Decks · Ontario

Deck plans, drawn to code.

Design your deck to the Ontario Building Code and get the full permit drawing set.

Design a deck free Do I need a permit?

A stained wood deck with a gate and stairs down to the lawn, at the back of a brick home — Built by Micton Home Renovations

Real decks, built in Ontario.

Finished work by Micton Home Renovations. Design yours free, then get the drawings to build it.

A composite deck with a glass railing looking over a pond at sunset — 01Glass railing over the water

A grey composite deck with black metal railings off a brick home — 02Grey composite, black railing

A large cedar deck with a privacy wall and cedar railings — 03Cedar with a privacy wall

A cedar deck with a landing and wide stairs down to a stone patio — 04Two levels and wide stairs

A cedar deck at dusk with string lights and lights set into the steps — 05Step lights for the evening

Design yours free

How high is your deck?

Drag the height to see when you need a permit, a railing, a handrail or braces.

How high is your deck?3′ 0″914 mm above the ground

Building permitNeededOver 24 in (610 mm). The City of Kitchener charges $95, paid to the City; we prepare the application.
Railing900 mm highMore than 600 mm up. No gaps over 100 mm. OBC 9.8.8.
Stairs6 steps of 152 mm1.40 m long. Needs a handrail. OBC Table 9.8.4.1.
PostsFastened to the house½ in lags into the house frame, never into brick. Footings 1.2 m deep.

Every piece, checked as it’s drawn.

Keep scrolling: the deck goes together from the footings up, the way an inspector will look at it.

Ten feet up? Same rules, bigger numbers.

A walkout deck off the main floor sits about 10 ft (3,048 mm) above the lawn. Here’s what changes.

Guards: 1,070 mm (42 in)
Stairs: 9 + 9 risers of 169 mm
Handrail: 865–1,070 mm
Posts: Braced by the ledger

Design a high deck free

43 cited rules, checked as you design.

Guards at 900 or 1,070 mm with no opening over 100 mm
Stairs with 125–200 mm rises, 255–355 mm runs and handrails
Joist and beam spans from the 2024 code tables
Footings 1.2 m deep, sized for 75 kPa soil
Ledger lags into the house rim, never into brick

Sample permit sheet A1: Site plan — Sample sheets from a real Gablebird permit set for a fictional Kitchener deck.

Sample permit sheet A2: Deck and framing plan — Sample sheets from a real Gablebird permit set for a fictional Kitchener deck.

A real permit set, sheet by sheet.

A sample deck on a made-up Kitchener lot. Your design becomes the same drawings, redrawn whenever you change something.

Good to know

Covers uncovered decks attached to the house or freestanding. Roofs, pergolas, hot tubs and multi-level framing are flagged for a designer or engineer.

City rules for decks: Do you need a permit for a deck in Ontario?

Planning something else?

FencesA fence that follows the by-law.

BathroomsBathroom plans, plumbing included.

BasementsA basement finished to code.

Start your deck. We’ll do the permit part.

Pick your project, add your address and see your design and permit answer. Free, no card.