Surrey permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?

Surrey, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Sheds	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.Residential Building Permits, Building a storage shed · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 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.
Decks	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.Deck Permit; Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850, s. 2 definition of "structure" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 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. decks over 600 millimetres above finished grade, and retaining walls and similar structures over 1.2 metres in height.
Garages and carports	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.Detached Garage or Accessory Building Permit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording You need a building permit for: new residential garages
Zoning limits	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.Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000, Part 4, s. B.20; Residential Building Permits, Building a storage shed · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Accessory buildings and structures are permitted in all Zones; and shall not be sited within the required setbacks. Fences and poles are 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.
Bylaw	Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850; Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850, s. 1; Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000, Enacting clause · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850". Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000

How it works

The City of Surrey says a building permit is needed in most cases for a deck added to a house. The Building Bylaw 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.

Zoning 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.

Steps

Look up your zone and its setbacks in COSMOS (see the zoning-lookup answer).
Find the City's guide for your project (deck, or detached garage or accessory building).
Email the signed form, title certificate, drawings, other required approvals and fee to permitapplication@surrey.ca, or apply in person.

Good to know

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.
A storage shed typically needs a permit if it does not meet those limits.
Wiring beyond one light and a switch needs a separate electrical permit.
Carports: no City page read mentions them. Ask the Building Information Line at 604-591-4366.

What you'll need

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

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Langley City · White Rock · New Westminster · Port Coquitlam · Township of Langley · Coquitlam

Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Residential Building Permits, City of Surrey (read 2026-11-05)
Deck Permit, City of Surrey (read 2026-11-05)
Detached Garage or Accessory Building Permit, City of Surrey (read 2026-11-05)
Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850 (read 2026-11-05)
Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (read 2026-11-05)

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.