What is the Importance of Getting a Deck Building Permit?

Building and construction are regulated in many jurisdictions, even when the building activities are on private property. There are very good reasons for this regulation by the authorities. The building must not pose a threat to the property owner, neighbours, and/or guests.

The City of Calgary has specific building regulations and a permit is almost always required when putting up new structures or making significant modifications to existing ones. So we ask the question: why should you get a permit before building a deck?

Safety Reasons

A collapsing deck can present a significant risk for you, your family and any other persons on the deck or nearby. A deck permit enforces verification of building plans to ensure that all elements have been properly placed and planned for by the builder. The building plans are examined for weight-bearing capacity and other tests that ensure the deck can stand on its own as well as when bearing weight.

Insurance Purposes

If your deck is damaged, your insurance company will want to know if it was built according to the correct specifications before paying out any compensation. A deck without a permit is deemed to have been illegally constructed and will not be paid out to the policy owner in 99.9% percent of all cases.

Quality Workmanship

If you know little about building and construction, you will get little understanding from seeing building plans. By taking the plans to the authorities for verification, you are asking the experts to vet that the work is standard and of the desired quality. By having an approved permit, you are assured that the builder is not cutting corners and you are getting value for your money.

Increased Value Of Home

A good quality deck adds value to the price of a home. If you are selling, this will be one of the features that will enable you to squeeze something extra from the buyer. However, any savvy buyer will want to see a permit for the deck before coughing up the extra money. If there is no permit, the new buyer would be wary of improving their offer because the deck will have to be taken down.

Being A Good Neighbour

If your neighbourhood has a Homeowners Association, you will have regulations for new developments, among the regulations is deck placement and size. Your neighbour needs to feel that your new deck is not invading on his or her privacy. Seeking a permit is extending a courtesy to your neighbours to give them a say in your project.

Legal Reasons

A deck without a permit is illegal and can get you into legal and financial troubles. It will attract a penalty, and you will be required to pull it down, which is a waste of good money and effort.

To start your new deck project, be sure to visit the City of Calgary’s page on obtaining a permit to see if you need one to build your deck. If you need help with any of the stages of building a deck, be sure to contact the decking experts at Mountain View Sun Decks today. Our team has over 20 years of experience and won’t make you pay for your project until it is complete! Learn more here.