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Do I need a permit to build a deck? The rule in 14 cities, and how many get filed

Yes for most decks. In all 14 building departments whose deck rules we read, a deck more than 30 inches above the ground needs a permit, most also permit any deck attached to the house, and three (Cary, Naperville and Columbus) permit every deck regardless of size. The exempt deck is low, freestanding and small. Colorado Springs filed 2,531 deck permits in three years and Columbus 624.

By Contractor Records · data through October 17, 2026

The rule in 8 cities, with their permit counts

Rules from each city's own page, read 22 October 2026. Counts are deck permits in the city's file over three years to September 2026 (several cities file porches, patio covers or pergolas with decks; the label is in the table); "usual days" is the typical time from issue to final.

City No permit when… Deck permits Usual days to final
Colorado Springs, CO (Pikes Peak Regional) Detached, up to 200 sq ft, 30 in or less above grade, not serving the required exit door 2,531 (decks, patio covers, pergolas) 54
San Francisco, CA Never for a new deck: decks under 20 ft get an over-the-counter permit with plans; in-kind repairs under 50% need no plans 1,701 (decks, stairs, porches) 237
Minneapolis, MN Under 30 in and "constructed a remote distance from the house so as to not provide access to any door"; zoning approval still needed 692 (decks, porches, stoops) 166
Columbus, OH Never: "Build a deck" needs a permit and plan review 624 (decks and patios) 51
Saint Paul, MN 30 in or less, not attached to a structure with frost footings, not a landing at an exterior door 442 (decks, porches, steps) —
Arlington County, VA Not stated; deck modifications are treated as additions, with extra drawings over 4 ft high 402 (decks and porches) 61
Naperville, IL Never: "Building or replacing a deck" needs a permit 348 (decks, pergolas, gazebos) 169
Bellevue, WA Less than 30 in above the ground; over that, "a permit with plan review" 173 (decks, patio covers) 205

Six more departments, without deck counts in our file: Cary permits "All decks regardless of size or height". Seattle exempts platforms "less than 18 inches above grade". Austin and San Diego exempt decks up to 200 sq ft and 30 inches that are not attached and do not serve an exit. Palo Alto requires a permit for any deck over 30 inches, attached, with steps, or "part of the required exit path". Citrus Heights lists "DECKS" as permit work without an exemption.

What happens if you skip it

  • Colorado Springs area: Pikes Peak Regional issues a stop work order until the permit is obtained and files a "Certificate of Alleged Non-compliance" against the property with the county Clerk and Recorder.
  • Seattle: fines of "up to $500 per day" for building without a permit.

What a deck permit buys is inspections: Minneapolis checks setbacks, the depth and size of footings, framing and its connections, then guards, stairs and handrails. More in permit vs no permit.

Who pulls it

The deck builder, or you. Minneapolis issues deck permits to a Minnesota licensed building contractor or to the owner on the Hennepin County property record. Pikes Peak Regional allows homeowner permits only for your own primary residence and only if you do the work, and says "It is illegal for a homeowner to obtain a permit for a contractor hired to do the work for you." Our hiring a deck builder guide covers the licence check.

How long it takes

The usual deck permit closed in 51 days in Columbus and 54 in Colorado Springs, but 166 in Minneapolis and 237 in San Francisco. Finishing is not guaranteed: 96.3% of Arlington County's deck permits a year or more old reached a final, against 30.5% of Saint Paul's. Hold back part of the last payment until the final passes.

Check it in five minutes

  1. Measure the height from the ground to the walking surface at its highest point; 30 inches is the line in most cities, 18 in Seattle.
  2. Check your city's exempt list for size, attachment and exit-door conditions, and zoning setbacks (Saint Paul applies them over 24 inches).
  3. If you are building low to skip a permit, compare a deck with a patio first.

See every Colorado Springs deck builder by permits filed →

What this does not tell you

We read 14 departments' rules. Our deck counts include porches, patio covers or pergolas in some cities, as labelled. A low deck built under an exemption leaves no record, so our counts understate how many decks were built.

