Toronto deck permits · Reformity Inc.Deck Permit Drawings in Toronto
Usually, yes. Toronto requires a building permit for a deck added onto a house and for any deck more than 60 cm (24 in) above ground; its online application covers every attached deck. An uncovered deck no higher than 60 cm above the adjacent finished grade, not part of a required exit and meeting zoning, can be exempt, and the City says some detached decks may not need one.
We prepare and submit your permit drawings to the City of Toronto, then build to the approved plan.
Do you need a permit?
Deck permit rules in Toronto.
Toronto Building handles deck permits citywide, from North York and Etobicoke to Scarborough, and decks on houses with up to two units can use its Express stream, except on heritage properties. With a raised main floor or a walkout, the zoning rule that matters most is height: under Zoning By-law 569-2013, only the part of a rear deck within 2.5 m of the house may sit level with the floor it serves; farther out, it can't be more than 1.2 m above the ground. Some lots still fall under a former municipality's by-law, and in ravine-protected areas, injuring any tree or changing the grade needs a permit.
Covers all of Toronto, including North York, Etobicoke, Scarborough, East York, York.
Checked against the City of Toronto's own by-laws and pages in November 2026. Rules change, so we confirm them for your address before we draw.
When a permit is needed
Toronto's permit list includes decks added onto a house, decks more than 60 cm (24 in) above ground, and enclosing any existing deck or porch. An uncovered deck up to 60 cm high, not part of a required exit and meeting zoning, can be exempt.
City of Toronto: when do I need a building permit?Deck height limits
Decks at or below the first storey can be no more than 1.2 m above the ground below, except the part within 2.5 m of the rear wall, which may be level with the floor it serves. Decks at or above the second storey: no more than 0.2 m above the floor they open from.
Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013, s.10.5.40.50Rear-yard setback projections
A deck up to first-storey level may project into the required rear yard setback by the lesser of 2.5 m or 50%, if it stays 0.3 m, or its floor height if greater, from side lot lines. Higher decks: lesser of 1.5 m or 50%.
Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013, s.10.5.40.60(1)Coverage and freestanding decks
Deck parts allowed into a required setback don't count toward lot coverage; other attached deck area is excluded only if it's 5% of the lot or less. A freestanding open deck's rear and side setback is 0.3 m, or its floor height if greater.
Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013, ss.10.5.30.40 and 10.5.60.20(11)What the drawings show
Toronto's deck guide asks for footing size, spacing, depth, height above grade and frost protection; column sizes and locations; beam sizes, locations and spans; stair details; and guard details covering openings, climbability and guard locations at stairs, landings and deck edges.
City of Toronto: Decks and Porches permit guide
What the city asks for
The Toronto application.
Issued by: City of Toronto, Toronto Building (Express Services stream for decks on a house with no more than two dwelling units; projects on properties that need heritage approval are excluded from Express and need Heritage Planning's review). We put the package together, submit it and keep you posted.
Documents
- Application for a Permit to Construct or Demolish
- Schedule 1: Designer Information, or the owner's reason for exemption
- Site plan or survey: property lines, lot area, easements, buildings and setbacks
- Zoning summary: lot area, building area, coverage and grade elevations
- Footing details: size, spacing, depth, height above grade and frost protection
- Column sizes and locations; beam sizes, locations and spans
- Stair and guard details, including guard openings and climbability
- Tree Declaration Form where private or City trees could be damaged
How it goes
- 1We measure the house and yard and check your zoning (By-law 569-2013 or a former by-law), protected trees, ravine and heritage status.
- 2We draw the site plan with the zoning summary, plus framing, footing, stair and guard details, and fill in Schedule 1 and any Tree Declaration.
- 3We submit through Toronto Building's Express online portal as PDFs; if your property needs heritage approval, the application is handled outside Express and Heritage Planning reviews it.
- 4We answer the examiner's questions; once the fee is paid the permit is issued, and the stamped plans stay on site.
- 5We book the footing inspection before concrete, then framing and the final, online or by phone; the final inspection closes the permit.
- Processing time
- Express Services: with all required documents, Toronto Building aims to review the application within 3 business days, and the permit is issued once the fee is paid. Missing documents mean resubmitting; major deficiencies cancel the application.
- Inspections
- Toronto's inspection schedule for houses lists stages that may be required, including footings (at completion of formwork, before pouring concrete), structural framing at completion, and a final exterior inspection. Book online 24/7 through the Inspection Request portal or by phone at 416-338-0700; the stamped permit plans must be on site for each inspection. Owners must book a final inspection to close 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 Toronto'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.
Toronto deck permit FAQ
Quick answers.
Possibly not. Toronto Building lists an uncovered platform as permit-exempt if its finished level is no more than 60 cm (24 in) above the adjacent finished grade, it isn't part of an exit the Building Code requires, and it meets the Zoning By-law, and its deck guide says some detached decks may not need a permit. Its online deck application covers any deck attached to a house, so we confirm a low attached deck with Toronto Building first.
Under Zoning By-law 569-2013, the part of a rear deck within 2.5 m of the house can be level with the floor it serves; beyond that, its floor can't be more than 1.2 m above the ground. A deck no higher than the first storey may project into the required rear yard setback by the lesser of 2.5 m or half that setback. If a design can't meet zoning, it needs a minor variance from the Committee of Adjustment, and a Zoning Applicable Law Certificate from Toronto Building gives you the notice to take there.
Through Express Services, Toronto Building aims to review a complete application within 3 business days after intake. Minor deficiencies can be sorted out by email or phone, but major ones cancel the application and you reapply. Once the application fee is paid, the permit is issued, and inspections can then be booked online or by phone.
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 Toronto, submit the application and give you a fixed written price for the work.
Let us handle the Toronto permit.
We measure, draw it to the City of Toronto's rules, submit the application and build to the approved plan. One business-day reply.
More in Toronto
Guide: Do I Need a Deck Permit in Ontario? Brampton, Mississauga & Toronto
Deck Permit Drawings in other cities