City of Regina reminder: Deck building permits usually required

If you're building a deck in your backyard and think you don't need a building permit, think again, the City of Regina says.

A $100 permit is needed if the deck is over 30 centimetres high or bigger than three square metres.

Furthermore, the city is on the lookout for decks that violate the rules, according to Louise Folk, director of development services for the city.

"Residential inspectors currently do inspections in certain areas of the city," Folk said. "If they happen to be patrolling their area and if they see an un-permitted structure, they will stop and look at it."

Couple's deck project attracted city interest

A visit from a city inspector came as a surprise to Kara Bates and her husband Stafford.

"My husband had been working on our new deck build for about three weeks," she said. "He had no idea he would need permission from the city to build a deck in his own yard, of the house that we own."

The city worker complimented her husband on his work, but she also told him he would need to re-brace under the deck because he had used 2x6s instead of 2x8s.

When asked why a permit was required, the city worker told them it was for tax reasons.

"So on top of spending the $100, we know now that our property tax is going to go up," Bates said.

Important for decks to comply with building codes, city says

Folk says the deck permit process helps ensure the decks are built to code.

"For example, if a deck is more than 48 inches above the ground it needs a guard rail in place," Folk said.

"It really ensures that there's a proper barrier in place to prevent children and adults from falling from unsafe distances."

She added that any change that increases the assessed value of a property would affect property taxes.

Folk noted that people often don't realize they need a building permit to build a deck.

She advises residents to visit the city's guide to deck approvals if they are thinking about building one.

City rules on deck building permits

For deck builds, the city requires homeowners to submit:

- A completed building permit application at city hall.

- Two copies of the site plan drawn to scale with metric dimensions and the legal description of the property. The site plan must show all measurements, including property line and existing buildings.

- Two copies of the cross-section plan drawn to scale with metric dimensions. The plan will show the side view of the deck and indicate all materials you will use to construct the deck.

- A copy of plan showing beam and support location, drawn to scale with metric dimensions.

- $100 permit fee.