Vernon 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 Vernon, a shed under 10 m² and a deck within 600 mm of the ground all round need no building permit. A shed of 10 m² or more needs one, and so does a garage or carport. Zoning rules on size and placement apply either way.
Key facts
| Sheds | A shed or other accessory building under 10 m² and creating no hazard needs no building permit (adding plumbing does). One of 10 m² or more needs a building permit.Building Bylaw 5900, s. 3.3(b); Building Permit Application, Do I Need a Permit?; Building Bylaw 5900, s. 4.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingan accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres; Accessory buildings with an area less than 10 m² and that does not create a hazard. Adding plumbing to an accessory building will require a building permit. unless a building official has issued a valid and subsisting permit for the |
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| Decks | No permit for a deck within 600 mm of grade around its entire perimeter, or for replacing a rotten deck structure with a similar product. Replacing a whole deck or changing its size needs a permit.Building Permit Application, Do I Need a Permit? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDecks that are within 600mm of grade around the entire deck. Replacing roofing, siding, or rotten deck structure for a similar product. Replacing a whole deck or changing its size will require a building permit. |
| Garages and carports | No separate rule is stated. Only accessory buildings under 10 m² are exempt, so a garage or carport of 10 m² or more needs a building permit.Building Bylaw 5900, s. 3.3(b) and 10.4(k); Building Permit Application, Apply for · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingan accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres; except for garages, carports and garden structures located on land, - Institutional Buildings - Mixed-Use Buildings - Accessory Structures ## Before you Start Please review the Building Permit checklist to ensure you have all required information and documents. |
| Zoning limits | In housing zones: no accessory building in a front yard (fences excepted, and unless it holds a permitted accessory dwelling or the lot is double-fronting); total accessory coverage no more than 14% of lot area or 100 m², whichever is less. In the MUS zone, accessory buildings are limited to 4.5 m high; setbacks depend on lot class.Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 4 Development Regulations, s. 4.3.2 and 4.3.4; Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 9.1 MUS, s. 9.1.5-9.1.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo Accessory Buildings or Structures, except for fences, are allowed in a Front Yard The total Lot coverage of Accessory Buildings or Structures shall not exceed 14% of the Lot Area, or have a total footprint greater than 100 m2, whichever is less. Accessory Building(s) 4.5 m |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 5900 (s. 3.3 exemptions) and Zoning Bylaw No. 6000 (s. 4.3 Accessory Development)Building Bylaw 5900, s. 3.3; Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 4 Development Regulations, s. 4.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw does not apply to Landscaping. 4.3 Accessory Development 4.3.1 No person shall erect or permit to be erected an antenna, satellite dish/receiver, radio or |
How it works
Building Bylaw 5900 exempts a few small structures from a building permit. Zoning Bylaw 6000 section 4.3 still controls where accessory buildings may go and how big they can be, even when no permit is needed.
Good to know
- Shed or other accessory building: under 10 m² and creating no hazard, no permit (adding plumbing does need one). At 10 m² or more, a building permit is needed.
- Deck: no permit if it is within 600 mm of grade around its entire perimeter, or for replacing a rotten deck structure with a similar product. Replacing a whole deck or changing its size needs a permit. The 600 mm rule is stated on the City's page, not in the bylaw text.
- Garage or carport: no separate rule is stated. Only accessory buildings under 10 m² are exempt, so a garage or carport of 10 m² or more needs a building permit. Confirm with the Building counter.
- Housing zones: no accessory building in a front yard (fences excepted, unless it holds a permitted accessory dwelling or the lot is double-fronting). Total accessory building coverage is limited to 14% of the lot area or 100 m², whichever is less.
- In the MUS zone, accessory buildings are limited to 4.5 m high, and setbacks depend on lot class. Other zones have their own limits.
- Decks may project into setbacks by up to 0.6 m (1.0 m in a front or flanking side setback).
- Call 250-550-3634 before you start if you are unsure.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Coldstream · Lake Country · Spallumcheen · Armstrong · Lumby · Enderby
Deck and shed permit thresholds in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Permit Application, City of Vernon (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 4 Development Regulations (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw 5900 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 6000, Section 9.1 MUS (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Contact Us, City of Vernon (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.