Winnipeg Deck Site Plan for Permit | Setbacks & Stairs

Example of a Winnipeg deck site plan showing the proposed deck, stairs, property lines, setback measurements, and a sample lot-coverage calculation. Dimensions and percentages shown in the illustration are examples only.

Planning a new backyard deck in Winnipeg? Before construction begins, you may need to show the City exactly where the deck will be located, how high it will be, how far it will sit from the property lines, and where the stairs will reach the ground.

A clear Winnipeg deck site plan for permit presents this information in an easy-to-read overhead drawing. It helps permit reviewers understand how the proposed deck fits between the existing house, property boundaries, streets, lanes, utilities, and other structures.

This guide explains Winnipeg deck permit requirements, what should appear on the site plan, how setbacks are measured, why stair placement matters, and when a deck may affect the property’s lot-coverage calculation.

Do you need a permit for a deck in Winnipeg?

The answer mainly depends on the deck’s size, height, location, and relationship to the house.

The City of Winnipeg states that a deck in a back or side yard generally needs a building permit when it:

• Has a total area greater than 3.4 square metres, or 36 square feet
• Is located in a back or side yard
• Is more than 600 millimetres, or 2 feet, above ground level

A development permit may also be required when the deck is more than 3.4 square metres, is in a back or side yard, is more than 600 millimetres above grade, and is not level with the main-floor entrance.^[1]

The City’s deck construction brochure explains that a raised deck level with the main-floor entrance may be exempt from a separate development permit, although a building permit is still required. Permit exemptions and supporting approvals should be confirmed before submitting the application.^[3]

What is a deck site plan?

A deck site plan is an overhead drawing of the property. It shows the existing house, the proposed deck, the lot boundaries, and the deck’s position in relation to the rest of the site.

The site plan is different from a deck construction plan.

• The site plan shows where the deck will be built.
• The construction plan shows how the deck will be built.
• The elevations show the deck’s height, stairs, guards, handrails, and relationship to the ground.

The City’s current deck application form identifies the site plan, construction plans, elevations, declarations, and a completed deck checklist as separate parts of the permit package.^[2]

For a broader overview of local permit drawings, see our

Winnipeg site plan for permit guide
.

What should a Winnipeg deck site plan show?

The City asks for a fully dimensioned site plan. A sketch without measurements may not give reviewers enough information to confirm the deck’s location.

1. Property lines

All property boundaries should be clearly shown. These normally include the front, rear, left-side, and right-side lot lines.

The deck’s setback measurements must be taken from the relevant property lines—not automatically from a fence, hedge, driveway edge, or sidewalk.

Visible yard features do not always follow the legal boundary. Where the property lines are uncertain, the homeowner may need to consult a Manitoba Land Surveyor or obtain appropriate property documentation.

A permit drawing is not automatically a legal boundary survey. Our

site plan versus survey guide

explains the difference.

2. Existing house

The footprint of the existing house should be shown and labelled. The plan should make it clear where the proposed deck connects to the dwelling.

Show relevant exterior features such as:

• The door leading onto the deck
• Existing steps and landings
• Bay windows or building projections
• Attached garages
• Existing porches or decks

3. Proposed deck dimensions

Clearly label the deck as proposed and provide its exterior length and width.

A rectangular deck is relatively straightforward to dimension. An L-shaped, wraparound, multi-level, or irregular deck may require several separate measurements so the complete footprint can be understood.

4. Distance to all property lines

The City’s application form asks for the distance from the deck to all property lines.^[2]

The site plan should normally show:

• Distance to the rear property line
• Distance to the left-side property line
• Distance to the right-side property line
• Relevant front-yard or street-side distance on corner lots

Measure to the closest part of the proposed deck. Stairs, landings, built-in features, and other projections should not be ignored when they extend beyond the main deck platform.

5. Location of the stairs

The City requires the deck construction plans to identify the location of the stairs.^[2]

Showing the stairs on the site plan is also useful because the stair flight and bottom landing can extend several feet into the yard.

The plan should make clear:

• Which side of the deck contains the stairs
• The direction in which the stairs descend
• The approximate stair width
• Where the stairs meet the finished ground
• Whether the stairs reduce a required setback
• Whether the stair landing affects a walkway, gate, driveway, or drainage route

6. Existing accessory structures

Show existing garages, sheds, carports, pools, hot tubs, gazebos, and other important structures.

These features help reviewers understand whether the deck conflicts with another structure, blocks access, affects fencing, or changes the usable open space on the property. For properties containing several backyard buildings, review our

Winnipeg accessory-building site plan requirements
.

7. Street and rear-lane locations

The City’s application form specifically asks for streets and lanes to be shown on the site plan.^[2]

This information helps orient the property and can be especially important for:

• Corner lots
• Reverse-corner lots
• Properties with rear-lane access
• Decks close to a street-facing boundary
• Construction access crossing City property

8. Overhead electrical lines

Where applicable, the site plan should show overhead electrical lines.

