Decks, Patios & Balconies

What Permits Do I Need?

A Development Permit and a Building Permit are required for decks (> 0.6m) and balconies and are not required for patios (<0.6m). Patios are still required to have a minimum distance from property lines.

Rules & Requirements

There are many considerations to every project such as:

1. The types of development permitted in various land use districts (zoning)
2. The amount of area on a lot that buildings can cover (site coverage)
3. The required distances from property lines and other structures (setbacks)
4. How high a building can be in various land use districts (elevation)
5. The restriction of building structures over gas lines or other utilities (URWs)

Hinton's Land Use Bylaw describes rules and requirements for building decks, patios, and balconies in town.

Top Tips

• Decks and balconies are not permitted on utility rights-of-way.
• Decks and balconies take on the same required setbacks from property lines as the principal dwelling.
• Decks lower than 0.6m in height are considered patios and do not require permits.

Check out the Inspections Group reference guide for guidelines on applying for Building Permits.