What do permit drawings for a deck cost in Nepean?

Published prices from Ottawa and Ontario drafting and design firms read in September 2026 put permit drawings at about $399 to $2,500 per set. The range is wide, so ask each firm what its set covers.

What the City needs on the drawings is the same for every deck, and that list is the best way to compare what each firm offers.

The City of Ottawa's permit submission requirements set out what the drawings must include: a site plan showing the deck dimensioned to the house, other buildings, property lines and any septic system, with the municipal address; a foundation and framing plan covering footing or foundation type, size and location, helical pile layout and specifications if applicable, joists, beams, posts and decking with size, spacing, direction and span, the deck-to-house connection, and stair construction and location; and elevations showing the general appearance, the dimension from the walking surface to adjacent grade, footing depth where applicable, stair rise and run, and guard and handrail information. If the proposed decking is other than conventional lumber, the application also needs a material testing report, either a CCMC or BMEC report.

The City's permit application requires a Schedule 1 naming whoever is taking design responsibility. The Building Code allows a homeowner to take that responsibility for their own house, which means you can sign Schedule 1 yourself and prepare the drawings without hiring a designer, as long as it is a house you own and the building has no more than two dwelling units. If you prefer to hire someone, a BCIN designer or an engineer can sign instead. One drafting firm in the published prices lists engineering separately where it is needed, so if your lot has soil conditions such as filled ground or sensitive clay that require a Section 4.2 engineered design, that cost is on top of the drawing fee.

The City's first review target is five business days. The permit fee itself is $12.75 per $1,000 or part thereof of the assessed value of the work, with a minimum of $117. As an illustration of the formula: a $15,000 deck works out to $191.25 in permit fees, and a $40,000 deck to $510. Applications go through the My ServiceOttawa portal and payment accompanies the application.

Before you commit to a drawing firm or a builder who includes drawings in their quote, ask them exactly what the drawing set covers and whether engineering is included or billed separately if the City or soil conditions require it.