Deck or shed before winter? What needs a Toronto permit (and what the record will show later)
Toronto's rule of thumb: a deck more than 60 cm off the ground needs a permit, and so does a shed of 15 m² or more. Here's the line, the October 15 seasonal exception, and how to check a house you're buying.
October is when a lot of backyard projects get finished before the snow — a deck, a shed, a winter cover for the patio. Some of that work needs a City building permit. Some doesn't. And the difference becomes part of the paper trail on the property for whoever owns it next.
This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your own project with Toronto Building before you start.
Decks: the 60 cm line
According to Toronto Building, you need a permit to construct a deck more than 60 centimetres (24 inches) above ground. An uncovered platform whose finished surface is no higher than 60 cm above grade generally doesn't, as long as it isn't part of a required exit and still complies with zoning.
Two things to note:
- Height is measured at the deck surface, not the footings, so a deck on a sloping lot can cross the line on one side only.
- "No permit" is not "no rules." Zoning limits such as setbacks and lot coverage still apply to a low deck.
If you do need one, the City's guide asks for footing details (size, spacing, depth, frost protection), guard and stair construction, and a site plan showing setbacks to property lines. The fee listed for a deck application is $214.79 (effective January 1, 2026), and applications go through the City's online Express portal.
Sheds: the 15 m² line
A shed needs no permit if it is under 15 m² (about 161 sq ft), single-storey, unattached, used only for storage, and has no plumbing. At 15 m² or more, or if it's attached, you're in permit territory. Zoning rules on where it can sit still apply either way.
The October 15 exception
One seasonal rule is worth knowing: plastic-sheet-covered accessory structures (think winter covers over a patio or driveway) don't need a permit if installed on or after October 15 and removed on or before April 15. Put one up on October 5, or leave it past mid-April, and that exemption doesn't apply.
Why it matters if you're buying
Toronto's own warning is blunt: failing to get a permit can mean costly delays, legal action, or removal of the work already completed. And because an open order runs with the property, an unpermitted deck becomes the next owner's problem, not just the builder's.
A deck with no permit isn't automatically a problem. A deck over 60 cm with no permit is a question to ask before you offer.
A few ways it shows up in a record:
- A permit that was opened and never closed — the work may have been started but not inspected.
- A work-without-permit violation or an order to comply, if a neighbour complained or an inspector noticed.
- No permit at all for a structure you can see in the backyard. That could be perfectly exempt (low deck, small shed) or it could be a gap.
What to check
Pull the address's permit history and compare it to what you can see in the listing photos. Then check orders and violations for anything open. For a deck, the question is simple: is it over 60 cm, and if so, is there a closed permit? Our guide on how to read a Toronto building permit explains the status fields.
Already own the house? Monitor your address and you'll see any new permit, inspection, or order as it lands — and a closed deck permit is a good thing to have on file when you sell.
Sources: City of Toronto, When Do I Need a Building Permit? and Decks and Porches (accessed October 1, 2026).