"Do I really need a permit for a deck?" We hear it a lot. The short answer is almost always yes. The good news is that if you hire the right builder, you shouldn't have to do much of the work yourself.
Here's how the process generally works for decks in Jefferson County and the surrounding area.
Why do decks need permits?
A deck is a structure that holds people in the air, often attached to your house. Permits and inspections exist to make sure the footings, framing, connections, guards, and stairs are built to code. Skipping the permit can also cause problems when you sell the house, since unpermitted structures can come up in an inspection or appraisal.
Who issues the permit?
It depends on where you live. Unincorporated Jefferson County is permitted by the county. Cities like Golden, Lakewood, and Littleton run their own building departments with their own submittal requirements. The first step is figuring out which jurisdiction you're in, and we do that for every project.
What goes into a deck permit application?
Requirements vary by jurisdiction, but a typical deck submittal includes:
A site plan showing where the deck sits on the property and its distance to property lines
Framing plans showing footings, posts, beams, joists, and their sizes and spacing
Connection details, including how the deck attaches to the house
Guard and stair details
Material specs, especially for homes in a WUI area, where fire-rated decking is required
Plan check reviews the submittal and may come back with comments or questions, like a request for structural calculations on a particular connection. That's normal. We respond to them as part of the job.
What inspections happen during the build?
Most deck permits include a few inspections at key stages. Typically that's the footings before concrete, the framing before decking covers it up, and a final when the deck is complete. Your inspector may handle it a little differently, but the idea is to check the parts that get hidden as the build goes on.
How long does permitting take?
It varies with the jurisdiction and the time of year. We're usually booked three to four weeks out, and design and permitting happen during that window, so the timeline keeps moving while you wait for your build date.
What do I have to do?
With us, not much. We handle:
Confirming your jurisdiction and whether you're in a WUI area
Drawing the plans and details
Submitting the permit and responding to plan check
Scheduling and meeting the inspectors
You'll need to approve the design and sign off on a few things, and that's about it.
If you're planning a deck in Jefferson County, Golden, or the Denver metro, book a design consultation. We'll handle the permit so you can focus on picking out the grill.
