---
title: Whistler permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages
question: "Do I need a permit for a deck, shed, carport, or garage in Whistler?"
place: Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/whistler
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Resort Municipality of Whistler
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/deck-shed-garage-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/deck-shed-garage-permit.json"
---

# Whistler permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages

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

**Short answer:** In Whistler a shed under 10 m² with no electrical, fuel-burning or plumbing needs no building permit, and neither does a detached deck under 600 mm above ground with no walls or roof. Larger sheds, other decks, garages and carports need a permit.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Resort Municipality of Whistler, https://www.whistler.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** See the building-permit answer. The Municipality does not give a fixed time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Department, 604-935-8150 (building@whistler.ca)
- In person: Building Department, Municipal Hall, 4325 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, B.C. V8E 0X5 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays)

## Key facts

- **Sheds:** No building permit for an accessory building under 10 m² floor area with no electrical, fuel-burning or plumbing facilities (the web page adds it must meet setbacks and create no hazard). Larger sheds, or any with those services, need a permit.
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482, 2025 (PDF, consolidated October 20, 2026), s. 5.4(b)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL0002482-2026-10-20-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10m2 that does not contain" … "electrical, fuel-burning or plumbing facilities;"
  - Source: [Building and Development Permits, In most cases, a permit is NOT required for](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/building-and-development-permits/)
  - Official wording: "A single-story accessory building no greater than 10 m2 in building area providing it does not create a hazard"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Decks:** No building permit for a deck or patio less than 600 mm above the ground that is not attached to a building and has no walls or roof. Other decks need a permit.
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482, 2025 (PDF, consolidated October 20, 2026), s. 5.4(h)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL0002482-2026-10-20-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "decks or patios which are less than 600mm from the ground or finished Grade," … "which are not attached to a Building and have no walls or roofs;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Garages and carports:** No exemption for garages or carports: only accessory buildings under 10 m² without electrical, fuel-burning or plumbing are exempt, so a garage or carport needs a building permit.
  - Source: [Building and Development Permits, Is my project allowed?](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/building-and-development-permits/)
  - Official wording: "While all construction projects require a building permit,"
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482, 2025 (PDF, consolidated October 20, 2026), s. 5.4(b)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL0002482-2026-10-20-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10m2 that does not contain"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Zoning limits:** Auxiliary buildings: up to 70 m² per detached dwelling in RS, RT, RTA and TB zones, 5 m high, 3 m from side and rear lines. In RS1: site coverage 35 per cent, front setback 7.6 m; garages and carports may be 5 m from the front line. Decks up to 1 m high may sit 1 m from side lines, 2 m from front and rear.
  - Source: [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 5, s. 3(1), (4), (5)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf)
  - Official wording: "70 square metres for detached dwelling or bed and breakfast use in the RS, RT," … "The maximum permitted height of an auxiliary building is 5 metres." … "from a side or rear parcel line." … "The maximum permitted site coverage is 35 percent." … "The minimum permitted front setback is 7.6 metres." … "may be set back a minimum of 5 metres from the front parcel line"
  - Source: [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 5, s. 7(1)(d)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf)
  - Official wording: "landscape features including planters, stairs, walkways, decks and decorative" … "is greater than 1 metre in height above any point of the level of finished ground," … "and that all such features are set back at least 1 metre from any side parcel line"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482, 2025; Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482, 2025 (PDF, consolidated October 20, 2026), s. 1.1](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL0002482-2026-10-20-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as "Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482, 2025" (Bylaw)."
  - Source: [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), title page](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING AND PARKING BYLAW NO. 303, 2015"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Whistler's [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL0002482-2026-10-20-1.pdf) (s. 5.4) exempts only a few small structures. Everything else needs a building permit from the Resort Municipality.

- **Shed:** no permit for an accessory building under 10 m² with no electrical, fuel-burning or plumbing. The Municipality's page adds that it must meet setbacks and create no hazard. Larger sheds, or any with those services, need a permit.
- **Deck:** no permit for a deck or patio less than 600 mm above the ground that is not attached to a building and has no walls or roof. Other decks need a permit.
- **Garage or carport:** no exemption, so a permit is needed.

Zoning rules apply even when no permit is needed.

## Steps

1. Check your zone's rules (see zoning-lookup).
2. If a permit is needed, follow the building-permit steps.
3. Ask the Building Department (604-935-8150) if you are unsure.

## Good to know

- Under [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf), Part 5, an auxiliary building may be up to 70 m² per detached dwelling in RS, RT, RTA and TB zones, 5 m high, and 3 m from side and rear lot lines.
- In the RS1 zone, site coverage is 35 per cent and the front setback is 7.6 m; garages and carports may be 5 m from the front line.
- Decks up to 1 m high may sit 1 m from side lines and 2 m from front and rear lines.
- Auxiliary building floor area is 90 m² where it holds a suite in RS1, RS2, RS3, RI1 or RSE1, and 56 m² in Multiple Residential, Tourist Accommodation, Tourist Pension and Rural Resource zones. Each zone has its own coverage and setbacks.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL0002482-2026-10-20-1.pdf)
- [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Whistler building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/building-permit.md)
- [Whistler building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Whistler fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/fence-rules.md)
- [Whistler zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/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)
- [Pemberton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pemberton/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Squamish](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 2482, 2025 (PDF, consolidated October 20, 2026)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL0002482-2026-10-20-1.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building and Development Permits, Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/building-and-development-permits/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Resort Municipality of Whistler. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/deck-shed-garage-permit/_