{"title":"Surrey permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","question":"Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?","slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/surrey","name":"Surrey","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":"City of Surrey","url":"https://www.surrey.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Surrey a new residential garage or accessory building needs a building permit, and in most cases so does a deck added to a house. A storage shed of 10 m² or less, 1.5 m from neighbouring property lines and 3.0 m from other buildings on the lot, does not. The City's pages do not mention carports.","aliases":["shed permit surrey","garage permit surrey bc","do I need a permit for a deck","accessory building permit surrey"],"cost":"Based on the declared value of the work, plus a non-refundable initial payment at application. See the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"email","label":"Permit applications","value":"permitapplication@surrey.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Building Information Line","value":"604-591-4366"}],"documents":["Signed Building Permit Application Form","State of Title Certificate dated no more than 30 days before applying","Owner Authorization Form, if you are not the owner","Legible design drawings at an appropriate scale"],"forms":[{"title":"Deck Permit","url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits/deck-permit"},{"title":"Detached Garage or Accessory Building Permit","url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits/detached-garage-or-accessory-building-permit"},{"title":"Surrey Building Bylaw 17850","url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Surrey building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Surrey building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Surrey fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/fence-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/langley","name":"Langley City","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/white-rock","name":"White Rock","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley-township","name":"Township of Langley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/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":"A storage shed typically needs a building permit. None is needed for a shed of 10 m² or less, 1.5 m from neighbouring property lines and 3.0 m from other buildings on the lot. Wiring beyond one light and a switch needs a separate electrical permit.","short":"Yes typically; no if 10 m² or less","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits","title":"Residential Building Permits, City of Surrey","section":"Building a storage shed","quotes":["Accessory buildings, such as a storage shed, typically requires a building permit.","The storage shed must have an area of 10 m2 or less, sited","3.0 metres away from other buildings located on the same property.","If electrical beyond a light and control switch is being installed, a separate electrical permit is required for any storage shed on the property."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"The City says that in most cases a building permit is needed for a deck addition to a house. The Building Bylaw treats decks over 600 mm above finished grade as structures it regulates; the City page gives no other height threshold. Zoning Bylaw and BC Building Code also apply.","short":"Yes, in most cases","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits/deck-permit","title":"Deck Permit, City of Surrey","section":"Deck Permit","quotes":["In most cases, you need a building permit when constructing a deck addition on a house.","The construction of a deck is subject to the City of Surrey’s Zoning Bylaw and the BC Building Code."]},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850","title":"Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850","section":"s. 2 definition of \"structure\"","quotes":["decks over 600 millimetres above finished grade, and retaining walls and similar structures over 1.2 metres in height."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"A building permit is required for new residential garages and accessory buildings. The City permit pages do not mention carports; ask the Building Information Line at 604-591-4366.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits/detached-garage-or-accessory-building-permit","title":"Detached Garage or Accessory Building Permit, City of Surrey","section":"Detached Garage or Accessory Building Permit","quotes":["You need a building permit for:","new residential garages"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"Zoning Bylaw 12000 applies even without a permit. Accessory buildings are permitted in all zones, and sheds and similar structures cannot be sited within required setbacks (fences and poles excepted). Height, setbacks and lot coverage are set zone by zone.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000","title":"Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000","section":"Part 4, s. B.20","quotes":["Accessory buildings and structures are permitted in all Zones; and","shall not be sited within the required setbacks. Fences and poles are"]},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits","title":"Residential Building Permits, City of Surrey","section":"Building a storage shed","quotes":["Property owners that construct a shed without a permit must ensure compliance with Zoning Bylaw 12000 for use, density, lot coverage, setback and building height."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850; Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850","title":"Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the \"Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850\"."]},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000","title":"Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000","section":"Enacting clause","quotes":["Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000"]}],"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\nThe City of Surrey says a building permit is needed in most cases for a deck added to a house. The [Building Bylaw 17850](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850) treats decks over 600 mm above finished grade as structures it regulates; the City's deck page gives no other height threshold. A building permit is also required for new residential garages and accessory buildings.\n\nZoning Bylaw 12000 applies even when no permit is needed. Accessory buildings are permitted in all zones, and sheds and similar structures cannot sit within required setbacks. Height, setbacks and lot coverage are set zone by zone, so check your property's zone in COSMOS.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Look up your zone and its setbacks in COSMOS (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Find the City's guide for your project (deck, or detached garage or accessory building).\n3. Email the signed form, title certificate, drawings, other required approvals and fee to permitapplication@surrey.ca, or apply in person.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Shed exemption: 10 m² or less, 1.5 m from neighbouring property lines and 3.0 m from other buildings on the lot. A shed built without a permit must still meet Zoning Bylaw 12000 for use, density, lot coverage, setback and height.\n- A storage shed typically needs a permit if it does not meet those limits.\n- Wiring beyond one light and a switch needs a separate electrical permit.\n- Carports: no City page read mentions them. Ask the Building Information Line at 604-591-4366.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits","title":"Residential Building Permits, City of Surrey","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits/deck-permit","title":"Deck Permit, City of Surrey","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits/detached-garage-or-accessory-building-permit","title":"Detached Garage or Accessory Building Permit, City of Surrey","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850","title":"Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000","title":"Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/surrey/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}