Do You Need a Permit for a Garage, Shed or Gazebo in Calgary?
Garages, sheds, gazebos, greenhouses and workshops all fall under the same City of Calgary rule for detached accessory buildings. The size of the structure decides almost everything — whether you need a permit at all, and whether you need more than one.
The 10 m² rule
The City of Calgary requires a building permit for a detached accessory building — a garage, shed, pergola, gazebo, greenhouse, arbour, workshop, playhouse or carport that is not attached to the house — once it is over 10 m² (107 sq ft). Attaching the structure to the house turns it into an addition, which has its own rules.
A building under 10 m² typically does not need a building permit, but it still has to follow the Land Use Bylaw for where it sits on the lot and how it is designed.
When a development permit is also needed
On top of the building permit, the City lists cases where a garage also needs a development permit:
- Higher than 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in).
- Wall height from the parking surface to the roof truss above 3 m (9 ft 10 in).
- Larger than 75 m² (807 sq ft).
- Larger than the existing house.
- Any rooftop deck or balcony — always requires a development permit.
Size and height limits that apply either way
- Maximum building height: 4.6 m to the highest point.
- Maximum eaveline height: 3.0 m.
- Finished floor no higher than 0.6 m above grade, except for a garage.
- One storey, plus an attic with no windows and a maximum height of 1.5 m.
Setbacks from the property line
- 0.6 m from the rear and side property lines shared with other properties, with conditions.
- 1.2 m from a side street.
- 1.0 m from the house for buildings over 10 m².
Electrical and plumbing are separate permits
Wiring a garage or heating a workshop needs its own electrical permit, and any new plumbing needs its own plumbing permit — regardless of the building’s size or whether it needed a building permit.
How Josan Construction & Landscaping can help
We build garages, gazebos and other detached structures across Calgary, sized and sited to fit your lot and the City’s rules. Estimates are free, and we speak English, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
Sources
Sources checked October 17, 2026. City guidance changes and has no legal status — always confirm requirements with the City of Calgary for your property.
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