Guelph deck permit: when you need one and what to submit
The short answer
Yes, if any part of the deck floor is 0.6 m (24 in) or more above finished grade, attached or not. City fee: $160 flat fee.
Last verified 2026-10-07 · City of Guelph: Decks and porches, City of Guelph Building By-law, fees from July 1, 2026 (PDF), City of Guelph: Deck sample drawings (PDF)- City fee
- $160 flat fee
- Where to apply
- Guelph Permit and Application System (GPAS)
- Review time
- About 10 business days for most house permits, counted from when you pay the fee.
Replacing the railings on any deck or porch needs a permit too. The City's sample drawings show footings at least 4 ft deep and a ledger bolted to the house framing or foundation, never to brick veneer.
What an application usually includes
Guelph’s checklist has the exact list; apply through Guelph Permit and Application System (GPAS).
- A site plan with the lot lines, the house and the deck, with distances
- A framing plan: joists, beams, posts and footings with sizes and spacing
- Elevations and sections: guard, stairs, the ledger connection and footing depth
- The application form and the owner or designer declaration
Local quirks
- Replacing the railings on an existing deck or porch needs a permit.
- Large inflatable pools and swim spas count as pools: permit and fence first, water after the inspector's written approval.
- The review clock only starts once the permit fee is paid.
Design your Guelph deck to the Building Code.
The design, drawings and code checks work in Guelph today. Guelph’s own forms aren’t built in yet, so you’ll fill those in on the City’s portal.