Does my deck need a permit?
Three questions, a straight answer and the City’s own rule. It takes about ten seconds.
KitchenerPermit neededDivineDesigner
It’s more than 24 in (610 mm) above the ground.
- 900 mm guard required (OBC 9.8.8)
- Footings 1.2 m below grade, as the City deck guides show (OBC 9.12.2.2)
- City permit fee: $95 flat fee
Good to know
Does a low deck still have to meet the code?
Yes. No permit doesn’t mean no rules: guards, stairs and footings still have to meet the Ontario Building Code.
Why does an attached deck sometimes need a permit when it’s low?
Some cities treat anything attached to the house as part of the building. London, Brampton and Hamilton say so outright; Waterloo’s and Toronto’s pages leave room for doubt, so we tell you to confirm.
What if my yard slopes?
Measure from the ground at the highest point of the deck. A deck that’s 20 in up by the house can be 30 in up at the far edge.
Start with what you have.
A sentence, a photo or an old survey is enough. Try the real thing free, no account.