The City’s construction brochure states that a deck built below overhead power-supply conductors requires a minimum vertical clearance of 3.5 metres, or approximately 11 feet 6 inches, between the deck surface and the conductors.^[3]

A deck supporting a pergola, gazebo, or other structure can require additional electrical clearances. Where an overhead structure is included, coordinate the layout with our

Winnipeg pergola and patio-cover site plan guide
.

9. North arrow and scale

A north arrow helps the reviewer orient the property. A consistent scale helps show the relative size of the house, deck, yard, and setbacks.

Dimensions should remain readable after the drawing is converted to PDF and uploaded to the permit system.

10. Legal description

The City’s application form also asks for the legal property description. This is different from the municipal street address and may be found on property records, survey documents, or title information.

Our

residential site plan checklist

can help you collect the information needed before the drawing is prepared.

Winnipeg deck setback requirements

There is no single setback that applies to every deck. The required distance depends on the deck’s height, size, location, zoning district, lot configuration, and relationship to the house.

The City’s deck brochure states that decks higher than 600 millimetres, or 2 feet, above the average adjoining ground must provide the same setbacks as the dwelling.^[3]

This can result in a significant rear-yard requirement for a raised deck. The City’s standard illustration shows a 7.5-metre, or 25-foot, rear setback in its example, but the actual dwelling setback must be confirmed for the individual property.

Different conditions can apply when:

• The deck is 600 millimetres or less above grade
• The project includes only a small landing
• The property is a corner or reverse-corner lot
• The deck is proposed beside the house
• The deck is proposed in a front yard
• The lot is affected by a site-specific zoning condition
• The property is close to a riverbank or waterway
• The project cannot meet the normal zoning requirement

A zoning variance may be required when the proposed deck cannot maintain the required setback.

How landings may affect the setback

A small landing can sometimes project into a required yard where a larger deck cannot.

The City’s construction brochure explains that a landing between 600 and 1,200 millimetres above grade may project into certain required yards when its area does not exceed 3.4 square metres, or 36 square feet.

When the landing exceeds that area, it generally must maintain the same setbacks as the dwelling.^[3]

Because the stairs normally connect to a landing, the complete landing-and-stair arrangement should be considered before the deck location is finalized.

Winnipeg deck stair requirements

The site plan mainly shows where the stairs are located. The detailed stair dimensions should be included on the construction plans and elevations.

The City’s current deck brochure provides the following general requirements:

• Minimum stair width of 900 millimetres, or 36 inches
• Maximum riser height of 200 millimetres, or 8 inches
• Minimum tread run of 255 millimetres, or 10 inches
• Maximum nosing projection of 25 millimetres, or 1 inch
• Uniform tread and riser dimensions within each stair flight

An exterior stair with more than three risers requires a handrail on at least one side. The handrail should generally be between 865 and 1,070 millimetres above the line running through the stair nosings.^[3]

The location of the stairs matters because a long stair flight may:

• Extend closer to a side or rear boundary
• Block a gate or walkway
• Conflict with a driveway
• End on sloped or uneven ground
• Interfere with drainage
• Require a larger landing area than originally expected

Deck guards and handrails

Guards are generally required where the deck surface is more than 600 millimetres, or 2 feet, above finished ground.

The City’s construction brochure states that required deck guards must generally be:

• At least 900 millimetres, or 36 inches, high where the deck is no more than 1.8 metres above the ground
• At least 1,070 millimetres, or 42 inches, high where the deck exceeds 1.8 metres above the ground

Guards are also required along stairs where the difference in elevation exceeds 600 millimetres. Stair guards are generally 900 millimetres high.^[3]

A guardrail and a handrail serve different purposes. The guard helps prevent falls from an elevated surface, while the handrail provides a graspable support for someone using the stairs.

Where the guard design is not graspable or is not positioned at the correct handrail height, an additional handrail may be needed.

Does a deck count toward lot coverage in Winnipeg?

Lot coverage is the percentage of the property covered by buildings and other structures that the zoning by-law treats as building cover.

Under the consolidated Winnipeg Zoning By-law, the following are excluded from the lot-coverage calculation:

• Open decks less than 4 feet above grade
• Open landings less than 4 feet above grade
• Open stairs less than 4 feet above grade

The by-law’s illustration explains that an uncovered deck below 4 feet would not count as building cover.^[4]

A deck may need further review when it is:

• Four feet or more above grade
• Covered by a permanent roof
• Enclosed or intended to become a sunroom
• Combined with another building addition—see our Winnipeg home addition site plan guide
• Located on a property with site-specific zoning conditions

Even where a low open deck is excluded from the formal lot-coverage calculation, its dimensions and location should still appear on the site plan.

The sample lot-coverage table in the article image demonstrates how a calculation can be presented. The percentage shown is not a universal Winnipeg maximum.

What other drawings are required?

A site plan explains the deck’s position, but it does not replace the structural drawings needed for the building permit.

The City’s application form asks for construction plans showing:

• The foundation type
• The location of the stairs
• The deck’s length and width
• Beam, post, and floor-joist spacing
• The lumber type and sizes
• Relevant structural projections

Elevations should show:

• The height of the deck above the ground
• The number and arrangement of stairs
• The guardrail height and design
• The handrail height and design
• The relationship between the deck and finished grade

Depending on the foundation, span, beam projection, joist projection, height, roof loads, or other design conditions, professional engineering may be required.

