What inspections are required when building a deck in Moncton NB?

When building a permitted deck in Moncton, three inspections are required: a footing inspection, a framing inspection, and a final inspection. These inspections are conducted by the Building Inspection Division and must be scheduled by the homeowner or contractor at each stage before work proceeds to the next phase.

The footing inspection is the first and arguably the most critical. Before you pour concrete into your sonotube forms or set precast footings, the building inspector needs to verify that the holes are dug to the correct depth and that the footing dimensions meet the specifications on your approved drawings. In Moncton and the surrounding southern New Brunswick region, the minimum frost depth is 1.2 metres, meaning your footings must extend at least that far below finished grade to prevent frost heave from shifting or lifting your deck structure over winter freeze-thaw cycles. The inspector will also confirm that the footing locations correspond to your approved site plan and that the soil conditions at the bottom of each hole are adequate to support the loads specified in your design. If you are building on fill or encountering soft or waterlogged soil, the inspector may require modifications such as larger footing pads or compacted granular base material beneath the footings.

The framing inspection takes place after your posts, beams, joists, and decking are installed but before you complete the railings, stairs, and any finishing work. At this stage, the inspector verifies that the structural members match the sizes and species specified in your permit drawings and that they comply with the span tables referenced in the New Brunswick Building Code. Post-to-beam connections, joist hangers, beam splices, and the ledger board connection to the house are all closely examined. The ledger connection is a particular focus because failures at this point are the most common cause of catastrophic deck collapses. The inspector confirms that the ledger is properly bolted through the house rim joist with the correct size and spacing of lag screws or through-bolts, and that appropriate flashing is installed to prevent water infiltration behind the ledger.

The final inspection occurs once all construction is complete, including guards, handrails, stair stringers, treads, and any other components. Guards must be a minimum of 1,070 millimetres high on decks that are more than 600 millimetres above grade, and the spacing between balusters cannot exceed 100 millimetres to prevent children from passing through. Stair risers must be uniform in height, and handrails must be graspable with a profile that allows a secure grip. The inspector also checks that the completed structure matches the approved drawings and that no unauthorized changes were made during construction.

Scheduling inspections in Moncton is done through the Building Inspection Division. You typically need to call at least 24 to 48 hours in advance, and inspections are usually conducted within a few business days of the request. It is important not to proceed past an inspection point before receiving approval. If you backfill footings before the footing inspection, for example, the inspector may require you to excavate them for visual verification, adding cost and delay to your project. Passing all three inspections results in a final sign-off on your permit, which you should retain with your property records as proof of code-compliant construction.

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