How Much Does a Deck Permit Cost? 30 Cities Compared

Short answer: the city's own worked example for a typical deck that needs a permit runs from $80 in Louisville to $2,691 in San Diego across the 30 largest U.S. cities we cover, and the median is $287. Ten are under $200: Albuquerque, Baltimore, Fort Worth, Kansas City, Louisville, Miami, New York, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, St. Louis. Nine are $200 to $399: Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Jacksonville, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Tucson. Seven are $400 to $999: Cincinnati, Dallas, Indianapolis, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle. Four are $1,000 or more, all in California: Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose. Twenty cities price the permit on the deck's value, five charge a flat line, four price it by square footage and San Jose bills hours, and nine add a separate zoning or planning fee. Whether your deck needs a permit at all depends on its height, size and attachment; for that half of the question see Do You Need a Permit to Build a Deck? 30 Cities Compared. This page covers the other half: what the city charges once your deck does need one. We read each city's fee schedule, exemption list and licensing rule and recorded the city's own reading.

10 / 9 / 7 / 4cities whose own permitted-deck example is under $200 / $200 to $399 / $400 to $999 / $1,000 or more

$80–$2,691the page's own total for a deck that needs a permit, Louisville to San Diego; the median is $287

9cities charge a separate zoning or planning fee on top of the building permit: Portland, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Albuquerque and Long Beach

20cities price the deck permit on the job's value; 5 charge a flat line, 4 price by square footage and San Jose bills hours

Every row links to the city page that quotes the rule, so you can read the source language yourself. The table sorts by any column.

