What's Required in Dallas
- A deck is exempt only if it is freestanding, 200 square feet or less, and no more than 30 inches above grade at any point.
- An exempt deck must also stay clear of the overhead service drop and must not serve the required exit door.
- Every deck attached to the house needs a permit.
- Residential fees are set by square footage, not job value, under Texas Local Government Code 214.907.
- Submit plans showing the deck size, height, framing and its location relative to property lines and the house.
- Contractors must be registered with the City of Dallas before they can obtain a permit.
- Exterior work in a conservation or historic district needs a work review form or Certificate of Appropriateness first.
- An issued permit expires after 120 days without activity and is active for up to 2 years.
Does a deck need a permit in Dallas?
Most do. Chapter 52 Section 301.2.1 of the Dallas City Code exempts a platform or deck on single-family or duplex property only when it meets every one of these conditions: it does not exceed 200 square feet, it is not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, it is not attached to a dwelling, it does not violate the clearance of overhead service drop conductors, and it does not serve the exit door the residential code requires. The City Council rewrote that item in Ordinance 33099, effective May 23, 2025, when the residential code was expanded to buildings of up to eight units; the deck conditions stayed the same.
So a small freestanding platform in the yard is fine without a permit, but any deck bolted to the house needs one at any size or height, and so does a freestanding deck larger than 200 square feet or higher than 30 inches. A separate one-story detached patio cover under 200 square feet is also exempt; a cover attached to the house is not on the list.
How much does a deck permit cost in Dallas?
Texas Local Government Code 214.907 bars value-based residential fees, so Dallas charges by square footage. Chapter 52 Section 303.2.1.1 puts new work on single-family property on Table A-I ($1.07 per square foot up to 700 square feet) and alterations or repairs on Table B-II ($181 per dwelling unit). The fee schedule effective July 1, 2025 adds a $125 inspection fee per trade and a $15 technology fee. The city publishes no deck-specific line, so these are estimates:
- New 300 sq ft deck: 300 x $1.07 = $321, plus $125 and $15 = $461.
- Rebuilding an existing deck in place: $181 + $125 + $15 = $321.
- If the plans examiner performs a plan check: add the residential plan review fee, $0.046 per square foot or $577, whichever is greater, so $1,038 for the new deck.
- In a planned development, specific-use-permit or deed-restricted area: add 10 percent of the permit fee.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Freestanding deck, 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or lower | No permit | Chapter 52 Sec. 301.2.1, item 13 |
| Any deck attached to the house | Building permit in DallasNow | Attached decks are outside the exemption |
| Freestanding deck over 200 sq ft | Building permit in DallasNow | Table A-I: $1.07 per sq ft up to 700 sq ft |
| Any deck higher than 30 in at any point | Building permit in DallasNow | Height is measured above grade at any point |
| Deck landing at the required exit door | Building permit in DallasNow | Exemption excludes decks serving that door |
| Deck under the overhead electric service drop | Building permit in DallasNow | Exemption requires service-drop clearance |
| Detached patio cover under 200 sq ft | No permit | Chapter 52 Sec. 301.2.1, item 3 |
Who can pull a deck permit in Dallas?
Contractors must be registered with the city to obtain permits. The homeowner exemption lets an owner living in the house as a homestead act as the contractor for patio covers and interior remodeling, but it says a homeowner permit does not allow you to add on to an existing home. The form does not mention decks, so ask Planning & Development before filing an attached deck as an owner-builder. In a conservation or historic district, exterior work needs a Conservation District work review form or a Certificate of Appropriateness first.
How to Get a Deck Permit in Dallas
Test the exemption
Check all five conditions: freestanding, 200 square feet or less, 30 inches or lower, clear of the service drop, and not at the required exit door.
Draw the plans
Prepare a site plan and framing drawings showing deck size, height above grade and attachment to the house.
Apply in DallasNow
File the residential permit application online, list your registered contractor, upload the plans and pay the $15 technology fee.
Pay permit and review fees
DallasNow invoices the square-footage permit fee, inspection fee and any plan review fee; the permit issues after payment.
Pass inspections
Schedule footing, framing and final inspections in DallasNow; each failed inspection adds a $75 reinspection fee.