Stewart permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?
In Stewart you need a building permit to build a new building, including a garage, or to enclose a carport or turn a garage into living space. The District does not say whether sheds or decks need one, so ask before you build.
Key facts
| Sheds | The Building Permits page does not name sheds. Zoning: accessory buildings (which include sheds) are not allowed in the front yard, must be at least 1.0 m from the principal building and from parcel lines, and one under 6.7 m² may be adjacent to a side or rear parcel line.Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 1.0 Accessory Building; Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 3.23, 3.24, 3.27 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingand includes garages, carports, sheds, soft-sided structures, and greenhouses. Accessory buildings or structures are not permitted in the front yard in any zone. Accessory buildings shall be located at least 1.0 m away from any principal building and 1.0 m Where an accessory building or structure has a floor area of less than 6.7 m 2 |
|---|---|
| Decks | Not stated whether a deck needs a permit. Zoning allows an uncovered patio, sundeck or terrace in a side or rear yard that is not closer than 1.5 m to the parcel line, subject to fence height limits.Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 3.43 Projections · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingan uncovered patio, sundeck, or terrace in a side or rear yard, subject to the fence height that is not closer than 1.5 m to the parcel line; |
| Garages and carports | A building permit is required to enclose a carport or change a garage to living space, and to construct a new building.Building Permits, Building Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingenclose your carport or change your garage to living space. construct a new building. |
| Zoning limits | R1 zone: accessory buildings total at most 50.0 m² and 5.0 m high; parcel coverage 33%. R2 zone: accessory building height 12.0 m and floor area 5% of the parcel area.Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 5.2 (R1); Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014, s. 6.2 (R2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingMaximum floor area of all accessory buildings 50.0 m2 Maximum height of accessory buildings 5.0 m Maximum parcel coverage 33% Maximum floor area for accessory buildings 5% of the parcel area |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 843, 2010Building Permits, Building Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingRead Bylaw 843, 2010 Zoning Bylaw 881, 2014 |
How it works
The District's Building Permits page says a permit is required to construct a new building and to enclose a carport or change a garage to living space. Garages and carports are accessory buildings under the Zoning Bylaw No. 881.
The page does not name sheds or decks, and the Building Regulation Bylaw No. 843 is a scanned image. Whether a shed or deck needs a building permit is not stated in text we could read.
Zoning rules apply either way:
- Accessory buildings, which include sheds, are not allowed in the front yard. They must be at least 1.0 m from the principal building and from parcel lines. One under 6.7 m² may sit next to a side or rear parcel line.
- An uncovered patio, sundeck or terrace is allowed in a side or rear yard if it is not closer than 1.5 m to the parcel line, subject to fence height limits.
- R1 zone: accessory buildings total at most 50.0 m² and 5.0 m high; parcel coverage 33%.
- R2 zone: accessory building height 12.0 m and floor area 5% of the parcel area.
Steps
- Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and check the limits above.
- Ask the District office whether your shed or deck needs a building permit.
- If a permit is needed, follow the building-permit answer.
Good to know
- Garages and carport conversions need a permit.
- Limits for zones other than R1 and R2 were not summarized here; check the bylaw.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Hazelton · Terrace · Prince Rupert · Port Edward · Smithers · Kitimat
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Permits, District of Stewart (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.