All 30 cities

City	Permitted deck	The city's own example	How the fee is priced	Zoning or planning fee on top	Who may pull it	Schedule the city cites, and notes
Albuquerque, NM	Under $200	About $126 for an $8,000 attached deck 36 in above grade with stairs: Table 112-A $153.25 x 0.50 = $76.63 permit + $49.81 plan review = $126.44, before the zoning review fee. A $15,000 deck is about $207.	UAC Table 112-A valuation fee times the 0.50 modifier for one- and two-family homes ($23.50 minimum), plus 65% plan review paid at submittal.	A zoning review fee comes on top: the fee handout lists $25 for buildings under 4,000 sq ft, and plan review is paid together with zoning and hydrology fees. It is not in the $126.	Permits go to the owner-occupant under a homeowner's permit (notarized affidavit, one per owner in 12 months) or a New Mexico GB-2 or GB-98 general contractor; a rental must use a licensed contractor.	2024 Uniform Administrative Code Table 112-A; UAC 109.2.1; Building Safety fee handout Platforms not more than 30 in above adjacent grade and not over a story below are exempt. A deck with a light or outlet adds an electrical permit: $47 administrative charge plus $1.50 per outlet. Repairs under $1,000 of valuation are exempt.
Baltimore, MD	Under $200 ⚠	$183 for a $15,000 rear deck attached to the house: $150 permit + $8 tax + $25 application fee. A $4,000 landing is $78 and a $25,000 two-level deck $288.	Section 109 has no deck line; the page applies the alteration rate for exterior work of $10 per $1,000 of cost, $50 minimum, plus the $25 application fee and the 5% Building Code Permit Tax.	No zoning fee stated. Table 15-601 does not name decks, so Zoning classifies the deck from the site plan.	The owner may apply, but DHCD says construction work on one- and two-family dwellings requires an MHIC-licensed contractor.	BFRCBC 109.6.1(c), 109.7 and 109.5.7; Part X R105.2 items 9 to 10 Not Adopted The model small-deck exemption is not adopted, so every deck needs a permit. At least 1 GFCI receptacle is required on all decks, under an electrical permit at $6 per circuit. Rooftop decks need sealed drawings and Planning design review.
Charlotte, NC	$200 to $399	About $249 for a contractor-built $8,000 deck: County permit $133.65 ($120.65 valuation fee + $3 technology charge + $10 Homeowner Recovery Fund) + City LDIRL review $115. A $30,000 deck is about $517.	Mecklenburg County LUESA valuation table: $59.70 for the first $3,000 plus $12.19 per $1,000 (a $15,000 deck pays $205.98).	A City LDIRL review is a separate $115 ($65 zoning + $50 stormwater), paid at the 3-day gateway; the County will not approve until the City has.	Owner-occupants with their name on the deed may build with a County homeowner permit through AccelaMeck: $60 base plus $45 per inspection trip instead of the table. A general contractor license is needed only at $40,000 or more.	LUESA Fee Ordinance valuation table; City FY2026 LDIRL fees; G.S. 160D-1110 Every deck needs a County building permit, whatever its size. Replacing only pickets, railings, stair treads and decking boards is exempt. An owner-builder under $40,000 pays $195 plus $3 for the three standard inspections.
Chicago, IL	$200 to $399 ⚠	$300 for a new deck, ramp or exterior stairs no more than 6 ft above the ground: a plan-based permit per structure that needs drawings and a zoning review. A new deck higher than 6 ft is priced by an area formula that gives about $21 for a 12x16, so the $602 minimum applies.	Flat row in the 2026 stand-alone table (Table 14A-12-1204.2): $300 per structure for a new deck no more than 6 ft high; repairs are $75, $150 or $300.	Zoning review is part of the plan-based filing; no separate zoning fee is stated.	An individual may act as general contractor on their own primary residence once per calendar year with Form 401 and an ID. Electrical work needs a Chicago-licensed electrical contractor.	Table 14A-12-1204.2 as amended by SO2025-0021719; Table 14A-12-1204.3(4) Group R; DOB list of work not requiring a permit A new deck needs drawings by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer. In-kind board, tread or picket swaps are exempt, and so is an in-kind rebuild of a deck up to 6 ft high with a landing of 50 sq ft or less at a home up to 4 stories. Drawing-based applications pay a $600 non-refundable deposit at submission.
Cincinnati, OH	$400 to $999	About $476 for a $12,000 composite deck: $380 permit + $49 processing fee + about $47 in surcharges. A $5,000 deck is about $280 and a $20,000 two-level deck about $665.	Valuation schedule effective 2026-07-01 for 1-3 family homes with plans ($203 at $5,000, $380 at $12,000, $550 at $20,000) plus a $49 processing fee.	No zoning fee stated. The surcharges include 5% for planning.	Owners of one- to three-family homes may build their own deck if they do the work personally and will live there at least a year, with a notarized statement; a hired builder needs the city's $131.25 annual contractor registration.	Building permit schedule effective 2026-07-01; Cincinnati Building Code 1101-17; Residential Code of Ohio Surcharges are 3% technology, 1% training, 1% financial recovery, 5% planning and 1% state, about $11 per $100. Decks under 400 sq ft qualify for same-day Tier 1 review. Deck lighting needs a separate permit from IBI at $121.20.
Dallas, TX	$400 to $999 ⚠	About $461 for a new 300 sq ft deck, which the page calls an estimate: 300 x $1.07 = $321 + $125 inspection fee + $15 technology fee. If the plans examiner does a plan check, the $577 minimum plan review brings it to $1,038. Rebuilding a deck in place is $321.	Chapter 52 Table A-I at $1.07 per sq ft up to 700 sq ft (Texas LGC 214.907 bars value-based residential fees), plus a $125 inspection fee per trade; rebuilding uses the $181 Table B-II base.	No zoning fee stated. Planned development, special use permit or deed-restricted areas add 10% of the permit fee.	A homestead owner may act as contractor for patio covers and interior remodeling, but the form says a homeowner permit does not allow adding on to a home and does not mention decks. The page says to ask Planning and Development.	Chapter 52 Sec. 301.2.1 and Sec. 303.2.1.1; Table A-I; fee schedule eff. 2025-07-01 Exempt only if freestanding, 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or lower, clear of the overhead service drop and not at the exit door; any attached deck needs a permit. Contractors must be registered with the city. A failed inspection adds a $75 reinspection fee.
