---
title: Vancouver permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Vancouver?"
place: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/vancouver
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Vancouver
sources_read: 2026-11-09
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Vancouver permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** Vancouver lists building or altering a garage, shed or deck among work that generally needs a permit. Give the Development and Building Services Centre your plans to confirm the approvals before you start.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Vancouver, https://vancouver.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: City Hall, 311

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** Building or altering a shed generally requires a permit. Confirm the requirements for your project with the City.
  - Source: [When you need a permit, Risks of working without a permit when it is required](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/when-you-need-a-permit.aspx)
  - Official wording: "* Building or altering a garage, shed, or deck"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Decks:** Building or altering a deck generally requires a permit.
  - Source: [When you need a permit, Risks of working without a permit when it is required](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/when-you-need-a-permit.aspx)
  - Official wording: "* Building or altering a garage, shed, or deck"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Garages and carports:** The City lists building or altering a garage among work that generally requires a permit.
  - Source: [When you need a permit, Risks of working without a permit when it is required](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/when-you-need-a-permit.aspx)
  - Official wording: "* Building or altering a garage, shed, or deck"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Zoning limits:** Not confirmed. Checked When you need a permit; not found there.
- **Bylaw:** Not confirmed. Checked When you need a permit; not found there.

## How it works

Describe exactly what you are building. A storage shed, a roofed carport, an enclosed garage and an elevated or covered deck do different things, even when they have the same footprint. Building or altering a shed generally requires a permit. Confirm the requirements for your project with the City.

## Steps

1. Check your proposed structure against [When you need a permit](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/when-you-need-a-permit.aspx). Measure the footprint and height. For a deck, also record the height above ground and whether the work adds a roof or enclosure.
2. Draw the structure in relation to the home, lot lines and other buildings. Compare the design with both the permit threshold and the rules for siting it on the lot.
3. Start with the City’s building permit application process online, then sign in to track the application or pay fees.

## Good to know

- Find your Vancouver property on the City’s Digital Zoning Map and note its district.
- If you later connect the structure to the house, enclose it or change its intended use, ask the permit office about that revised design.
- For a question about the footprint, height above grade and distance from each property line, call City Hall at 311. Give the height at the highest point above adjacent ground if the land slopes.

## Related questions

- [Vancouver building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/building-permit.md)
- [Vancouver building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/building-permit-fees.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)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Delta](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [When you need a permit](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/when-you-need-a-permit.aspx) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Building permit](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/building-permit.aspx) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Digital Zoning Map](https://zoning.vancouver.ca/) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Vancouver municipal office contact information](https://vancouver.ca/your-government/contact-the-city-of-vancouver.aspx) (read 2026-11-09)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 3 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/deck-shed-garage-permit/_