Markham deck permits · Reformity Inc.Deck Permit Drawings in Markham
Yes, for any deck more than 600 mm (24 in) above grade at any point. Markham's deck guidance also lists decks attached to the house and decks over 10 m² (108 sq ft), though its permit list exempts every deck under 600 mm, so we confirm low decks with Building Standards.
We prepare and submit your permit drawings to the City of Markham, then build to the approved plan.
Do you need a permit?
Deck permit rules in Markham.
Which zoning by-law covers your lot decides how far a raised Markham deck can reach. Under By-law 2024-19, a deck more than 1.0 m off the ground can project 3.7 m from the rear wall; under By-law 177-96, which covers much of the city built since 1995, including Cornell, Berczy, Wismer and Angus Glen, the limit is 3.0 m. Under both, a deck more than 0.61 m high must stay 3.0 m from the rear lot line, and the City's permit list requires a building permit above 600 mm (24 in). On a raised main floor, a two-level design can keep the part over 1.0 m within the cap.
Checked against the City of Markham's own by-laws and pages in November 2026. Rules change, so we confirm them for your address before we draw.
When you need a permit
Markham's deck guidance requires a building permit for decks more than 600 mm (2 ft) above the ground, decks attached to the house and decks over 10 m² (108 sq ft). A low, detached rear-yard deck under 10 m² needs none. The City's general permit list exempts all decks under 600 mm, so we confirm low decks first.
City of Markham: decks & permitsSetbacks under By-law 2024-19
A deck 0.61 m to 1.0 m high must stay 3.0 m from the rear lot line, keep the house's required side yards and stay out of the front yard; a taller deck has the same rear and side setbacks. Stairs, and landings under 1.0 m², are exempt if kept 0.6 m from lot lines.
Zoning By-law 2024-19, s.4.8.3 (PDF, July 2026 consolidation)Raised deck projection limit
Under By-law 2024-19, a deck more than 1.0 m above the ground at any point can project at most 3.7 m from the rear wall, with its floor no higher than the first storey. Lots with a detached garage are an exception.
Zoning By-law 2024-19, s.4.8.3 b) (PDF, July 2026 consolidation)Post-1995 areas: By-law 177-96
Much of post-1995 Markham, including Cornell, Berczy, Wismer, Angus Glen, Box Grove and Cathedraltown, is zoned under By-law 177-96, where a deck over 1.0 m high can project only 3.0 m from the rear wall and must stay 3.0 m from the rear lot line.
By-law 177-96, s.6.2.1 (PDF, Sept 2026 consolidation)Valley and wetland lots
In a conservation authority regulated area, O. Reg. 41/24 exempts from the development prohibition only an unenclosed, detached deck or patio of 15 m² or less that isn't cantilevered or in a wetland or watercourse. Other decks there need TRCA permission.
O. Reg. 41/24, s.5 (e-Laws)
What the city asks for
The Markham application.
Issued by: City of Markham, Building Standards Department (building permit, submitted through ePLAN). We put the package together, submit it and keep you posted.
Documents
- Applicable Law Checklist, plus any approvals it calls for (such as a conservation authority permit)
- Schedule 1: Designer Information (for BCIN designers)
- Permit Applicant Authorization, when the owner isn't the applicant
- 2024 OBC Transition Declaration
- Site plan with a zoning summary and property lines referenced to a current survey
- Stair, landing, deck, guard and handrail details
- Footing design and floor framing plan (posts, beams, joists)
- Details and construction notes; drawings to scale, dimensioned, signed and dated
How it goes
- 1We check which zoning by-law covers your lot, such as 2024-19 or 177-96, and confirm the deck's height, setbacks and projection.
- 2We draw the site plan, framing plan, footing, stair and guard details to Markham's drawing standards, with our designer information.
- 3We create the ePLAN application and upload the drawings; staff pre-screen them against the Submission Standards before they become a permit application.
- 4We answer review comments and resubmit until approval, then print the permit card, placard and one set of approved plans for the site.
- 5We book each inspection through the ePLAN Inspection Portal as we build.
- Processing time
- Markham's target for the first review of houses and other small projects is 10 business days for a complete application and 20 for an incomplete one. The City says permits take 10 to 40 days overall, and are often delayed by incomplete drawings, zoning mistakes and missing approvals.
- Inspections
- Markham doesn't publish a deck-specific inspection list. Inspections are requested through the ePLAN Inspection Portal ('Request a Building Inspection', no account needed) by choosing the inspection type listed for the permit; same-day requests close at 7:30 am, and confirmation is emailed to the owner listed on the permit.
Deck drawing — framing plan — Framing plan, section through the deck and elevation. Illustrative sample sheet. Click to enlarge.
Deck drawing — elevations & details
Permit drawings included
We prepare and submit your permit drawings.
A site plan with setbacks, a framing plan, a section through the deck, and footing, guard and stair details, drawn to the City of Markham's checklist and submitted with your application.
- Dimensions to your lot lines
- Materials, sizes and spacing
- Footing and base sections
- Code notes for the inspector
Decking · real projects
Recent decking jobs across the GTA.
Real Reformity jobs from our project files. Customer addresses are never published.
Markham deck permit FAQ
Quick answers.
Markham's permit-process page exempts decks less than 600 mm (24 in) above grade at every point, but its deck by-law summary says decks attached to the house and decks over 10 m² (108 sq ft) need a permit. Because the two pages differ, we confirm a low attached or larger deck with Building Standards before building.
If any part is more than 1.0 m above the ground, up to 3.7 m from the rear wall under By-law 2024-19, or 3.0 m under By-law 177-96. Either way it must stay 3.0 m from the rear lot line, and its floor can't be higher than the first storey. Lots with a detached garage are an exception, so we check yours.
It can. The City's list of work that needs no heritage permit covers backyard patios, sheds and other small outbuildings only when they aren't readily visible from the street and don't need a building permit. A deck that needs a building permit isn't on that list, and a building permit can't be submitted until any required heritage permit is issued, so we check with Heritage staff first.
Send the form on this page or call 437-241-6287. We reply within one business day, visit to measure, prepare the drawings for the City of Markham, submit the application and give you a fixed written price for the work.
Let us handle the Markham permit.
We measure, draw it to the City of Markham's rules, submit the application and build to the approved plan. One business-day reply.
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