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

# West Kelowna permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In West Kelowna, a deck or patio less than 0.6 m (about 2 ft) above the ground is exempt from the Building Regulations Bylaw. No City text states a size limit for sheds, garages or carports, so call the Building Department at 778-797-8820 before you build.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of West Kelowna, https://www.westkelownacity.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer. The City does not state a fee specific to decks, sheds or garages.  
**How long:** The City's target for a complete small residential project (decks, pools, retaining walls) is 10 business days.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Department, 778-797-8820
- Email: Building Department, building@westkelownacity.ca
- In person: City Hall, 3731 Old Okanagan Highway, West Kelowna, BC V4T 0G7 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** Not confirmed. The bylaw, permit page and checklist state no size threshold for sheds, garages or carports.
- **Decks:** A deck or patio less than 0.6 m (about 2 ft) above the ground is exempt from the Building Regulations Bylaw; the exemption is limited to decks that low. Residential small projects (decks, pools, retaining walls) have a 10-day target for a complete application.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0086, s. 5.1.4](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/4wlh5jfc/0086-building-regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Decks or patios which are less than 0.6 metre from the ground"
  - Source: [Building permits and inspections, Target Permitting Timelines](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/building-business-development/building-permits-and-inspections/)
  - Official wording: "Residential small project (decks, pools, retaining walls, etc.) | 10 days"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** Not confirmed. The bylaw, permit page and checklist state no size threshold for sheds, garages or carports.
- **Zoning limits:** Accessory buildings (Zoning s. 3.9): no dwelling use; not into the front or exterior side siting distance; over 2.0 m high, at least 1.5 m from rear and interior side lines. Combined limit for all accessory buildings: 2 buildings and 60 m² in RC1 to RC4, 3 buildings and 100 m² in other residential zones. Zone height limit is 5.0 m in most residential zones, 8.0 m in A1, RU4 and RU5.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.9 Accessory Buildings, s. 3.9.1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No accessory building or structure shall be used as a dwelling." … "No accessory building or structure shall project into the required minimum siting distance from the front or exterior side parcel boundary unless otherwise exempted in this Bylaw." … "it shall be a minimum of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) from the rear and interior side parcel boundaries and the eaves shall be a minimum of 0.9 m (3.0 ft)" … "RC1, RC2, RC3 or RC4 2 60 m2 (645.8 ft2)" … "All other Residential Zones 3 100 m2 (1,076.4 ft2)" … "Accessory buildings and structures 5.0 m (16.4 ft)" … "Accessory buildings and structures 8.0 m (26.2 ft)" … "Maximum floor area of all accessory"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of West Kelowna Building Regulation Bylaw No. 0086, 2009; City of West Kelowna Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, 2024 (s. 3.9)
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0086, s. 1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/4wlh5jfc/0086-building-regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "CITY OF WEST KELOWNA BUILDING REGULATION BYLAW NO. 0086, 2009"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.9 Accessory Buildings, s. 3.9](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, 2024" … "3.9 ACCESSORY USES, BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the City's [Building Regulations Bylaw 0086](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/4wlh5jfc/0086-building-regulations.pdf), a deck or patio less than 0.6 m (about 2 ft) above the ground is exempt, and the exemption is limited to decks that low. The bylaw lists new buildings, additions and alterations as needing a permit, so a higher deck is covered by those general rules.

For sheds, garages and carports, the bylaw and the City's permit page and checklist state no size threshold, and none says whether a detached garage or carport needs a permit. The bylaw also applies "in addition to the exemptions specified in the Code" (the BC Building Code), which this answer does not cover. Ask the Building Department.

## Steps

1. Call 778-797-8820 or email building@westkelownacity.ca with the size, height and location of the structure.
2. Check your zone on WestMap for setbacks and any Development Permit Area.
3. If a permit is needed, apply at City Hall with the checklist documents.

## Good to know

- Zoning applies either way. Under [Zoning Bylaw 0320](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf) section 3.9, accessory buildings cannot be used as a dwelling and cannot extend into the front or exterior side siting distance.
- Over 2.0 m high, an accessory building must be at least 1.5 m from the rear and interior side lines.
- All accessory buildings combined are limited to 2 buildings and 60 m² in RC1 to RC4, and 3 buildings and 100 m² in other residential zones.
- Zone height limits also apply: 5.0 m in most residential zones, 8.0 m in A1, RU4 and RU5. Some zones limit accessory buildings to one storey.
- A bylaw notice for breaking the accessory building rules is $100.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Regulations Bylaw 0086 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/4wlh5jfc/0086-building-regulations.pdf)
- [Building Permit Checklist (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/v3oicbx0/checklist-building-permit.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw 0320 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)

## Related questions

- [West Kelowna building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/building-permit.md)
- [West Kelowna building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/building-permit-fees.md)
- [West Kelowna fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/fence-rules.md)
- [West Kelowna zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/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)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 0086 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/4wlh5jfc/0086-building-regulations.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.9 Accessory Buildings (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building permits and inspections, City of West Kelowna](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/building-business-development/building-permits-and-inspections/) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 West Kelowna. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/deck-shed-garage-permit/_