Do I need a permit?
Whether a backyard shed, deck, or fence needs a building permit, for every Ontario municipality. Verified local rules are layered on top of the provincial baseline, and baseline rows still point you to the right place to confirm before building.
The provincial baseline
Under the Ontario Building Code, a detached one-storey storage shed of 15 square metres (about 160 square feet) or less, with no plumbing, does not need a building permit. Anything larger, with plumbing, or attached to another building does. Zoning rules (setbacks, height, lot coverage) always apply even when no building permit is needed.
Find your permit rule
Enter a town name or the first three postal-code characters.
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Search by city, region, or threshold, then filter to verified municipal rules or provincial baseline rows.
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Tap a municipality for the shed, deck, and fence rules together, with the source link and the date it was checked.
Permit questions
What size shed can I build without a permit in Ontario?
Under the Ontario Building Code, a detached one-storey storage shed of 15 square metres or less, with no plumbing, does not need a building permit; zoning rules still apply. Local rules vary. Brampton requires permits for storage sheds at 15 square metres or more and other accessory buildings at 10 square metres or more. Mississauga lists permits for sheds greater than 15 square metres and other buildings greater than 10 square metres. Its page does not state what applies to a shed exactly 15 square metres, so confirm with the City before building at that size.
Do I need a permit for a deck?
Usually once the deck is attached to the house or raised above about 0.6 m (24 in) off the ground. The exact trigger varies: Ottawa adds a 10 square metre size test, Vaughan adds an 18.6 square metre one. Low, freestanding decks often need no permit. Check your city below.
Do I need a permit for a fence?
In most Ontario cities a fence needs no building permit, but the fence bylaw caps its height (commonly around 2 m in a rear yard, lower in a front yard). Pool enclosure fences are the exception: they have their own safety rules and a separate permit and inspection.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is a plain-language summary that points you to each municipality’s own page. Rules change and vary by zone, so confirm with your city’s building department before you build.
How this page was made
Each verified municipal rule is taken from the municipality's own building-permit page. Baseline rows use Ontario's building-permit guidance and the official municipal list, last checked on 2026-06-24.
This is a plain-language explainer, not legal or professional advice, and not the bylaw itself. Rules change and vary by zone within a city. Always confirm with your municipality's building department and the linked official page before you build. Decks and sheds near a conservation authority's regulated area may need a separate permit.