What's Required in Milwaukee
- A building permit is required for any attached deck and any freestanding deck more than 2 feet above grade.
- Plans must show size, height, beams and spans, joists, decking, footings, stairs, guards and the project cost.
- Guards are required where the deck is 24 inches or more above ground, per the State of Wisconsin building code.
- Decks more than 2 feet above grade need skirting unless more than 30 feet from every lot line or screened.
- A deck on a one- or two-family lot may not exceed 1,000 square feet.
- Decks in the front yard must meet the house's front and side setbacks unless they are under 12 inches high.
- A new door to the deck must be included on the deck permit and reviewed as a residential alteration.
- Hired builders need a City Home Improvement Contractor License and state Dwelling Contractor credentials.
Do you need a permit to build a deck in Milwaukee?
Almost always. MCO 239-12 requires a permit for any deck attached to the house and for any freestanding deck more than 2 feet above grade, and the Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) checklist simply lists Deck: Yes. The only decks the code leaves out are freestanding platforms 2 feet high or less; if yours is one, call the Permit and Development Center at (414) 286-8210 to confirm before you skip the permit, because DNS's handout says plans are required for every new or replacement deck or porch.
Replacing deck boards and floor boards on an existing deck needs no permit, except on historic houses or in historic districts. Rebuilding framing, footings or stairs, enlarging the deck or adding a patio door is permit work; a new door goes on the deck permit and is reviewed as a residential alteration.
How much does a deck permit cost in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee prices decks off the job cost. The building permit is 1.6% of the cost of construction with a $150 minimum, the deck plan review fee is a flat $50, a 1.6% training and technology surcharge is added to both, and every permit carries a $20 processing fee.
- $8,000 ground-level deck: 1.6% is $128, so the $150 minimum applies. $150 + $50 = $200, plus $3.20 surcharge and $20 = $223.20.
- $25,000 raised deck with stairs: $400 + $50 = $450, plus $7.20 and $20 = $477.20.
Any deck costing under $9,375 pays the $150 minimum. The fee schedule also says the city assessor bills service charges for remodeling and additions at permitting ($250 per dwelling unit for residential alterations under MCO 81-6); whether that applies to a deck is not spelled out, so ask when your fees are assessed.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Attached deck at any height | Building permit, 1.6% of cost ($150 min) + $50 | MCO 239-12; DNS deck handout |
| Freestanding deck more than 2 ft above grade | Building permit | MCO 239-12 |
| Freestanding deck 2 ft or less above grade | Confirm with DNS | Not named in 239-12; DNS checklist says Deck: Yes |
| Replacing deck boards only | No permit | DNS homeowner list; historic properties excepted |
| Deck 24 in or more above ground | Guards required | State of Wisconsin building code |
| Deck more than 2 ft high | Skirting required unless an exception applies | MCO 295-505-3-h-4 |
| Deck in front of the house | Must meet house setbacks unless under 12 in | DNS deck handout |
What will the plan examiner check?
Bring three copies of a certified survey or scaled site plan and three sets of scaled plans showing the deck's size and height, beam sizes and spans, joist size and spacing, decking, footing size and placement, stairs and guards, plus the cost. Guards are required at 24 inches above ground; that is the State of Wisconsin figure (Uniform Dwelling Code), which DNS applies, and DNS points applicants to UDC Appendix B for technical details. Frost footings are optional for freestanding decks under the city code.
Zoning, MCO 295-505-3, sorts decks by height: up to 1 foot, 1 to 3 feet, 3 to 7 feet and over 7 feet, each with its own setbacks. A deck on a one- or two-family lot may not exceed 1,000 square feet. Decks more than 2 feet up need skirting unless they are more than 30 feet from every property line or screened by a fence or plantings. In front of the house, a deck or stoop up to 3 feet high may sit in the front or side street setback if it is 25 square feet or smaller, and DNS adds that decks under 12 inches typically need not meet front setbacks at all.
How to Get a Deck Permit in Milwaukee
Confirm the permit trigger
Attached decks and freestanding decks over 2 feet always need a permit; board-only replacement does not. Call (414) 286-8210 if in doubt.
Draw the deck
Prepare three sets of scaled plans with framing, footings, stairs and guards, and three copies of a survey or site plan showing the deck's location.
Submit for plan review
Submit through the Land Management System or use walk-in review at the Permit and Development Center, 809 N. Broadway. Pay the $50 plan review fee first.
Pay the permit fee
Once approved, pay 1.6% of the job cost ($150 minimum) plus the surcharge and $20 processing fee, and post the permit at the front of the property.
Schedule inspections
Start work and have an inspection within 180 days; the permit expires after two years.