Town of Westlock

The type of structure being built will determine what permits you require. Height measurements indicated below must be made from grade (ground level).  To apply, see How do I apply, below.

When is a Development and Building Permit required?

In residential areas, a Development and Building Permit are required when:

• The floor of the deck is 0.6m (2 ft) or greater from grade.
• The proposed deck or patio will be covered or enclosed. See Additions and covered decks for permit information

For uncovered decks, less than 0.6m (2 ft) from grade (also known as patios), neither a Development nor a Building Permit are required. 

Risks when a permit is not obtained

If you, as a homeowner or contractor, do not have permits for work that has been started or completed, there could be consequences if you do not take action to correct the situation, such as:

• Enforcement action issued by the Town or a Safety Codes Officer.
• A fine for building without a permit.
• Having to undo work that has been completed.
• Future legal and financial issues when selling your property or making an insurance claim.
• Having to do more work than was originally planned and budgeted, to fix deficiencies.
• Potential liability to you, the homeowner, in the event of an accident.

NOTE: As a homeowner, you are responsible for paying any penalties, even if you hired a contractor who assured you that permits were not required.  For more information, visit Tips for hiring contractors.

Uncovered deck building requirements:

• The maximum size of the deck depends on the size of your lot and the size of your home.  In total, the footprint of all buildings and uncovered decks on your lot cannot exceed the prescribed total lot coverage in your Land Use District.
• An uncovered deck may project 1.2m (3.9ft) and 3.0m (9.8ft) into the front and rear yard setback requirements of your house, respectively.
• An uncovered deck must be located at least 1.5m from any accessory building (ie. Detached garage)

Structural and foundation requirements for uncovered decks vary depending on their size and height from grade.  All uncovered decks 0.6m (2.0ft) or higher require a handrail. We recommend confirming your deck design with Superior Safety Codes at 780 489 4777 prior to applying and purchasing materials.

Patios (uncovered decks less than 0.6m (2.0ft) high) can be built as large and in any location on your property that you wish.  However, they must be designed so that they do not affect drainage onto surrounding properties or Town streets and lanes.

Submit an application for each permit, along with other relevant documents, to Planning & Development Services (contact info below).

1 - Determine which applications you need.
(See What permits do I need, above). You can then download checklists and forms (below) and complete them.

NOTE: Development and Building Permits must be applied for and approved prior to safety codes permit applications.  We recommend applying for Development and Building Permits concurrently.

Development & Building Permits & Checklists

Residential Deck Application Package

2 - Have drawings ready:

• Site Plan – dimensioned with distances to property lines and other buildings labelled

3 – Apply with all the required documentation. 

Application methods:

In-Person or by Mail to:

Planning & Development Services
Town of Westlock
10003 106 Street
Westlock, AB  T7P 2K3

 Email to: planning@westlock.ca 

Payment methods:
After your application is received and processed, you will be notified by email or phone of the application fee(s). See our Fee Schedule for our current permit fees.

Online:

• Credit card (Visa or MasterCard)
• E-transfer to finance@westlock.ca (please include "Permit" in the Notes field)

In-person:

• Debit
• Cash
• Cheque
• Credit Card (Visa or MasterCard or Amex)

Mail payment:

• Cheque

What if I am not the property owner?

If you are not the owner of the property, then you must get the owner's consent to apply for any permits.  The Town accepts the following forms of owner authorization:

• Signature on Development Permit application
• Letter of consent from Property Owner

How long will it take to obtain my permits?

Timelines vary based on the type of application as well as our current application volumes.  Give yourself as much time as possible to complete the permit process prior to your preferred construction start date in case of any complications or revisions required.

When planning your construction project, it is important to learn where and what underground and overhead utilities are located on your property. Locates are done free of charge but require a couple of days notice to obtain.

•  Alberta One-Call 1-800-242-3447

Inspections for all building and safety codes permits are performed by the Town’s Safety Codes contractor, Superior Safety Codes.

Inspections can be booked by phoning Superior Safety Codes at 780-489-4777.

When phoning please have your permit number handy.

Below are sample drawings for Development Permits and Building Permits for uncovered decks.

Download or view the Sample Deck Site Plan PDF.