Sun Peaks permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Sun Peaks?
Short answer
In Sun Peaks a single-storey shed or other accessory building under 10 m² needs no building permit; larger ones do, and so does a new garage. An unroofed deck needs one if it is over 600 mm above ground and over 10 m². Zoning setbacks apply either way.
Key facts
| Sheds | A single-storey accessory building under 10 m² (107 sq ft) is outside the Building Regulations Bylaw, so no building permit. Larger accessory buildings need one. The 2023 Guide says a shed or gazebo greater than 10 m² needs a permit.Sources differ: The Planning Services page says an accessory building such as a garage or storage shed greater than 20 m2 (215 sq ft) needs a permit, yet in the same list says a detached accessory building under 10 m2 and 4.5 m high on a single family lot is exempt. The bylaw (10 m2) is followed. Exempt buildings must still meet Zoning Bylaw setbacks.Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 1.7(b); s. 3.1(a); Guide to Building Permits (PDF, 2023 update), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, When a building permit is required · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingsingle-storey accessory buildings less than 10 m2 (107 sq ft) in building area. Unless expressly exempted under this Bylaw or another enactment, a person must not: A new accessory building such as a storage shed or gazebo greater than 10 square |
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| Decks | The Building Regulations Bylaw covers unroofed decks attached to or adjacent to single or two-family dwellings when the deck surface is more than 600 mm (24 in) above the ground and more than 10 m² (107 sq ft). Enclosing a porch or roofing a deck needs a permit.Sources differ: Three sources differ. The Planning Services page lists 'construct a sundeck' with no size limit. The 2023 Guide says 'Any above ground sundeck or patio greater than 10 square meters or higher than 30 cm off the ground'. The bylaw's 600 mm and 10 m2 test is followed here; ask the Building Inspector to confirm.Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 1.6(l); Building and Planning Services, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Building Permits/Inspections page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingif the deck surface is more than 600 mm (24 in) above the adjacent ground level and more than 10 m2 (107 sq ft2). enclose a porch or roof over a sundeck |
| Garages and carports | A new garage needs a building permit; only single-storey accessory buildings under 10 m² are exempt. Enclosing a garage also needs one. Carports are not mentioned in the documents read.Sources differ: The Planning Services page says an accessory building such as a garage or storage shed greater than 20 m2 (215 sq ft). The bylaw's 10 m2 exemption is followed. Garages attached to a house are part of that building's permit.Guide to Building Permits (PDF, 2023 update), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, When a building permit is required; Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 1.7(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA new building such as a home, garage, Enclose a garage or sundeck, or put a roof structure over something single-storey accessory buildings less than 10 m2 (107 sq ft) in building area. |
| Zoning limits | Floor area: 70 m² (single family, RS-1 and RT-1), 50 m² (two family, RT-1), 56 m² (RM-1, RM-2, RM-3, TA, TP-1, OS-1). Height 5 m. RS-1 coverage 35%, setbacks front 6 m, side 3 or 6 m, rear 7 m. Garage or carport in RS-1 and RT-1: not within 6 m of front line (5 m if sharing a wall with the house).Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 3.2(a), (c), (d), (e); Building and Planning Services, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Building Permits/Inspections page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording70 square metres for single family dwellings in RS-1 and RT-1 50 square metres for two family dwellings in the RT-1 zone except the maximum permitted floor area for an auxiliary building is 56 square metres in RM-1, RM-2, RM-3, The maximum permitted height for an auxiliary building is 5 metres. An auxiliary building may not be erected on any parcel unless the The maximum permitted parcel coverage is 35 percent. The minimum permitted front setback is 6 metres. an auxiliary building for a garage or carport use is prohibited to be located within 6 metres of the front parcel line but must still meet setback requirements specified in the Zoning Bylaw. |
| Bylaw | Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023; Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Title; Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBuilding Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023. ZONING BYLAW NO. 1400 |
How it works
Sun Peaks follows its Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209. Separately, the Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 sets size, height and setback rules that apply even when no permit is needed.
- Shed: a single-storey accessory building under 10 m² (107 sq ft) is outside the bylaw, so no building permit. Larger ones need one.
- Deck: the bylaw covers unroofed decks attached to or next to single or two-family homes when the surface is more than 600 mm (24 in) above ground and more than 10 m² (107 sq ft). Enclosing a porch or roofing a deck needs a permit.
- Garage: a new garage needs a permit, and so does enclosing one. A garage attached to a house is part of that building's permit.
- Carport: carports are not mentioned in the documents read. Ask the Building Inspector.
Good to know
- Zoning limits for accessory buildings: floor area 70 m² (single family, RS-1 and RT-1), 50 m² (two family, RT-1), or 56 m² (RM-1, RM-2, RM-3, TA, TP-1, OS-1); height 5 m. In RS-1 the coverage limit is 35%, with setbacks of 6 m front, 3 or 6 m side and 7 m rear. In R-1, auxiliary buildings have a 1.5 m rear setback and a 65 m² maximum.
- In RS-1 and RT-1, a garage or carport may not be within 6 m of the front line (5 m if it shares a wall with the house).
- The planning page says an accessory building over 20 m² needs a permit, and the 2023 Guide gives other deck sizes (over 10 m² or higher than 30 cm). The bylaw is followed here. Confirm your project with the Building Inspector.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Chase · Kamloops · Barriere · Enderby · Sicamous · Armstrong
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0209, 2023 (PDF, consolidated to Amendment Bylaw No. 0233), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Sun Peaks Resort Area Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 (PDF, revised May 7, 2025), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Guide to Building Permits (PDF, 2023 update), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Building and Planning Services, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (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.