---
title: View Royal permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage?"
place: View Royal, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/view-royal
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of View Royal
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# View Royal permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In the Town of View Royal, new accessory buildings (sheds, detached garages, carports), decks, docks and stairs need a building permit. The Town states no size exemption for sheds, and the Building Bylaw does not apply to platforms less than 0.6 m above grade. Check with Building Services (250-708-2256).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of View Royal, https://www.viewroyal.ca)  
**Cost:** Based on the cost of construction, with a minimum of $100. See the building permit fees answer.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Services, 250-708-2256
- Email: Building Services, buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** The Town lists new accessory buildings, such as a detached storage shed, as needing a building permit (Accessory Structure application). No size exemption is stated; the Town advises confirming with Building Services if unsure.
  - Source: [Building & Plumbing Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits.html)
  - Official wording: "Construction of new buildings or structures, accessory buildings, building additions;" … "For construction of accessory building/structure such as a detached storage shed, garage, pergola, carport, studio, etc." … "It is recommended to confirm with the Town if a permit is required before completing an application form or undertaking work without a permit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** Adding, expanding, repairing or replacing a deck, dock or stairs needs a building permit (Deck, Dock & Stairs application). The Building Bylaw does not apply to platforms less than 0.6 m above grade.
  - Source: [Building & Plumbing Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits.html)
  - Official wording: "Adding, expanding, repairing or replacing a deck, dock, stairs, pool, pergola, etc;" … "For construction of a deck, dock, or stairs."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1111, 2023, s. 4.3](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/1111%20-%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "platforms less than 0.6 metres above grade;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** A detached garage or carport needs a building permit (Accessory Structure application). Converting a porch, carport or garage to living space or a home business also needs a permit.
  - Source: [Building & Plumbing Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits.html)
  - Official wording: "For construction of accessory building/structure such as a detached storage shed, garage, pergola, carport, studio, etc." … "converting porches, carports or garages to living space, or a home business, etc;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** Accessory buildings: no more than 7.5 m long or wide; at least 1.2 m from all lot lines; not in the front or flanking yard; at least 2.4 m from the house (except an attached garage or carport); total coverage no more than 60 m² or 10% of the lot, whichever is smaller; height no more than 4.5 m. One attached to the house counts as part of it.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 900, consolidated to June 2026 (PDF, section 4.6), ss. 4.6.2-4.6.8](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/900%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20June%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "not have a length or width greater than 7.5m;" … "be setback a minimum of 1.2m from all lot lines; and" … "not be located within the front yard or flanking yard." … "An accessory building must be separated from the principal building by at least" … "must not exceed 60m2 or 10% of the lot area, whichever is smaller." … "the height of an accessory structure or building must not exceed 4.5m." … "it is considered a part of the principal building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 1111, 2023 (permits); Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, s. 4.6 (accessory buildings)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1111, 2023, title](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/1111%20-%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 1111, 2023"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 900, consolidated to June 2026 (PDF, section 4.6), s. 4.6](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/900%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20June%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "4.6 ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND OTHER STRUCTURES" … "ZONING BYLAW NO. 900, 2014"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Town of View Royal's [building permits page](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits.html) lists new accessory buildings or structures, and adding, expanding, repairing or replacing a deck, dock, stairs, pool or pergola, as work that generally needs a building permit. The Accessory Structure application covers a detached storage shed, garage, pergola, carport or studio. The Deck, Dock & Stairs application covers decks. Converting a porch, carport or garage to living space or a home business also needs a permit.

The Town states no size exemption for sheds. The [Building Bylaw](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/1111%20-%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf) (s. 4.3) does not apply to platforms less than 0.6 m above grade. The Town gives no other deck height threshold.

## Steps

1. Email or call Building Services with a description and your address to confirm whether you need a permit.
2. Download the Accessory Structure form or the Deck, Dock & Stairs form.
3. Submit it at Town Hall with the listed documents and the fee. Email digital copies to buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca with your application number.
4. Book inspections as work proceeds (see the building inspections answer).

## Good to know

- Zoning rules also apply. Under section 4.6 of the [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/900%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20June%202026.pdf), an accessory building generally must be no more than 7.5 m long or wide, at least 1.2 m from all lot lines, not in the front or flanking yard, at least 2.4 m from the house (except an attached garage or carport), and no taller than 4.5 m.
- Total accessory building coverage may not exceed 60 m2 or 10% of the lot, whichever is smaller.
- An accessory building attached to the house counts as part of it.
- Individual zones can set different limits, so check your zone.
- A retaining wall over 1.2 m needs its own permit.

## What you'll need

- Accessory Structure or Deck, Dock & Stairs application form (Part 9)
- Site plan and any other documents the form lists

## Official forms and pages

- [Building and plumbing permit forms](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits.html)
- [Zoning Bylaw 900 (PDF)](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/900%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20June%202026.pdf)

## Related questions

- [View Royal building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/building-permit.md)
- [View Royal building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/building-permit-fees.md)
- [View Royal fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/fence-rules.md)
- [View Royal zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/zoning-lookup.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)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building & Plumbing Permits, Town of View Royal](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits.html) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw 1111, 2023 (PDF)](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/1111%20-%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 900, consolidated to June 2026 (PDF, section 4.6)](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/900%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20June%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 958, consolidated to September 2026 (PDF)](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/958%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw%20-%20Consolidated%20to%20Sept%202026.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of View Royal. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/deck-shed-garage-permit/_