{
 "about": "Per-city drawing rules for the Deck Plan Sketch Maker (/guides/deck-plan-maker-bc). Every entry has a source URL and the date we checked it. 'Not published' means we could not find it in that city's own documents. The city's current checklist always wins.",
 "updated": "2026-09-29",
 "cities": [
  {
   "id": "duncan",
   "name": "City of Duncan",
   "checklistName": "Duncan Building Bylaw 3254, s.8.2 (in the Apr 27, 2026 council agenda, PDF)",
   "checklistUrl": "https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/237732/Regular%20Council%20-%2027%20Apr%202026.pdf?handle=83755294764847638A95BCD6456FDDCB",
   "sheetSize": {
    "value": "Two full-size sets (36 x 48 in.) in paper, plus PDF, unless a building official says smaller sets or electronic-only is fine (Bylaw 3254 s.8.2). No deck-specific checklist published.",
    "source": "https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/237732/Regular%20Council%20-%2027%20Apr%202026.pdf?handle=83755294764847638A95BCD6456FDDCB",
    "checked": "2026-09-28"
   },
   "scale": {
    "value": "Not published for decks.",
    "source": "https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/237732/Regular%20Council%20-%2027%20Apr%202026.pdf?handle=83755294764847638A95BCD6456FDDCB",
    "checked": "2026-09-28"
   },
   "drawings": {
    "value": "Not published: Duncan has no deck-specific drawing checklist. Our Duncan deck guide uses North Cowichan's deck checklist as a model.",
    "source": "https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/237732/Regular%20Council%20-%2027%20Apr%202026.pdf?handle=83755294764847638A95BCD6456FDDCB",
    "checked": "2026-09-28"
   },
   "format": {
    "value": "Paper and PDF (s.8.2). Hand-drawn plans: not published.",
    "source": "https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/237732/Regular%20Council%20-%2027%20Apr%202026.pdf?handle=83755294764847638A95BCD6456FDDCB",
    "checked": "2026-09-28"
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "north-cowichan",
   "name": "Municipality of North Cowichan",
   "checklistName": "North Cowichan Deck Permit Application Checklist (PDF)",
   "checklistUrl": "https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-07/Deck%20Permit%20Application%20Checklist.pdf",
   "sheetSize": {
    "value": "One set of plans 11 x 17 in. or larger.",
    "source": "https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-07/Deck%20Permit%20Application%20Checklist.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-28"
   },
   "scale": {
    "value": "Minimum 3/16\" = 1' for the floor plan and 1/8\" = 1' for elevations. Site plan \"to scale\".",
    "source": "https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-07/Deck%20Permit%20Application%20Checklist.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-28"
   },
   "drawings": {
    "value": "Site plan to scale with proposed and required setbacks; footing plan; floor plan; cross-section; truss layout if applicable.",
    "source": "https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-07/Deck%20Permit%20Application%20Checklist.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-28"
   },
   "format": {
    "value": "Email the application form to request a ShareLink, then upload the documents (deck permit page). Hand-drawn plans: not published.",
    "source": "https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/permits-forms-applications/deck-permit",
    "checked": "2026-09-28"
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "cvrd",
   "name": "Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD)",
   "checklistName": "CVRD Building Regulation Bylaw 4433, s.10.4 (PDF)",
   "checklistUrl": "https://cvrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CONS-2024-01-24-4433-Building-Reg-Am-byl-4543-DO-NOT-REMOVE_202401261417400049-1.pdf",
   "sheetSize": {
    "value": "Not published.",
    "source": "https://cvrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CONS-2024-01-24-4433-Building-Reg-Am-byl-4543-DO-NOT-REMOVE_202401261417400049-1.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   },
   "scale": {
    "value": "\"A suitable scale\" (s.10.4(n)); cross-sectional details \"at an appropriate scale\" (s.10.4(i)).",
    "source": "https://cvrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CONS-2024-01-24-4433-Building-Reg-Am-byl-4543-DO-NOT-REMOVE_202401261417400049-1.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   },
   "drawings": {
    "value": "Site plan (s.10.4(e)), floor plans (f), a cross-section (g), elevations of all sides (h), and cross-sectional details (i). The building official may waive parts of the site plan for a repair or alteration.",
    "source": "https://cvrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CONS-2024-01-24-4433-Building-Reg-Am-byl-4543-DO-NOT-REMOVE_202401261417400049-1.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   },
   "format": {
    "value": "Two sets of hard-copy drawings and a digital PDF set (s.10.4(n)). Hand-drawn plans: not published.",
    "source": "https://cvrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CONS-2024-01-24-4433-Building-Reg-Am-byl-4543-DO-NOT-REMOVE_202401261417400049-1.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "nanaimo",
   "name": "City of Nanaimo",
   "checklistName": "Nanaimo Deck Addition Guide (revised Apr 2026, PDF)",
   "checklistUrl": "https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/property-development/building-permits/deckadditionguide.pdf",
   "sheetSize": {
    "value": "Minimum 11 x 17 in. plain white paper (no graph paper), dark blue or black ink. The plan requirement checklist prefers 24 x 36 in.",
    "source": "https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/property-development/building-permits/deckadditionguide.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   },
