Terrace permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?
Short answer
In Terrace, a shed or other accessory building under 10 square metres does not need a building permit. Larger sheds, garages and carports do. The Building Bylaw does not exempt decks, so a deck appears to need one. Zoning rules apply either way.
Key facts
| Sheds | A building permit is needed for a shed or other accessory building unless its floor area is less than 10 m².Building Bylaw No. 2307-2024, s. 3.4.2, 10.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingan accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres constructing or altering a building or structure, unless exempt from the application of this Bylaw pursuant to Section 3.4; |
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| Decks | The Building Bylaw sets no deck height or size threshold. A permit is required to construct a structure unless s. 3.4 exempts it, and decks are not named in those exemptions.Building Bylaw No. 2307-2024, s. 3.4, 9.3.2.d, 10.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingconstructing or altering a building or structure, unless exempt from the application of this Bylaw pursuant to Section 3.4; structures, including retaining walls, steps, stairs and decks, and a fence, a trellis, an arbour, or other similar landscaping or decorative structures. |
| Garages and carports | A garage or carport is a building, so it needs a building permit unless it is an accessory building under 10 m². A garage or carport attached to the house is treated as part of the principal building.Building Bylaw No. 2307-2024, s. 3.4.2, 10.1.1; Zoning Consolidated Bylaw No. 2069-2014 (PDF, to Bylaw 2345-2026), s. 3.5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingan accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres constructing or altering a building or structure, unless exempt from the application of this Bylaw pursuant to Section 3.4; Where accessory buildings or structures are permanently attached to the principal building, they shall be considered part of the principal building and must comply in |
| Zoning limits | No accessory building in a front yard; 1.5 m from the house or another accessory building. R1: up to 55 m² and 5.1 m high; setbacks 1.5 m rear, 1.2 m (parcels under 600 m²) or 1.5 m side, 2.0 m exterior side; coverage 50% or 45%. Other zones differ.Zoning Consolidated Bylaw No. 2069-2014 (PDF, to Bylaw 2345-2026), s. 3.5.3, 3.5.4; R1 s. 11.1.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo accessory building or structure will be located in a front yard. A minimum setback of 1.5 m is required between an accessory building and a buildings/structures 55 m2 55 m2 55 m2 without dwelling units buildings/structures 5.1 m 5.1 m 5.1 m without dwelling units d. rear parcel line 1.5 m 1.5 m 1.5 m buildings/structures 1 per parcel 1 per parcel 1 per parcel without dwelling units (30 m2 and larger) .7 Maximum Parcel Coverage 50% 45% 45% c. exterior side parcel line 2.0 m 2.0 m 2.0 m |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 2307-2024 (permits) and Zoning Bylaw No. 2069-2014 (accessory buildings, s. 3.5 and zone regulations)Building Bylaw No. 2307-2024, Title page; Zoning Consolidated Bylaw No. 2069-2014 (PDF, to Bylaw 2345-2026), Title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCITY OF TERRACE BYLAW NO. 2307-2024 "A BYLAW FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE BUILDING CODE AND REGULATION City of Terrace Zoning Bylaw No. 2069 - 2014 3.5 Accessory Buildings, Structures and Use |
How it works
Building Bylaw 2307-2024 requires a permit to construct a building or structure unless s. 3.4 exempts it. It exempts an accessory building with a floor area under 10 m².
- Shed: needs a permit unless it is under 10 m².
- Deck: the bylaw sets no height or size threshold and does not name decks in its exemptions, so a permit appears to be required. This is a plain reading; no City page states a deck rule.
- Garage or carport: needs a permit unless it is an accessory building under 10 m². One attached to the house is treated as part of the house.
Steps
- Find your zone on TerraMap, or call Development Services (250-615-4022).
- Check the zoning limits for your zone.
- If a permit is needed, apply in CloudPermit. Confirm deck questions with Building and Licensing (250-615-4000).
Good to know
- Zoning Bylaw 2069 applies to every accessory building, with or without a permit.
- No accessory building may be in a front yard, and there must be 1.5 m between it and the house or another accessory building.
- In R1: up to 55 m² and 5.1 m high; setbacks of 1.5 m at the rear, 1.2 m (parcels under 600 m²) or 1.5 m at the side, and 2.0 m on the exterior side; parcel coverage 50% or 45%. In AR1 and AR2 an accessory building may be up to 90 m² and 5.1 m high; in RS1, 55 m² and 5.1 m. Other zones differ.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Kitimat · Smithers · Telkwa · Hazelton · Port Edward · Prince Rupert
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Bylaw No. 2307-2024 (PDF), City of Terrace (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Consolidated Bylaw No. 2069-2014 (PDF, to Bylaw 2345-2026), City of Terrace (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Permits, City of Terrace (read 2026-11-05)
- TerraMap, City of Terrace (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.