Permit briefing
Do you need a permit for a deck?
The International Residential Code exempts a deck only at 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or less above grade, freestanding and not serving the exit door.
The reliable short answer
Measure from finished grade to the walking surface at the highest relevant point, then identify whether the deck touches the house.
Planning complexity
Medium
Local answer required
Yes
The model code’s answer
How high can a deck be without a permit?
30 inches above grade at any point, and only when three more conditions hold. The International Residential Code exempts a deck of 200 square feet or less, no higher than 30 inches anywhere, not attached to the house and not serving the exit door the code requires. A deck bolted to the house, or one that door opens onto, is outside the exemption at any size or height.
| Rule | What it exempts |
|---|---|
| Model code (IRC R105.2) | 200 sq ft, 30 in above grade, freestanding, not at the required exit door |
| Austin | The same four limits, and not in a flood hazard area |
| Los Angeles | Up to 30 in above grade, not over a basement; no area limit |
Austin keeps the model's four limits and adds a fifth, the flood hazard area. Los Angeles draws its own line: its code exempts platforms up to 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or story below, and says nothing of area or attachment. "At any point" means a sloping yard is judged where the drop from the walking surface to the ground is greatest, so measure there before assuming a low deck is exempt.
A three-step permit decision
1. Measure the project the way reviewers do
Record plan dimensions, walking-surface height above grade and stair/guard locations. Sloped yards can make one edge the controlling edge.
2. Identify structural connection
A ledger-attached deck introduces flashing, fastener and lateral-load details. A freestanding deck changes those details but does not automatically remove permitting.
3. Check zoning before framing
Uncovered decks may receive limited setback treatment in some jurisdictions; covered decks can be treated more like building additions.
What Austin and Los Angeles say about a deck
Austin
- No permit
- A deck of 200 square feet or less, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to the house, not an exit from it, and not in a flood hazard area.
- Permit
- Otherwise it goes on the city's pool and uncovered deck form, for which the city lists a review time of 5 business days.
- Fees
- The fee schedule names no deck line; the city says fees depend on the scope of work.
Los Angeles
- No permit
- A deck no more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or story below: the code exempts platforms of that height, with no limit on their area.
- Permit
- A deck higher than that, or one built over a room below, is outside the exemption and is permitted like any other structure.
- Fees
- LADBS bases the fee on what the deck is valued at.
What to have ready before you call
- Length, width and maximum height above finished grade
- Attached or freestanding structural concept
- Stairs, guards, roof or pergola shown on one sketch
- Parcel zoning, setbacks and easements checked
Print and take along
Deck permit worksheet
Fill in the measurements before you call or visit. Each one is a number the city’s exempt list is tested against.
- Length × widthThe model code's line is 200 sq ft.
- ft
- Height above grade at the highest pointThe line is 30 in at any point, and above it the open sides need guards.
- in
- Attached to the houseAn attached deck is outside the exemption.
- YesNo
- Serves the house's required exit doorA deck that does is outside the exemption.
- YesNo
- StairsStairs bring their own rise, run and guard rules.
- risers
- Roof, pergola or hot tub plannedEach adds load and its own permit questions.
- YesNo
Ask the city
- Does the city keep the model code's deck line, and does it add a flood-hazard or other condition?
- Which setbacks and easements apply where the deck will sit?
- Where the deck is more than 30 in above grade, what guard height does the city require?
- Which inspections come before the framing is covered?
From research to quotes
Give every bidder the same scope.
Set the size, height above grade and decking, and say whether the deck is attached or has stairs. The brief adds joist lines and decking courses, and asks each bidder to split footings, framing, decking, railing and stairs on the quote. No contact details needed; sending it on is optional.
Create deck briefUse the dimensions, not a guess
Related field notes
- Deck Railing Height, Stair Rules and Baluster Spacing
- Fire Pit Rules: Distance From the House, Permits and Open Burning
- How a Building Permit Works: Final Inspection, Expiry and Owner-Builders
- Deck Joist and Beam Span Tables, by Lumber Size
- Deck Footing Size and Post Height Tables
- Building Permit Cost and Time: Fees in Austin and Los Angeles