Toronto Deck Permit Guide

Toronto's rules for decks come from three places: the building permit rules, the zoning bylaw and, where trees are involved, the tree and ravine protection bylaws. Here's how they fit together.

When a Toronto deck needs a building permit

The City of Toronto requires a building permit to construct a deck more than 60 centimetres (24 inches) above the ground. The permit application for a deck includes drawings with details of the footings, including size, spacing, depth and frost protection.

Lower decks still have rules

A deck under 60 cm (just under 2 ft) doesn't need a building permit, but it still has to meet the zoning bylaw, including how close it can be to property lines.

Trees and ravines

• A permit is needed for any work that could injure or remove a private tree 30 cm (about 1 ft) or more in diameter, measured 1.4 m (4 ft 8 in) above the ground.
• Street trees on City property are protected at any size.
• In ravine and natural feature protected areas, trees of any size are protected, and other work may need a permit.
• Decks, fences and retaining walls built inside a tree protection zone can need a tree permit.

Fences on the same property

If a new deck comes with a new fence, Toronto's fence bylaw (Municipal Code Chapter 447) sets residential limits of 2.0 m (about 6 ft 7 in) for most rear and side yard fences, 2.5 m (about 8 ft 2 in) where a fence backs onto a road, a public walkway or a non-residential or apartment property, and 1.2 m (about 3 ft 11 in) in the front yard within 2.4 m (just under 8 ft) of the street. See our Toronto page for more. An ordinary fence doesn't need a permit, and our Toronto fence permit guide explains when one does and how exemptions work.

How we handle it

We check the height, zoning and tree situation for your address at the site visit. If a permit is needed, it's written into the scope so you know before the job starts. Outside Toronto the rules change from city to city, and our deck permits by city guide covers all 24 municipalities we work in.

Sources: City of Toronto, When do I need a building permit, Decks and porches, When to apply for a tree or ravine permit, Chapter 447.