How we know this

Rules are quoted from the pages under Sources, read 22 October 2026. Permit counts, usual days to final and finished shares come from each city's permit file over the three years ending September 2026. "Usual days" is the median from issue to final inspection; "reached a final" counts permits a year or more old.

Numbers come from Pikes Peak Regional Building Department permits inside Colorado Springs city limits; San Francisco DBI building permits on one- and two-family homes, with the contractor from the city's permit contacts file; City of Minneapolis construction permits (CCS); City of Columbus Building & Zoning Services permits on 1-, 2- and 3-family homes (the city's Accela permit layer); City of Saint Paul building and trade permits (the City's old approved-permits file up to June 2025, and the City's PAULIE permit system since September 2025), with the contractor named on each permit; Arlington County, VA building and trade permits; City of Naperville building permits (the current permit system plus the city's older records); City of Bellevue permits on single-family homes and condo units, data through October 17, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.

Questions

  • How big can a deck be without a permit?

    Where low decks are exempt, the usual limits are 200 square feet and 30 inches above grade, freestanding and not serving an exit door: that is the rule in Austin, San Diego and Pikes Peak Regional (Colorado Springs). Bellevue sets only the 30-inch height limit. Seattle's limit is lower, 18 inches. Cary, Naperville and Columbus permit every deck.

  • Do I need a permit to replace an old deck the same size?

    Usually yes. Minneapolis says deck projects need a permit 'even if you are tearing down an old deck and reconstructing one the same size', and Naperville requires one for 'Building or replacing a deck'. Austin exempts 'A non-structural exterior deck repair that is limited to the existing deck boards'; new railings are not included.

  • Does an attached deck always need a permit?

    In most cities, yes. The exemptions are written for freestanding decks: Minneapolis and Saint Paul exclude decks attached to a structure with frost footings, and Palo Alto requires a permit for any deck 'attached to the building'. Bellevue and Seattle are exceptions: their rules set only a height limit (30 and 18 inches).

  • How long does a deck permit take?

    The usual deck permit reached its final inspection in 51 days in Columbus, 54 in Colorado Springs and 61 in Arlington County. Minneapolis asks for at least 24 hours' notice for each inspection: footings, framing and final.

  • Can I pull my own deck permit?

    Often, for your own home. Minneapolis issues deck permits to the owner shown on Hennepin County property records, or to a Minnesota licensed building contractor. Pikes Peak Regional issues homeowner permits only for a primary residence you live in and only for work you do yourself.

Build your own list

Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.

Colorado Springs deck, patio cover & pergolaSan Francisco decks, stairs & porchesMinneapolis deck, porch & stoopColumbus, OH deck & patioSaint Paul deck, porch & stepsArlington, VA deck & porchNaperville deck, pergola & gazeboBellevue deck & patio cover

Related guides

For one city

All guides →

Sources
  1. Permit Not Required — Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (accessed 2026-10-22)
  2. Projects eligible for an Over-the-Counter (OTC) permit — San Francisco DBI (accessed 2026-10-22)
  3. Decks and Building Permits, 1 & 2 Family Dwellings — City of Minneapolis (accessed 2026-10-22)
  4. Typical Residential Projects (BA 3/26) — City of Columbus, OH (accessed 2026-10-22)
  5. When is a permit required? — City of Saint Paul DSI (accessed 2026-10-22)
  6. Residential permits — Arlington County, VA (accessed 2026-10-22)
  7. Guide to Building Permits (rev. 10/31/2022) — City of Naperville, IL (accessed 2026-10-22)
  8. Work requiring permits — City of Bellevue, WA (accessed 2026-10-22)
  9. Residential Permits FAQ — Town of Cary, NC (accessed 2026-10-22)
  10. Do You Need a Permit? — Seattle SDCI (accessed 2026-10-22)
  11. Work Exempt from Building Permits — City of Austin Development Services (accessed 2026-10-22)
  12. When is a Permit Required? — City of San Diego Development Services (accessed 2026-10-22)
  13. Work Exempt from Permit (rev. 05/20/2015) — City of Palo Alto, CA (accessed 2026-10-22)
  14. Homeowner Permits — Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (accessed 2026-10-22)
  15. Construction Without a Permit — Seattle SDCI (accessed 2026-10-22)