What's Required in Sacramento
- A deck is exempt only if it is detached, 200 square feet or less, 30 inches or lower at every point and not at the required exit door.
- Any deck attached to the house needs a building permit regardless of size.
- Guards at least 42 inches high are required where the deck is more than 30 inches above the surface below.
- Guard openings must not pass a 4-inch sphere.
- Footings must be at least 12 inches below undisturbed ground.
- Plans must show ledger, post-to-beam and post-to-footing connections, spans and setbacks to property lines.
- Outside historic districts, decks not visible from the street can use SPDR exemption form CDD-0159 ($132).
- Building permit exemptions do not apply in design review or preservation districts or at landmarks.
Do you need a permit to build a deck in Sacramento?
Usually yes. The City of Sacramento Building Division exempts a deck only when it passes all four tests: no more than 200 square feet, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to the house, and not serving the required exit door under the California Residential Code. Fail any one and you need a permit. A deck bolted to the house with a ledger always needs one, because the Division’s accessory structures handout (CDD-0417) requires a permit for any structure attached to the main dwelling, regardless of size. In a design review or preservation district or on a landmark property, the exemption does not apply at all.
How much does a deck permit cost in Sacramento?
Deck permits are priced on valuation, the contract price or the ICC value, whichever is higher, using the 2026 residential fee schedule (CDD-0245, revised July 12, 2026). An attached deck is filed as a Residential Addition. Every valuation permit adds a technology surcharge of 10 percent of permit plus plan review, a General Plan fee of $2.60 per $1,000, a green building fee of $1 per $25,000 and a strong motion fee of valuation x 0.00013; contractor applicants also pay a business operations tax of valuation x 0.0004.
- Detached deck over 30 inches, $8,000, owner-builder: permit $291 + plan review $122 + technology $41.30 + General Plan $20.80 + green $1 + strong motion $1.04 = $477.14.
- Attached deck, $15,000, contractor: permit $392 + plan review $165 + technology $55.70 + General Plan $39 + green $1 + strong motion $1.95 + operations tax $6 = $660.65.
Planning adds its share. The Site Plan and Design Review exemption form for decks (CDD-0159) carries a $132 fee, and the fee sheet lists Planning review on proposed new projects at 15 percent of building plan review, $263 minimum, which takes the $15,000 example to about $1,056. The city’s fee list for Residential Addition permits also names Fire Department inspection, plan review and administrative fees; if Fire is routed on your deck, add $294 + $260 + $176. Ask at intake.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Freestanding deck, 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or lower, not at the exit door | No building permit | City exempt list; all four conditions must be met |
| Deck over 200 sq ft, even at ground level | Building permit | Valuation-based fee schedule |
| Any deck more than 30 in above grade at any point | Building permit | Guards at least 42 in high, 4 in sphere rule |
| Deck attached to the house | Building permit (Residential Addition) | CDD-0417: attached structures need a permit regardless of size |
| Deck that serves the required exit door | Building permit | Exemption excludes decks at the R311.2 exit door |
| New deck visible from the street | Site Plan and Design Review | CDD-0159 exemption only for decks not visible from the street |
| Deck in a design review or preservation district | Building permit and Planning review | Building exemptions do not apply there |
What will the inspector look for?
The Division’s residential code sheet (CDD-0250) requires guards wherever a walking surface is more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below, at least 42 inches high, with openings that will not pass a 4-inch sphere, and footings at least 12 inches below undisturbed ground. Plans need ledger attachment and waterproofing details, post-to-beam and post-to-footing connections, member spans and setbacks to property lines. Plan review for decks is scheduled at 5 working days per cycle. If your lot is outside city limits, Sacramento County’s Building Permits and Inspection Division issues deck permits through its own portal.
How to Get a Deck Permit in Sacramento
Run the four exemption tests
Check size, height above grade, attachment and the exit door; if any one fails, you need a permit.
Check zoning and design review
Confirm setbacks for your zone and whether the deck is visible from the street, which decides between form CDD-0159 and full design review.
Draw the plans
Prepare a site plan, framing plan and details for footings, ledger flashing, guards and connections per CDD-0417.
Submit through the Public Permit Portal
Upload the application, owner-builder form if you are the builder, Planning form and plans; decks are reviewed in 5-working-day cycles.
Pay fees and call inspections
Pay the invoiced permit, plan review and Planning fees, then schedule footing, framing and final inspections before covering work.