Trail permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?
Short answer
In the City of Trail a deck, garage or other accessory building typically needs a building permit. A storage shed does not if it is 10 m2 (107 sq. ft.) or less, one storey, 3 m (9.8 ft.) or less to the peak, and on a non-permanent foundation. The Zoning Bylaw still applies.
Key facts
| Sheds | No building permit is needed for a storage shed that is 10 m² (107 sq. ft.) or less in floor area, one storey, 3 m (9.8 ft.) or less to the peak, and on a non-permanent foundation. A shed that does not meet all four conditions is not covered by this exemption.City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, s. 5.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw does not apply to storage sheds provided that: the storage shed does not exceed 10 m2 (107 sq. ft.) in floor area; the storage shed is one storey; the storage shed does not exceed 3m (9.8 ft.) to peak in height; and the storage shed is situated on a non-permanent foundation. |
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| Decks | The City's page says you typically need a building permit to build a deck. The Building Bylaw sets no height or size threshold that exempts a deck.Building Permits, Do I Need a Building Permit? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFinishing a basement or building a deck |
| Garages and carports | Garages and carports are not named in the Building Bylaw, and the City says accessory buildings typically need a permit. Exempt: work exempted by Part 1 of the BC Building Code, non-structural repairs under $1,000, and qualifying sheds. Zoning s. 3(8)(i) separately allows one temporary vehicle shelter on a lot.Building Permits, Do I Need a Building Permit?; City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, s. 5.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingInstalling fireplaces, pools, or accessory buildings This bylaw does not apply to non-structural repairs valued at less than One Thousand private garages or residential accessory buildings. This bylaw does not apply to buildings or structures exempted by Part 1 of the Building Code |
| Zoning limits | R1: accessory buildings up to 5 m (16.4 ft.) high, 1.2 m from exterior side and rear lot lines, lot coverage 50% (70% with an accessory suite). R3: 5 m high, 1.2 m yards, coverage 60% (80% with a suite). One accessory building under 10 m² on a non-permanent foundation may go anywhere, but not nearer the front or exterior side line than the house.City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002, ss. 6(3), 6(5)(e), 6(6)(c); City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002, ss. 7(4), 7(6), 7(7)(c); City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002, s. 3(8)(h) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe maximum height of an accessory building or structure that does not contain an accessory suite is 5 m the maximum lot coverage shall be 50%, including the principal building and all accessory buildings and structures. the maximum lot coverage shall be 70%, including the principal buildings and all accessory accessory buildings and structures shall be placed a minimum of 1.2 m (3.9 feet) from the exterior side and rear lot lines. one accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 m2 (107 ft2) and situated on a non-permanent foundation, may be located anywhere on a lot shall be 60%, including the principal building and all accessory buildings and structures. shall be 80%, including the principal buildings and all accessory The minimum front, interior side, exterior side, and rear yards shall be 1.2 m (3.9 feet). one accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 m2 (107 ft2) and closer to a front or exterior side property line than the corresponding face of the |
| Bylaw | City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003; City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Title page; City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002, Title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUILDING BYLAW NO. 2548, 2003 ZONING BYLAW NO. 2503, 2002 |
How it works
The City of Trail's page says you typically need a building permit to build a deck, and that accessory buildings typically need one too. The Building Bylaw sets no height or size threshold that exempts a deck, and does not name garages or carports.
A storage shed needs no building permit if it is all of: 10 m2 (107 sq. ft.) or less in floor area, one storey, 3 m (9.8 ft.) or less to the peak, and on a non-permanent foundation. A shed that misses any one of these is not covered by the exemption. Non-structural repairs under $1,000 and work exempted by Part 1 of the BC Building Code are also exempt.
Steps
- Check the shed exemption above. If you qualify, you still must follow the Zoning Bylaw.
- Otherwise, apply for a building permit (see building-permit).
- Ask Development Services (Planning@Trail.ca) about setbacks and height for your zone.
Good to know
- Accessory building limits: in R1, up to 5 m (16.4 ft.) high, 1.2 m from exterior side and rear lot lines, and lot coverage of 50% (70% with an accessory suite). In R3, 5 m high, 1.2 m yards, and coverage of 60% (80% with a suite). In R4, R6, R7, R8 and R9, accessory buildings are limited to 4.5 m high, with 1.2 m yards.
- One accessory building under 10 m2 on a non-permanent foundation may go anywhere on the lot, but not nearer the front or exterior side line than the house.
- Decks built less than 0.61 m (2 ft.) above natural grade are not subject to setbacks. This is a zoning rule, not a permit exemption. Other decks and porches may project 1.5 m into front or exterior side setbacks and 3 m into rear setbacks.
- The Zoning Bylaw also allows one temporary vehicle shelter on a lot.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Warfield · Rossland · Montrose · Fruitvale · Castlegar · Salmo
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Permits, City of Trail (read 2026-11-06)
- City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
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.