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Decks:** No building permit is required for a deck under 0.6 m everywhere. At 0.6 m or higher at any point, a permit and compliance with setbacks are required.
  - Source: [FAQ - Building Permit, Building permit FAQ, deck or shed](https://squamish.ca/building-and-land-development/building-permit/faq-building-permit/)
  - Official wording: "If the deck structure is 0.6m (2.0 ft) or greater in height at any location, setbacks must be met and a building permit is required for. A building permit is not required for decks under 0.6m (2.0ft) in height. If you are unsure about a specific project, please contact our office."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Garages and carports:** Not confirmed. Checked FAQ - Building Permit - District of Squamish, Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 2011, consolidated September 2026; not found there.
- **Zoning limits:** Even a permit-exempt shed must meet the setbacks for its zone.
  - Source: [FAQ - Building Permit, Do I need a permit for a deck or garden shed?](https://squamish.ca/building-and-land-development/building-permit/faq-building-permit/)
  - Official wording: "Sheds that are a maximum of 10 m^{2} (107 ft^{2}) do not require a building permit. Minimum setbacks to property lines still apply and will depend on property zoning. Sheds larger than 10 m^{2} (107 ft^{2}) require a permit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Bylaw:** Not confirmed. Checked FAQ - Building Permit - District of Squamish, Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 2011, consolidated September 2026; not found there.

## How it works

Describe exactly what you are building. A storage shed, a roofed carport, an enclosed garage and an elevated or covered deck do different things, even when they have the same footprint. No building permit is required for a deck under 0.6 m everywhere. At 0.6 m or higher at any point, a permit and compliance with setbacks are required.

## Steps

1. Check your proposed structure against [FAQ - Building Permit](https://squamish.ca/building-and-land-development/building-permit/faq-building-permit/). Measure the footprint and height. For a deck, also record the height above ground and whether the work adds a roof or enclosure.
2. Draw the structure in relation to the home, lot lines and other buildings. Compare the design with both the permit threshold and the rules for siting it on the lot.

## Good to know

- A shed up to 10 square metres is exempt from a building permit. Setbacks still apply.
- Confirm the services to your lot. Submit the application and supporting documents to Development Services for a completeness review and pay the application fee on submission.
- Find your Squamish property on the Parcel & Land Use Map.
- If you later connect the structure to the house, enclose it or change its intended use, ask the permit office about that revised design.
- For a question about the footprint, height above grade and distance from each property line, call the building department at 604-815-6872. Give the height at the highest point above adjacent ground if the land slopes.

## Related questions

- [Squamish building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/building-permit.md)
- [Squamish building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/building-permit-fees.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)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [FAQ - Building Permit](https://squamish.ca/building-and-land-development/building-permit/faq-building-permit/) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Building Permits](https://squamish.ca/building-and-land-development/building-permit/) (read 2026-11-09)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 3 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Squamish. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/deck-shed-garage-permit/_