Quick answer
Most building departments want three things for a deck permit: a site plan showing where the deck sits, a framing plan with joist, beam and post sizes and spacing, and details for the footings, ledger attachment, guards and stairs. Simple decks can follow your department’s prescriptive deck guide. Decks that are high, large, carry a hot tub or go beyond the guide’s tables need an engineer.
Decks are one of the most common permits homeowners apply for, and one of the most common to be sent back for missing information. Here is exactly what to draw.
The drawings a deck permit needs
1. Site plan
Property lines, the house, the deck’s size and location, and the distance from the deck to each property line. Note anything nearby such as a pool, easement or septic area.
2. Framing plan
A top view showing every joist, beam and post with sizes, spacing and spans, plus the decking material and its direction. If you use composite decking, note the manufacturer’s maximum joist spacing.
3. Footing details
Footing diameter and depth. Footings must reach below your area’s frost depth and bear on undisturbed soil.
4. Ledger attachment
If the deck attaches to the house, show the ledger board, the fastener type and spacing (lag screws or through-bolts, never nails alone), and the flashing that keeps water out of the wall. Ledger failures are a leading cause of deck collapses, so reviewers look closely here.
5. Guards, stairs and lateral connection
Decks more than about 30 inches above grade need guards, typically at least 36 inches high for homes, with openings small enough that a 4-inch sphere cannot pass through. Show stair rise, run, width and handrail. Many departments also ask for the hardware that ties the deck to the house against lateral movement.
Can I use a prescriptive deck guide?
Many departments accept the American Wood Council’s prescriptive deck guide or their own local version. If your deck fits its tables for size, height, spans and loads, you can draw it yourself following the guide. If it does not fit, the deck needs engineering.
When a deck needs an engineer
- A hot tub, heavy planters or an outdoor kitchen on the deck
- Second-story decks or decks high off the ground
- Spans, cantilevers or post heights beyond the prescriptive tables
- Decks over a roof, a basement or living space below
- Attachment to brick veneer, a cantilevered floor or an unusual house wall
- High wind, heavy snow or sloping ground
What stamped deck plans cost
If you draw the deck yourself, our review and stamp service starts at $249: we check your drawings, size the members, add the missing details and seal the set. If you want us to draw it, engineered plans start at $599. See pricing.
What to send us
- Deck size and height, and a sketch of the shape
- Photos of the wall where it attaches
- Decking material and any hot tub or heavy loads
- The city or county
Common questions
Do I need a permit for a deck?
Usually yes. Many codes exempt only small, low decks that are not attached to the house and do not serve a required exit door. Check your local rules before building.
Can I draw my own deck plans for a permit?
Yes, if the deck fits your department’s prescriptive guide. Clear, dimensioned drawings following the five items above are usually accepted.
Does a hot tub deck need an engineer?
Almost always. A filled hot tub with people in it is far heavier than the loads deck guides assume.
How deep do deck footings need to be?
Below your local frost depth, which ranges from a few inches in the South to several feet in the North. Your building department publishes the required depth.