   "scale": {
    "value": "Plans 1/4\" = 1' or 1:50. Site plan 1/16\" = 1' or 1:250.",
    "source": "https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/property-development/building-permits/deckadditionguide.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   },
   "drawings": {
    "value": "Plans showing the specifications of the structure (see the guide's sample deck drawings); site plan with parcel, house, deck, setbacks, rights-of-way and easements; truss or engineered layouts if used. A structural engineer is required for a deck carrying a hot tub.",
    "source": "https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/property-development/building-permits/deckadditionguide.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   },
   "format": {
    "value": "PDF, submitted online. Hand-drawn or computer-generated is accepted, but the PDF \"must be a clean copy with no watermarks or other interfering mark-ups\". Photos of plans are not accepted. The plan requirement checklist asks for \"designer-quality\" drawings.",
    "source": "https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/property-development/building-permits/deckadditionguide.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "saanich",
   "name": "District of Saanich",
   "checklistName": "Saanich Residential Building Permit checklist: Deck (PDF)",
   "checklistUrl": "https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Inspections/07_App_Residential_Deck%20Checklist.pdf",
   "sheetSize": {
    "value": "Maximum 600 x 900 mm (preferred) or 24 x 36 in.",
    "source": "https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Inspections/07_App_Residential_Deck%20Checklist.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   },
   "scale": {
    "value": "\"An acceptable drafting scale\", for example 1/4\" = 1 ft.",
    "source": "https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Inspections/07_App_Residential_Deck%20Checklist.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   },
   "drawings": {
    "value": "Site plan (including geodetic elevations of natural grade by a BC land surveyor), floor plans with stair, guard and handrail dimensions, foundation and framing plans, elevations of all sides (labelled), a cross-section, and project data.",
    "source": "https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Inspections/07_App_Residential_Deck%20Checklist.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   },
   "format": {
    "value": "Digital plans. Hand-drawn plans: not published.",
    "source": "https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Inspections/07_App_Residential_Deck%20Checklist.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "victoria",
   "name": "City of Victoria",
   "checklistName": "Victoria SFD/Duplex eApplication checklist (Sep 4, 2026, PDF)",
   "checklistUrl": "https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/section-b-part-2-single-family-eapplication-checklist",
   "sheetSize": {
    "value": "Not published.",
    "source": "https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/section-b-part-2-single-family-eapplication-checklist",
    "checked": "2026-09-28"
   },
   "scale": {
    "value": "Building plans: preferred 1/4\" = 1', minimum 3/16\" = 1'. Site plan: metric 1:100 or 1:200.",
    "source": "https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/section-b-part-2-single-family-eapplication-checklist",
    "checked": "2026-09-28"
   },
   "drawings": {
    "value": "Site plan, project data, foundation plan and footings, structural cross sections and construction details, elevations with existing and proposed grades, and a lighting layout if the deck has lights.",
    "source": "https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/section-b-part-2-single-family-eapplication-checklist",
    "checked": "2026-09-28"
   },
   "format": {
    "value": "Digital files (PDF). Only \"plans prepared to professional drafting standards\" are accepted, and plans marked \"not for permit\" or similarly identified as not suitable for a permit application are not acceptable.",
    "source": "https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/section-b-part-2-single-family-eapplication-checklist",
    "checked": "2026-09-28"
   }
  },
  {
   "id": "vancouver",
   "name": "City of Vancouver",
   "checklistName": "Vancouver Decks (RS zones) checklist (PDF)",
   "checklistUrl": "https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/decks_RS_zones.pdf",
   "sheetSize": {
    "value": "Not published.",
    "source": "https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/decks_RS_zones.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   },
   "scale": {
    "value": "Not less than 1/4\" = 1'-0\" (1:50) unless noted; floor plans 1/8\" = 1'-0\" (1:100) or greater.",
    "source": "https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/decks_RS_zones.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   },
   "drawings": {
    "value": "Architectural site plan, site coverage details, floor plans, elevations, and construction details (post footings, stairs, guards, all framing member sizes and spacing). Schedule B (structural) with a professional seal is required if there is structural work.",
    "source": "https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/decks_RS_zones.pdf",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   },
   "format": {
    "value": "Vector-format PDF; scanned paper drawings may not be accepted. The title block needs a blank space at least 2 in. wide and 3 in. tall for the City's stamp (e-permit rules).",
    "source": "https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/electronic-permit-applications.aspx",
    "checked": "2026-09-29"
   }
  }
 ]
}