---
title: Tumbler Ridge permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Tumbler Ridge?"
place: Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/tumbler-ridge
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Tumbler Ridge
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Tumbler Ridge permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

**Question:** Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Tumbler Ridge?

**Short answer:** In Tumbler Ridge the building bylaw requires a permit to construct any building or structure, and the District's page lists decks. No size cut-off for sheds is stated, and garages and carports are not listed either way. Confirm with the Building Official before you build.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Tumbler Ridge, https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall, 305 Iles Way, Tumbler Ridge, BC V0C 2W0 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-242-4242

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** No size threshold is stated. The Building Bylaw requires a permit for construction of any building or structure, except matters exempted by Part 1 of the BC Building Code. Confirm with the Building Official before building a shed.
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013, s. 2.2, 2.6](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall commence or continue the construction of any building or structure," … "The provisions of this Bylaw do not apply to the matters exempted by Part 1 of the BC Building Code"
  - Source: [Building & Utilities Permit Applications, Building permit page](https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/-building-utilities)
  - Official wording: "The easiest way to determine whether or not a building permit is needed is to contact the Building Official at Town Hall."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Decks:** No height threshold is stated. The District's page lists installing a deck among work needing a building permit. A deck is defined in the Zoning Bylaw as a structure attached to a dwelling; unattached decks are treated as accessory buildings.
  - Source: [Building & Utilities Permit Applications, Building permit page](https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/-building-utilities)
  - Official wording: "Installation of a fence, deck or other structure"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 1 definitions, 'Deck'](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "Deck means a structure attached to a dwelling unit, with no walls except for visual partitions and railings," … "Decks that are unattached to a dwelling unit are"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Garages and carports:** The Building Bylaw and the District's page do not list garages or carports as needing or not needing a permit (it mentions attached garages only for fire-guard drywall inspection). A garage or carport is a building or structure, and s. 2.6 requires a permit to construct one, subject to Part 1 BC Building Code exemptions.
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013, s. 2.6](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall commence or continue the construction of any building or structure," … "fire guard dry wall in attached garages;"
  - Source: [Building & Utilities Permit Applications, Building permit page](https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/-building-utilities)
  - Official wording: "Construct a new building or dwelling"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Zoning limits:** Accessory buildings may not be in a front yard (except on a corner parcel), may not be over one storey (except a carriage suite), and may not sit in an easement or right-of-way. Table 6-1 sets accessory setbacks, heights (for example 8 m, one storey, in R1 and R2) and parcel coverage.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 4.21, Table 6-1](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "Accessory buildings or structures are not permitted in the front yard in any zone except in the case on a corner parcel." … "It is prohibited for accessory buildings to be more than one storey in height, with the exception of a carriage home." … "No accessory structure shall be located within a dedicated easement or right-of-way." … "Lines for Accessory Building" … "Dimensional Standards included in Table 6-1"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013; Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (s. 4.21 and Table 6-1)
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013, title page](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING AND PLUMBING BYLAW No. 600, 2013"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 4.21](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "ACCESSORY USES, BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/) requires a permit to build any building or structure in Tumbler Ridge, except work exempted by Part 1 of the BC Building Code. The bylaw and the District's [permit page](https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/-building-utilities) set no size limit for sheds and do not list garages or carports as needing or not needing a permit. The page lists installing a deck as needing a permit.

A deck is a structure attached to a dwelling in the [Zoning Bylaw No. 747](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/). An unattached deck is treated as an accessory building.

## Steps

1. Call the Building Official at Town Hall (250-242-4242) before you build, to confirm whether your shed, deck, garage or carport needs a permit.
2. Check your zone's rules in Table 6-1 of the Zoning Bylaw (setbacks, height, parcel coverage).
3. If a permit is needed, apply in person at Town Hall (see the building-permit answer).

## Good to know

- Accessory buildings may not be in a front yard (except on a corner parcel), may not be over one storey (except a carriage suite), and may not sit in an easement or right-of-way.
- In R1 and R2 the accessory height limit is 8 m, one storey. Accessory setbacks as read are 1.5 m from a rear parcel line and 1 m from an interior side parcel line in R1, R2 and R3. Confirm in Table 6-1.
- An accessory building under 6.7 m² may sit next to an interior rear parcel line.
- An uncovered patio or sundeck may project into a side or rear yard if it is not closer than 1.5 m to the parcel line.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
- [Building & Utilities Permit Applications, District of Tumbler Ridge](https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/-building-utilities)

## Related questions

- [Tumbler Ridge building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/building-permit.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/fence-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building & Utilities Permit Applications, District of Tumbler Ridge](https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/-building-utilities) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Tumbler Ridge. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/deck-shed-garage-permit/_