Decks and Porches

Thinking about adding a deck, porch, or patio to your home? Before you start, check with the Building Department to see if you need a permit.

Do you need a building permit?

Decks: Yes, for a deck, you must have a permit before starting construction if the deck/porch is:

Greater than 10 m² (108 ft²)
Greater than 60 cm (23 5/8 inches) high from grade measured from the top of the adjacent walking surface,
Covered or has a roof, or
Connected to a house or other structure

How to apply for a building permit

Follow these steps to apply for a building permit for a deck or porch.

Step 1: Complete any applicable agency approvals

To avoid delays, complete all necessary approvals from other regulatory agencies before you apply.

The details and contact information are on the Applicable Law Checklist.

Other approvals might include:

Niagara Escarpment Commission
Niagara Peninsula Energy/Ontario Hydro (minimum setbacks from the hydro lines may apply)
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
Regional Municipality of Niagara
Ministry of Transportation or other Ministries

Step 2: Zoning confirmation

You can confirm that your project meets zoning requirements in one of two ways:

Simultaneous zoning review
- You can have your zoning compliance reviewed as part of your building permit application
- The zoning compliance fee will still apply, but no separate application is needed
Zoning Compliance Certificate
- Apply through the CityView Portal for a separate Zoning Compliance Certificate before submitting your building permit application
- This is a separate application with its own fee
- Visit our webpage for more details about the Zoning Compliance Certificate process

Step 3: Submit your application, drawings, and pay the fees

Application

Apply in the CityView Portal. Fill in the information, and you will be prompted to upload your completed building permit forms and documents.

Site plan

You must include a site plan to scale (1:200), identifying:

Fully dimensional lot lines, existing structures and proposed deck structure and setback distances

Construction drawings

Floor plan(s) layout of the deck/porch – fully dimensioned, including framing types, sizes and spans, etc
Cross-section/Elevations including pier/footing/foundation details, connection details, height from grade, stair and guard details, etc.

Fees

Pay the required building permit fees when you receive notice that fees are payable via the CityView Portal. Payment can be made in the following ways:

Pay online through the CityView Portal
Pay with cash or debit in person at the Building Department at 4343 Morrison Street (credit cards are not accepted)
Submit cheques payable to the “City of Niagara Falls” in person or by mail. Include the permit number and address on the cheque notes.
For a list of current fees, visit the Schedule of Fees, Building Permit section

Utility locates - Ontario One Call

If you are planning to dig, you must submit a utility locate request. This applies to any digging project, whether you're putting in a pool, putting up a fence, or planting a tree.

Ontario One Call is a free service that helps locate underground utilities like gas lines, water pipes, and electrical cables. Contacting them before you dig is not just smart—it’s the law in Ontario.
You or the contractor doing the work can submit a locate request online at ontarioonecall.ca. Submit the request at least five business days before you plan to dig.

Building permit inspections

You are responsible for requesting all required inspections to finalize your building permit. Please refer to your permit for the required inspections.

Required inspections for decks are:

Footing/excavation (helical pile) – prior to pouring of concrete
Framing
Final

Once the permit is issued, all required inspections can be booked through the CityView Portal or by contacting 905-356-7521 ext. 4330, or pbd@niagarafalls.ca.