Which decks need a permit?
The City sets it out by whether the deck is attached, how big it is and how high it stands. A deck or porch, in the City's words, is an exterior structure that may or may not be attached to a building, with or without a roof
(City of Hamilton, Porches and Decks, read November 5, 2026).
| The deck | Permit? |
|---|---|
| Attached to the house, any size, with or without a roof | Yes |
| Detached, no roof, over 10 m² and more than 200 mm above the ground next to it | Yes |
| Detached, with a roof, over 10 m² | Yes, at any height |
| Detached, 10 m² or less, serving a door of the house and more than 600 mm above the ground | Yes |
| Used with a swimming pool | Yes |
| New railings (guards), or railings replaced | Yes |
| Detached, 10 m² or less, low, not serving a door | No permit, but zoning still applies |
Each row is from the City's Porches and Decks page (City of Hamilton, Porches and Decks, read November 5, 2026) and its list of projects that need a permit (City of Hamilton, Building Permit, read November 5, 2026). If you are not sure, the Building Division answers at 905-546-2720.
What if my deck does not need a permit?
It still has to fit the zoning. The City: In cases where a Building Permit is not required, all porches and decks must still meet Zoning By-law requirements and all other applicable regulations.
(City of Hamilton, Porches and Decks, read November 5, 2026) So the distance from the lot lines still counts, and a deck built too close to one can need a minor variance.
What do the permit drawings show?
A site plan and construction drawings. The City asks for the house, the deck and their setbacks to every lot line, any easements, and the other buildings, pools and hot tubs on the lot; then the deck's size and height, the stairs, guards and handrails, any roof framing, the footings or piers, and for a wood deck size, grade, direction, spacing and span of joists and beams
(City of Hamilton, Porches and Decks, read November 5, 2026). The City posts a sample wood deck drawing on the same page.
What does the permit cost?
The City's rate for a deck, balcony, open porch or stairs is $5.36 a square metre, with a $291 minimum (City of Hamilton, Building Permit Fees, read November 5, 2026), so most decks pay the minimum. Work it out for your own size in the permit fee calculator; what a building permit costs has the whole schedule.
What happens if a deck is built without one?
An order that can be registered on title, a fine or an order to take it down; building without a permit sets out the City's list. The inspections a permitted deck gets, footings first, are in the inspections on a build.
How does JDT build a deck?
From the footings up: a pressure treated frame, decking, stairs and railings, drawn on your property first and priced in one written proposal. The decks page has the details. Under JDT Construction Inc.'s agreement the homeowner applies for the permit and pays the City's fees; who applies for a building permit explains how that works.