Usually, yes, but it depends on where you live and how high the deck is. There is no single BC-wide deck permit rule: each municipality sets its own. A few Lower Mainland towns exempt low decks under 600 mm (about 24 in) above grade, while most say a new deck generally needs a permit and publish no exemption.
Why there is no single BC rule
In BC, building permits are issued by each local government under its own building bylaw. The Province's permits page says local staff review applications and that requirements "may vary depending on the type of project and location." That is why a deck that needs no permit in Richmond can need one in Surrey.
The technical rules come from the BC Building Code, whose 2024 edition took effect on March 8, 2024. The City of Vancouver is the exception. It uses its own Vancouver Building By-law instead of the BC code.
Watch for split jurisdictions too. The City and District of North Vancouver are separate municipalities with different rules, as are the City and Township of Langley.
The 600 mm rule
You will see 600 mm (24 in) all through deck rules. It comes from guards, the code's word for railings. Under the BC Building Code, a guard is required where the deck surface is more than 600 mm above the ground next to it. A guard is also needed if the ground within 1.2 m of the edge slopes more steeply than 1 in 2. Vancouver's by-law uses the same more-than-600 mm trigger.
For a deck serving a single house (including one with a secondary suite), the guard rules look like this:
| Deck surface above ground | Guard needed? | Minimum guard height |
|---|---|---|
| 600 mm (24 in) or less | No, unless the ground nearby drops steeply | None |
| More than 600 mm, up to 1.8 m (6 ft) | Yes | 900 mm (36 in) |
| More than 1.8 m (6 ft) | Yes | 1,070 mm (42 in) |
Openings in a guard must not let a 100 mm (4 in) sphere pass through.
Several towns use the same 600 mm line for permits, exempting decks below it. That is a local choice, not a provincial rule, and many towns don't offer it.
Town-by-town: who exempts low decks
These tables summarise what each municipality's official pages and bylaws say. Rules vary and change, so always confirm with your city before you build. Each town links to our page on its permit rules.
Towns that state a low-deck exemption
| Town | What the official source says |
|---|---|
| Richmond | No permit for decks less than 600 mm (2 ft) above grade. Higher decks need one. |
| Delta | Decks less than 600 mm above grade are listed as not needing a permit. |
| Coquitlam | No permit for decks less than 0.6 m above grade. Otherwise, a new deck generally needs one. |
| North Vancouver | District: no permit under 600 mm, or for detached decks under 10 m² (108 sq ft); attached decks over 600 mm need one. City: no deck-specific threshold published. |
| Abbotsford | Freestanding decks under 0.6 m with no roof are excluded. A sundeck connected to and partly supported by the house needs a permit. |
| Harrison Hot Springs | Permits are run by the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD), whose bylaw exempts decks up to 20 m² (215 sq ft) in total. Confirm with the FVRD that it applies in the Village. |
Towns where a permit is generally required, with no exemption stated
| Town | What the official source says |
|---|---|
| Surrey | "In most cases" a deck addition needs a permit. No threshold is stated. |
| Vancouver | Building or altering a deck generally requires a permit. |
| Burnaby | Decks are accessory structures, and expanding one counts as an addition that needs a permit. |
| White Rock | Constructing, covering or enclosing a sundeck needs a permit. |
| Port Coquitlam | A permit is needed to build, add onto, repair or roof a deck. Non-structural minor changes are exempt. |
| Port Moody | Decks are listed among projects that need a permit. |
| New Westminster | Constructing, covering or enclosing a sun deck needs a permit. |
| West Vancouver | The building bylaw requires a permit for structures, and its exemptions don't include decks. |
| Pitt Meadows | Building a deck usually needs a permit. |
| Chilliwack | The building bylaw requires a permit for structures, and its exemptions don't include decks. |
| Mission | Adding or increasing a deck needs a permit. |
| Langley | City: constructing, covering or enclosing a sundeck needs a permit. Township: a permit is required for all construction. |
| Maple Ridge | A permit is needed to build, renovate, repair, remove or alter a deck. |
| Agassiz | The District of Kent lists decks as needing a permit. Low patios are exempt, but decks are not. |
| Hope | Decks and covered patios commonly need a permit. |
"No exemption stated" means the official source doesn't publish one, not that every small platform needs a permit, so ask about your exact plan. Port Coquitlam's 2017 deck guide, for example, defines a deck as having at least 0.6 m to the ground below. For an overview of all 21 towns, see our deck permits page.
