What an Ottawa Deck Permit Costs
$12.75 per $1,000 of construction value, $117 minimum (City of Ottawa, January 1, 2026)
Source: City of Ottawa fee schedule. Reviewed 2026-09-30. How we set these ranges
The City of Ottawa's fee schedule (January 1, 2026) sets the permit fee for this kind of work at $12.75 per $1,000 or part thereof of the assessed value of the work, with a minimum fee of $117. The value is the total of materials, labour, overhead and professional fees, and the City assesses it. As illustrations of the formula only: a $15,000 deck works out to $191.25, and a $40,000 deck to $510. A pool enclosure permit is $257.
What to know
Applications go through the My ServiceOttawa portal, and payment goes in with the application. The City lists 5 business days for the first review. Once a permit is issued there are three inspections: excavation and foundations before backfill, framing at completion of structural framing and guards, and final at completion of the deck framing, stairs and guards, each booked 48 hours in advance.
Ottawa rules that apply
In Ottawa a deck needs a building permit, whatever its size, when it is attached to or next to the house and its walking surface is more than 600 mm (24 in.) above the adjacent grade, and when it is an elevated deck providing principal access to the house. A freestanding deck needs one when its walking surface is both over 10 square metres and more than 600 mm above grade. For applications deemed complete on or after March 11, 2026, Ottawa applies both Zoning By-law 2008-250 and By-law 2026-50, with the most restrictive provisions applying, so confirm the setbacks for your lot with the City.
What a fair quote includes
- Who pays the permit fee
- Who applies, and who books the three inspections
Ask before you sign
- Whether the permit fee is inside the quote or extra
Questions
Is there a flat permit fee for a deck in Ottawa?
We found no deck-specific flat fee: the City uses the construction-value formula, $12.75 per $1,000 or part thereof, with a $117 minimum.
Deck IQ answers behind this page
Service: Deck Design & Permit Drawings
Other deck costs
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