We pulled a permit for our Etobicoke deck last year and went through all four inspections. This post documents the full process because there is almost nothing online about what Toronto inspectors actually check.
Our deck: 16x20 foot deck (320 sqft), attached to the house at the back door, 800mm above grade at the high end, 1.8m above grade at the low end where the yard slopes. Composite decking (Trex Transcend), cedar framing.
Permit: Applied online. Took 22 days. Fee: $380. The system required a site plan showing the deck dimensions and setbacks, a framing plan with beam and joist sizes, and footing locations. I did my own drawings in SketchUp — the permit office accepted them.
Footing inspection (the one we failed): The inspector came when we had four 12-inch diameter holes dug to 1.2m depth (Toronto’s minimum for frost protection). He measured the diameter (passed), measured the depth (passed), then asked to see our footing size calculation. We had sized footings based on an online calculator. He disagreed with our tributary area calculation and required us to widen two footings to 16 inches to handle the load. We poured the wider ones and he came back and passed.
Lesson: Do the footing calculation properly before digging. Or have your contractor do it. The inspector will check.
Frame inspection: Inspector checked ledger connection (required lag bolts into rim joist, not just nails, with flashing behind ledger), beam-to-post connections (post caps required, not toe-nails), joist hanger installation. All passed.
Final inspection: Checked decking (gaps for drainage, no protruding fasteners), guard height (minimum 900mm where deck is over 600mm, we had 1,070mm), top rail graspability, stair tread depth and rise, handrail on stairs. All passed.
Total permit and compliance cost: $380. Worth it — we have a properly documented deck for resale.