Covered decks and roofs
A roof changes things. Several towns name it as a permit trigger, and it often brings zoning and engineering into play.
- Port Coquitlam requires a permit to put a roof cover over a deck.
- White Rock, New Westminster and the City of Langley list covering or enclosing a sundeck as work that needs a permit.
- Burnaby treats expanding a patio cover as an addition, and Hope lists covered patios alongside decks.
- Abbotsford's exclusion for low freestanding decks applies only to decks "with no roof".
- Maple Ridge requires a structural engineer's sealed design for decks with roof structures attached.
Covered areas can also count toward how much of your lot you are allowed to build on. West Vancouver counts covered deck areas toward site coverage. In the District of North Vancouver, attached decks over 600 mm count toward building coverage.
Local builders put engineering for a covered or second-storey deck at roughly $1,500 to $4,000. Approvals for covered or engineered decks often take 6 to 12 weeks, compared with 3 to 8 weeks for a simple deck. If a roof is part of your plan, read our guide to covered deck costs or see how we match you with builders for covered decks.
What you need to apply
Requirements vary, but most deck applications ask for the same core drawings. Richmond and the District of Kent (Agassiz) both list a site plan, a foundation or floor plan, a cross-section and an elevation.
Surrey asks for a full drawing set (site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, cross-section and elevations), plus a title search and a fee based on the cost of work. Surrey and Port Coquitlam also want lot coverage shown on the site plan.
Higher and covered decks need more. Maple Ridge requires sealed engineering for decks with roofs, glass in the guards or cantilevers over 24 in, plus a BC Land Surveyor's certificate at the foundation inspection unless the lot is an acre or larger. Vancouver's checklist for RS zones asks for a sealed structural Schedule B where structural work is included. If you live in a townhouse or strata, you will need strata approval as well.
Permit fees usually depend on the value of the work. Local estimates put most deck permits somewhere between about $200 and $1,500, but check your city's fee schedule.
What happens if you build without one
Skipping a required permit can cost more later:
- Higher fees. Port Coquitlam says permit fees double if work starts before the permit is issued. Other towns set their own rules.
- Inspection problems. Inspectors check work such as footings and framing at set stages. If that work is already covered, you may be asked to expose it.
- Trouble when you sell. Buyers and their home inspectors often ask about unpermitted decks and additions, which can complicate a sale.
- No independent safety check. The permit process is what gets footings, the ledger and guards looked at by someone other than the builder.
Who usually handles the permit
In most cases the deck builder handles it. They prepare or arrange the drawings, bring in an engineer if needed, submit the application and book the inspections. Don't assume, though. Confirm in the written quote who applies, whether permit fees, drawings and engineering are included, and whether the schedule allows time for approval.
This matters most when you compare prices. One builder may include the permit and engineering while another leaves them out, which makes the cheaper quote look better than it is. Our guide on how to compare deck quotes covers what else to check.
Not sure whether your deck needs a permit? A local builder will know your town's rules and can handle the paperwork. Get up to three free quotes from vetted deck builders near you, and ask each one to show how the permit is covered in their price.
Common questions
Do I need a permit for a ground-level deck in BC?
It depends on your municipality. Richmond, Delta, Coquitlam and the District of North Vancouver exempt decks under 600 mm (about 24 in) above grade, but many other Lower Mainland towns state no exemption, so check with your city first.
How high can a deck be without a railing in BC?
Under the BC Building Code, a guard is required where the deck surface is more than 600 mm above the ground next to it, or where the ground within 1.2 m slopes steeply. Vancouver's own building by-law uses the same 600 mm trigger.
How much does a deck permit cost in the Lower Mainland?
Each city sets its own fees, usually based on the value of the work. Local estimates put most deck permits between about $200 and $1,500, with engineering extra for covered or high decks.
How long does it take to get a deck permit?
Local builders typically see 3 to 8 weeks for a simple deck and 6 to 12 weeks for covered or engineered decks. Processing times vary by city, so check your municipality's current times.