What if you plan to add a roof later?

The City advises homeowners to consider the complete future project before building the deck.

When a deck will eventually support a roofed structure—such as a sunroom, family room, screened enclosure, gazebo, or covered patio—the City recommends applying for the entire project so the deck foundation and framing can be designed for the future loads.^[1]

A future enclosed room may also need to follow the

Winnipeg home addition site plan requirements
,
while a pergola or covered patio should be coordinated with the

Winnipeg pergola and patio-cover guide
.

A deck designed only for normal outdoor use may not safely support walls, glazing, insulation, roofing, snow loads, and additional structural weight later.

What if the deck will support a hot tub?

A hot tub creates much greater structural loads than normal deck furniture or occupants.

The City’s deck application asks applicants to disclose whether a hot tub or spa will be installed and to provide:

• The dry weight of the hot tub
• Its water capacity
• Construction plans confirming that the deck can carry the additional load

Separate hot tub, electrical, plumbing, or other permits may also be required. The site plan should show the hot tub location and any required fencing and gate arrangement.^[2]

For a larger pool, swim spa, or permanent hot-tub installation, review our

Winnipeg pool site plan guide

for barrier, equipment, setback, and electrical-clearance information.

Foundations and underground utilities

Deck foundations may include concrete pads, piers, piles, or approved screw piles, depending on the design and site conditions.

Before excavating below grade, underground utilities should be located. The City directs homeowners to Click Before You Dig Manitoba when the deck foundation requires digging.^[1]

The site plan should also identify known easements, utility corridors, drainage routes, or other features that could affect the proposed foundation locations.

Common deck site plan mistakes

Deck permit applications can be delayed when the site plan is incomplete or difficult to interpret.

• Showing the deck without its length and width
• Providing only one setback measurement
• Measuring from a fence rather than the property line
• Leaving the stairs off the drawing
• Ignoring the bottom stair landing
• Failing to show existing sheds, garages, pools, or decks
• Omitting the street or rear lane
• Leaving overhead electrical lines off the plan
• Failing to state the deck’s height above grade
• Using sample setbacks without confirming the property’s zoning
• Showing a future roof or hot tub without supporting structural information
• Submitting a satellite image without clear dimensions
• Using labels that become unreadable in the final PDF

Learn more about the information permit departments commonly review in our article on

what cities check first on a site plan
.

What to provide when ordering a deck site plan

Collecting accurate information at the beginning can reduce revisions later.

Useful documents and details include:

• The complete property address
• The legal property description, where available
• A survey, staking certificate, subdivision plan, or property document
• The proposed deck length and width
• The height of the deck above grade
• The preferred stair location and direction
• Measurements to all property lines
• The location of existing garages, sheds, pools, and other structures
• Photos of the house and proposed deck area
• The location of streets and rear lanes
• Known overhead or underground utilities
• Information about a proposed hot tub, roof, pergola, or enclosure
• Any comments already received from the City

Homeowners elsewhere in the province can also review our

Manitoba site plan services guide

and our national article explaining

when a site plan is needed for a deck permit in Canada
.

Frequently asked questions

Does every deck in Winnipeg need a permit?

No. Permit requirements depend on the deck’s size, height, location, and design. Raised decks larger than 3.4 square metres in a back or side yard commonly require a building permit, and a development permit may also be required.

How far must a Winnipeg deck be from the rear property line?

The setback depends on the deck height and the property’s zoning. Decks higher than 600 millimetres above the adjoining ground generally must provide the same setbacks as the dwelling.

Do stairs count when measuring the deck setback?

The complete project should be considered, including stairs and landings. A stair flight can extend beyond the main deck platform and may affect the available yard or required setback.

Does a low uncovered deck count toward lot coverage?

The Winnipeg Zoning By-law excludes open decks, landings, and stairs less than 4 feet above grade from the lot-coverage calculation. Covered, enclosed, or higher decks may be treated differently.

Does the site plan need to show the deck height?

The site plan should identify the proposal clearly, while the elevations must show the deck height above grade. Height affects permits, setbacks, foundations, guards, and stairs.

Can I use a fence as the property line?

A fence should not automatically be treated as the legal boundary. Where the property line cannot be reliably established, a Manitoba Land Surveyor may be required.

Can a site plan replace the structural deck plans?

No. The site plan shows where the deck will be located. Separate construction plans and elevations are needed to show the foundation, framing, stairs, guards, handrails, and structural details.

Order a Winnipeg deck site plan

A well-prepared deck site plan makes it easy to understand where the deck will sit, how far it is from each property line, and where its stairs and landings will reach the ground.

Siteplans.ca prepares residential permit site plans using available property information, customer-provided measurements, photographs, and proposed project details. Reasonable edits are included when a permit reviewer requests drawing changes within the original project scope.

Permit, zoning, setback, lot-coverage, and construction requirements can change and may vary by property. Confirm current requirements with the City of Winnipeg before construction. Siteplans.ca does not replace a Manitoba Land Surveyor, engineer, architect, contractor, or municipal authority where those services are required.