What's Required in Fort Worth
- A building permit is required for any platform, walk or deck more than 6 inches above grade.
- Decks are not allowed in front yards or a corner lot's projected front yard.
- Decks must meet the side and rear setbacks of your zoning district.
- Submit the recorded plat, a site plan with setbacks and easements, and construction drawings.
- Footing or pier work must be inspected before concrete is placed.
- A roofed deck attached to the house is permitted as a residential addition.
- The applicant must be a registered building contractor or an owner-occupant with a homestead permit.
Do you need a permit to build a deck in Fort Worth?
Yes, unless the deck is almost at ground level. The city's residential permitting page says all platforms, walks and decks more than 6 inches above grade require a building permit. Section 105.2 of the Fort Worth Administrative Code exempts only platforms, walks and decks not more than 6 inches above grade and not over a basement or a story below. In Fort Worth, a typical raised backyard deck needs a permit even when it is only a step or two up.
If you roof the deck and attach it to the house, it becomes a covered patio. The city's permit guide treats an attached covered porch or patio cover as a residential addition.
How much does a deck permit cost in Fort Worth?
Fort Worth does not base residential fees on job value. Texas Local Government Code 214.907 forbids it. Under Fee Ordinance 26-28781, effective October 1, 2026, accessory construction at an existing house is charged from the Group U square-footage table:
- Up to 175 sq ft: $61.01.
- Over 175 sq ft: $102.00 for the first 175 sq ft plus $0.20 for each additional square foot.
- Every permit: a $33.08 application fee and a $16.87 technology fee.
Worked examples: a 12x14 deck (168 sq ft) is $61.01 + $33.08 + $16.87 = $110.96. A 300 sq ft deck is $102.00 + (125 x $0.20) = $127.00, plus $49.95, for $176.95. A 500 sq ft deck is $102.00 + (325 x $0.20) = $167.00, plus $49.95, for $216.95. No plan review deposit is charged for accessory structures at a house. Lights or outlets on the deck are electrical work with its own permit.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Ground-level patio deck, 6 inches or less above grade | No building permit | Exempt if not over a basement or story below |
| 12x14 deck two steps up | Building permit, $110.96 | Over 6 inches above grade; up to 175 sq ft is $61.01 plus fees |
| 300 sq ft raised deck off the back door | Building permit, $176.95 | $102 + $0.20 per sq ft over 175, plus fees |
| 500 sq ft deck with stairs | Building permit, $216.95 | Same table; footing and framing inspections |
| Roofed deck attached to the house | Residential addition permit | An attached covered patio is permitted as an addition |
| Deck in a corner lot's projected front yard | Not allowed without a variance | Decks cannot be placed in the projected front yard |
| Deck closer to a lot line than the district allows | Board of Adjustment variance, $591 | Owner-occupied residential variance fee |
Where can a deck go on a Fort Worth lot?
Placement rules depend on your zoning district. Every residential lot has required yards around its edges that must stay open. On a corner lot, the side facing the cross street is a projected front yard. The Nuts & Bolts brochure says fences, decks, additions and sheds cannot be placed there. Board of Adjustment agendas treat a deck as a non-habitable accessory structure. Those cannot sit in front yards and must otherwise meet the district's side and rear setbacks. For your lot's setbacks, see Chapter 4 of the Zoning Ordinance, or call zoning staff at 817-392-8028.
What inspections does a deck need?
Expect a stakeout inspection to confirm the location, a footing or pier inspection before concrete goes in, a framing inspection and a final inspection. Work that will be covered must stay exposed until it is approved. If an inspector arrives and the work is not ready, the reinspection fee is $66.15.
Who can pull a deck permit?
A building contractor registered with the city can pull it ($178 a year), or you can as an owner-occupant with a homestead permit. Apply in Accela Citizen Access.
How to Get a Deck Permit in Fort Worth
Confirm the height and location
Measure how high the deck will sit. If it is over 6 inches, check that its footprint stays out of front and projected front yards and meets your district's setbacks.
Prepare plat, site plan and drawings
Show the deck's size, its distance to each property line, the footings and the framing, together with the recorded plat.
Apply in Accela Citizen Access
A registered contractor, or a homestead owner who enters Homestead in the contractor lookup, submits the residential permit online.
Pay the square-footage fee
Pay the Group U fee plus the $33.08 application fee and $16.87 technology fee. First review comments come within 7 business days.
Schedule inspections
Call for the stakeout, footing, framing and final inspections in Accela. A permit expires after 180 days without an approved inspection.