BuildRules/Pickering/Deck

Pickering building permit guide

Do you need a building permit for a deck in Pickering?

Check Pickering deck building permit requirements, including decks over 60 cm high, attachment and zoning restrictions.

2 min readLast verified Oct 13, 2026
The short answerConditional

Pickering lists decks more than 60 cm above ground among projects requiring a building permit. Attachment, enclosure and zoning can add requirements.

The City's published examples include decks, covered structures and enclosures. This is not an automatic exemption for decks below the height trigger.

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Pickering / Deck

Pickering lists decks more than 60 cm above ground among projects requiring a building permit. Attachment, enclosure and zoning can add requirements.

City of Pickering · BuildRules reviewed 2026-10-13

Know what matters

Know what applies to your project.

Check the conditions below before you finalize the scope. Every answer connects to an official source.

HeightPermit required above 60 cmConditional

Pickering lists constructing a deck more than 60 cm above ground as permit work.

Source · City of Pickering

Building Permits · Deck height, accessory shed exemptions, permit application and municipal zoning

Verified Oct 13, 2026Open official source
Enclosed deck or porchBuilding permit requiredConditional

Enclosing an existing deck, porch or patio of any size is included in the City's permit-required list.

Source · City of Pickering

Building Permits · Deck height, accessory shed exemptions, permit application and municipal zoning

Verified Oct 13, 2026Open official source
ZoningReview property-specific setbacks and placementInfo

Decks are accessory structures subject to municipal zoning provisions.

Source · City of Pickering

Accessory Buildings and Structures · Accessory structure size and lot/zoning caveats

Verified Oct 13, 2026Open official source

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Preparation checklist · Reviewed 2026-10-13

Plan ahead

Fees and timing

TimelineCheck Pickering's current review timeline once a complete application is submitted.
FeesConfirm the applicable Pickering building permit fee from the municipality's current fee schedule.

From reading to doing

Your next steps.

  1. Measure deck height and specify whether covered or enclosed
  2. Check relevant zoning for property
  3. Review the City's electronic application requirements

Trace the evidence

Official sources behind this guide.

These are the source documents linked in the rules above. Check the municipal authority for current requirements before submitting a project.

  • City of Pickering

    Building Permits · Deck height, accessory shed exemptions, permit application and municipal zoning

    Source verified Oct 13, 2026

  • City of Pickering

    Accessory Buildings and Structures · Accessory structure size and lot/zoning caveats

    Source verified Oct 13, 2026

A little more clarity

Common questions.

Does a low deck in Pickering automatically need no approvals?

No. The 60 cm trigger does not eliminate attachment, enclosure, zoning or other requirements.

Do you need a building permit for a deck in Pickering?

Pickering lists decks more than 60 cm above ground among projects requiring a building permit. Attachment, enclosure and zoning can add requirements.

What should I prepare for deck in Pickering?

Start with Building permit application through the City portal; Site plan and applicable deck drawings; Additional approvals when required for the property. Confirm the final submission requirements with Pickering for the actual scope.

Know the approval terms

The permit decision can involve more than one rule.

Use these plain-language definitions to understand the conditions above, then check the official source for your municipality.

Setback

A setback is the required distance between a building or structure and a property line, street, another feature or another regulated reference point.

Lot coverage

Lot coverage is a zoning measurement describing how much of a lot is occupied by buildings or structures under the applicable municipal rules.

Building permit

A municipal approval required before certain construction, alteration, demolition or change-of-use work can proceed. The permit review checks the proposed work against the Ontario Building Code, local zoning and other applicable law.

Same project, different city

See how this rule changes across Ontario.

Compare the source-reviewed answer for this project across every municipality BuildRules currently covers.

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01 Permit and local-rule guidance02 Documents to prepare03 Questions still to verify
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Move your deck forward.

Tell us what kind of help you need. We’ll save the request with your project and municipality so a relevant provider can respond if a match is available.

A provider match is not guaranteed. Municipal approval stays with the City.

A provider match is not guaranteed. Municipal approval stays with the City.

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Does a garden storage shed require a permit in Pickering?

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