What's Required in Minneapolis
- A building permit is required for decks more than 30 inches above grade, attached to the house or part of an accessible route.
- Submit a scaled site plan showing the deck and its distance to property lines and adjacent structures.
- Locate property lines with a survey or found property markers; existing fences cannot be used.
- Plans and a section drawing must show footings, posts, beams, joists, ledger attachment, guards and stairs.
- Footings must reach 3-1/2 feet in Hennepin County's frost Zone II unless an engineer justifies less.
- The ledger board must be at least 2x8 and no smaller than the deck joists.
- Guards at least 36 inches tall are required where the deck is more than 30 inches above grade.
- Posts, joists, beams and decking must be treated wood, naturally decay-resistant wood or approved composite.
Do you need a permit for a deck in Minneapolis?
Usually, yes. Construction Code Services requires a building permit when a deck or platform is more than 30 inches above grade, attached to the main structure, or part of an accessible route. The only decks that skip the permit are the ones Minnesota Rules 1300.0120 exempts: not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, not attached to a structure with frost footings, and not part of an accessible route. The city's exempt-work list adds that the deck must not serve the main entrance to the home. So a low, freestanding platform in the yard is exempt; a deck bolted to the house is not, even if it sits a foot off the ground.
How much does a deck permit cost in Minneapolis?
The fee is based on the value of the job, labor and materials included. Under the city's building permit schedule a job between $2,001 and $25,000 pays $104.20 for the first $2,000 plus $20.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction. Because decks are reviewed from plans, add a plan review fee of 65% of the permit fee, plus the state surcharge of 0.0005 times the value.
- A $3,000 deck: $104.20 + $20.60 = $124.80, plus $81.12 plan review and $1.50 surcharge = $207.42.
- An $8,000 deck: $104.20 + 6 x $20.60 = $227.80, plus $148.07 plan review and $4.00 surcharge = $379.87.
- A $20,000 deck: $104.20 + 18 x $20.60 = $475.00, plus $308.75 plan review and $10.00 surcharge = $793.75.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Freestanding platform 30 in or less, not at the main entrance | No building permit | Minn. R. 1300.0120 subp. 4 and city exempt list |
| Deck more than 30 in above grade | Building permit | Plans, site plan, footing and framing details |
| Low deck attached to the house | Building permit | Attachment alone triggers the permit |
| Deck serving the main entrance or an accessible route | Building permit | Not covered by the exemption |
| Rebuilding framing, posts or footings, or enlarging | Building permit | Removing structural supports is not an ordinary repair |
| Swapping deck boards on sound framing | Confirm with Construction Code Services | May qualify as an ordinary repair |
| Starting before the permit is issued | Permit plus penalty | The city may double your fees |
What does Minneapolis check on a deck?
The city's deck handout lists the submittal: a scaled site plan showing the deck, the house and the distance to property lines, plus plans and a section drawing with footing size and depth, beams, joists, ledger attachment and guards. Property lines must come from a survey or from found property markers; existing fences cannot be used. Footings in Hennepin County must reach the Zone II frost depth of 3-1/2 feet unless an engineer competent in soil mechanics justifies less, and round footings can be no less than 14 inches wide. The ledger must be at least a 2x8. Guards are required on open sides more than 30 inches above grade, must be at least 36 inches tall, and cannot let a 4-inch sphere pass. Stairs with four or more risers need a graspable handrail.
Zoning also reviews the deck. In the permitted-obstructions table only balconies, decks and patios up to 50 square feet may project as much as 5 feet into a required yard, so most decks must stay out of required yards altogether. Expect about 15 business days for the first plan review and five for each resubmittal.
How to Get a Deck Permit in Minneapolis
Draw the site plan and deck plans
Prepare a scaled site plan, framing plan and section drawing following the city's wood deck guidelines.
Email the building permit application
Send the application with the job valuation to [email protected]; owner applicants include a valid photo ID.
Upload plans in ProjectDox
Use the ProjectDox invitation to upload drawings; the development coordinator checks the submittal is complete.
Plan review and payment
Construction Code Services and Zoning review the plans in about 15 business days; pay the permit fee when it is issued.
Schedule inspections
Coordinate the inspections your permit lists, including footings before concrete, and pass the required final inspection.