{"title":"Tofino permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","question":"Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Tofino?","slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/tofino","name":"Tofino","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":"District of Tofino","url":"https://tofino.ca"},"short_answer":"In Tofino a shed or other accessory building under 10 m² needs no building permit, but a larger one does. A deck or raised platform over 600 mm (about 2 feet) high needs a permit, as does any deck at a principal entrance. Zoning limits on size and location still apply.","aliases":["shed permit tofino","deck permit tofino","garage permit tofino","carport permit tofino"],"cost":"Permit fee of $9 per $1,000 of construction value, $120 minimum; $1,000 security deposit for an accessory building over 10 m².","how_long":"The District does not state a processing time.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building Inspector","value":"250-726-6349"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning Services","value":"250-725-3229"},{"type":"online","label":"District permit portal (Citywide)","value":"https://citywideportal.com/auth/signup/tofino"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Building Permit Guide (PDF)","url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/180182/"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019 (PDF)","url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997 (PDF)","url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Tofino building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/building-permit/"},{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Tofino building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Tofino fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Tofino zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/ucluelet","name":"Ucluelet","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/gold-river","name":"Gold River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/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":"An accessory building (shed) with a floor area under 10 m² is outside the Building Bylaw. A larger shed needs a building permit.","short":"No if under 10 m²","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019 (PDF), s. 3.3 and Schedule A","section":"s. 3.3(b)","quotes":["an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres;"]},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/180182/","title":"Building Permit Guide (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"Building and Development Administration","quotes":["Accessory buildings greater than 10 m2"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"deck":{"label":"Decks","value":"A building permit is needed for a new deck or raised platform over 600 mm (about 2 feet) high, any deck or platform at a principal entrance, and any deck for commercial or public use. Constructing, covering or enclosing a porch or deck also needs one.","short":"Yes, if over 600 mm high","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/180182/","title":"Building Permit Guide (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"Building and Development Administration","quotes":["Building a new deck or raised platform over 600 mm (23-5/8 inches)","Any deck or raised platform at the principal entrances to a building","Constructing, covering, or enclosing a porch or deck"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"garage_carport":{"label":"Garages and carports","value":"A detached garage is an accessory building: a permit is needed when over 10 m². Converting a garage to a dwelling or habitable space needs a permit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/180182/","title":"Building Permit Guide (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"Building and Development Administration","quotes":["Accessory buildings greater than 10 m2","Converting a garage or accessory building to a dwelling or habitable space"]},{"url":"https://tofino.ca/business-development/building-development/building-permits-inspections/","title":"Building Permits and Inspections, District of Tofino","section":"Is a Building Permit Required?","quotes":["Sheds, garages, and other detached structures"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"zoning_limits":{"label":"Zoning limits","value":"Accessory buildings: not built before the main building; at least 1.8 m from it; may sit 1 m from a rear or side lot line if in the rear yard; total floor area at most 5% of lot area or 62 m², whichever is greater; no dwelling use; height 5.5 m or 8 m depending on zone.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997 (consolidated, PDF), s. 4.1.2","section":"s. 4.1.2","quotes":["No accessory building or structure shall be independently erected on any lot","accessory buildings may be located 1 metre","Accessory buildings shall not be closer than 1.8 metres (6 feet) from the","The total combined gross floor area of accessory buildings shall not exceed","5% of the lot area or 62 square metres (665 square feet), whichever is the","An accessory building or structure shall not be used as a dwelling.","exceed 5.5 metres (18 feet) in height."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019 (permits) and Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997 (size, height and location)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019 (PDF), s. 3.3 and Schedule A","section":"Title","quotes":["District of Tofino Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019"]},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997 (consolidated, PDF), s. 4.1.2","section":"Title","quotes":["Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nIn Tofino, the [Building Bylaw No. 1256](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf) leaves out an accessory building under 10 m² of floor area. The District's guide says accessory buildings over 10 m² need a permit. Exactly 10 m² is not addressed, so confirm with the Building Inspector.\n\n- **Shed:** under 10 m², no building permit; larger needs one.\n- **Deck:** a permit is needed for a new deck or raised platform over 600 mm high, any deck or platform at a principal entrance, and any deck for commercial or public use. Building, covering or enclosing a porch or deck also needs one.\n- **Garage:** a detached garage is an accessory building, so a permit is needed when it is over 10 m². Converting a garage to a dwelling or other living space needs a permit.\n- **Carport:** not addressed in the permit lists. Confirm with the Building Inspector.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Exempt buildings must still meet the [Zoning Bylaw](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/): not built before the main building; at least 1.8 m from it; 1 m from a rear or side lot line if in the rear yard; total floor area at most 5% of lot area or 62 m², whichever is greater; no dwelling use; height of 5.5 m or 8 m depending on the zone. Check the bylaw's table for your zone.\n- Permit fees are $9 per $1,000 of construction value ($120 minimum), and an accessory building over 10 m² needs a $1,000 security deposit at application.","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019 (PDF), s. 3.3 and Schedule A","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/180182/","title":"Building Permit Guide (PDF), District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997 (consolidated, PDF), s. 4.1.2","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tofino.ca/business-development/building-development/building-permits-inspections/","title":"Building Permits and Inspections, District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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/tofino/deck-shed-garage-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/deck-shed-garage-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"}}