Fort Worth, TX	Under $200	$176.95 for a 300 sq ft deck: $102.00 + 125 sq ft x $0.20 = $127.00, plus $49.95 in application and technology fees. A 12x14 deck (168 sq ft) is $110.96 and a 500 sq ft deck $216.95.	Group U square-footage table under Fee Ordinance 26-28781 (eff. 2026-10-01): $61.01 up to 175 sq ft, then $102.00 plus $0.20 per sq ft over 175; Texas LGC 214.907 bars value-based fees.	No zoning fee stated. Decks cannot go in a front or projected front yard, and a variance for a deck too close to a lot line is $591.	Owner-occupants with a homestead permit may pull it (appraisal-district homestead exemption, or proof of ownership and ID at the same address); otherwise a contractor registered with the city.	Fee Ordinance 26-28781; Administrative Code 105.2 No plan review deposit is charged for accessory structures at a house. Only decks not more than 6 in above grade are exempt. Lights or outlets need their own electrical permit. A reinspection costs $66.15.
Houston, TX	$200 to $399	About $293 for a 300 sq ft raised deck: roughly $208 permit fee + $52 plan review + $33.56 admin. A 500 sq ft covered deck is about $399. An exempt deck pays $0.	Square-footage tier on the 2026 one- and two-family table ($47.00 base plus $5.36 per 8.17 sq ft after the first 57.16, $91.06 minimum); Texas HB 852 bars valuation-based residential fees.	Houston has no zoning, so no zoning fee. Deed restrictions apply, and a floodplain development permit may apply even to an exempt deck.	The owner, an agent or a contractor may buy the building permit; Houston does not license general contractors. Electrical goes only to registered master electricians.	2026 Building Code Enforcement fee schedule (one- and two-family table); Residential Permitting 101; Residential Addition Permit (HPWCODE 1134) Plan review is 25% of the permit fee, non-refundable, and takes 10 business days. Uncovered wood decks up to 30 in above grade are exempt, and so are freestanding decks up to 200 sq ft and 30 in that are not attached and do not serve the exit door. Wiring is a separate electrical permit with a $91.06 minimum plus the admin fee.
Indianapolis, IN	$400 to $999 ⚠	$630 for a deck more than 30 in above grade if DBNS assigns the $490 accessory structure subtype: $140 Improvement Location Permit + $490 structural permit ($40 application + $150 plan review + $300 issuance). The best case is $430 with the $290 miscellaneous subtype.	Flat DBNS fee schedule of 2026-01-05; it has no line for decks, so DBNS assigns the structural subtype at review.	A separate Improvement Location Permit is charged ($32 application + $108 = $140) for any deck 18 in or higher above grade.	An owner may take out the structural permit for a deck they build themselves with a Statement of Intent; a hired builder must be a listed Marion County contractor and pull it under their own listing.	DBNS fee schedule of 2026-01-05; Sec. 536-201(b)(15); Zoning Ord. 740-801.A.3.h No structural permit is needed if no part of the floor is more than 30 in above grade, but the builder must get a permit or notify the county assessor within 30 days of finishing. A deck attached to the house could instead be billed as an addition ($40 + $175 + $750). Application and review fees are non-refundable.
Jacksonville, FL	$200 to $399	$280.23 for a 300 sq ft deck attached to the house at the minimums: $112.50 BID + $0.48 resource + $13.50 landscape + $37.50 Development Services + $26.25 debris + $90 plan review. A freestanding one is $266.73 and a 500 sq ft attached deck $298.05.	Per 100 sq ft of unenclosed area in Ordinance Code Sec. 320.409 ($0.75 BID, $0.16 resource, $0.25 Development Services, $8.75 debris); the minimums set the total.	No separate zoning fee. The $37.50 Development Services fee is in the total, and zoning reviews the plans first.	An owner-builder may pull it if the house is their primary residence, they are on the deed and it is not for sale or rent; they must appear in person with an owner's affidavit and proof of homestead exemption.	Ordinance Code Sec. 320.409; Zoning Code 656.403 Every deck needs a permit; only a concrete patio slab on grade is exempt. Florida's two building-code surcharges, 1% and 1.5% with a $2 minimum each, apply to the permit fee and are not itemized in these totals. A job over $5,000 needs a recorded Notice of Commencement. Wiring is a separate permit with a $60 minimum.
Kansas City, MO	Under $200	$114.29 for a $15,000 deck: $58 for the first $2,000 plus 13 x $4.33. A $25,000 deck is $157.59. A deck 30 in or lower pays $0.	Section 18-20(b)(2) valuation table: $58 for the first $2,000 plus $4.33 per additional $1,000 up to $100,000; no separate plan review fee for one- and two-family work.	No zoning fee stated. A low deck still has to meet the zoning code, including setbacks.	An owner who lives in a single-family home may pull the permit and build it; wiring must be done by a licensed electrical contractor unless the owner-occupant does it.	KC Code Sec. 18-20(b)(2); Sec. 18-16(b)(1)g; IB100 Uncovered, conventionally framed open decks need no plan review, only a site plan or survey and a written scope. Lighting or outlets need an electrical permit from $52. A deck 5 ft or closer to a property line needs a sealed survey and fire-rated details.
Long Beach, CA	$400 to $999 ⚠	About $887 for a 200 sq ft raised deck valued at $9,540: permit $277 + plan check $235 + zoning plan check $223, plus the $115 processing fee and small state and records fees. A 400 sq ft deck is about $1,271.	Valuation at IB-077's $47.70 per sq ft minimum: $149 for the first $2,000 plus $16 per $1,000 to $20,000, plus 85% plan check ($154 minimum).	A zoning plan check is charged on top: 0.5% of valuation with a $310 minimum, capped at 95% of the building plan check ($223 in the example).	The permit goes to a CSLB-licensed contractor with a Long Beach business license or to a homeowner of a one- or two-family home under IB-029.	LBMC 18.04.020.B.22; IB-077; IB-002; IB-029 Exempt only if freestanding, 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or lower everywhere and not serving an exit door. State fees are $0.13 per $1,000 plus $1, and the records fee is 5% of the permit fee with a $35 minimum. Building without a permit adds an investigation fee equal to the permit fee, $465 minimum.
Los Angeles, CA	$400 to $999	About $680 for a $15,000 deck higher than 30 in: permit $363.15 + plan check $317.13 from the city fee calculator, surcharges included. A $25,000 deck is about $944 and a $40,000 deck about $1,201. Cards add 2.7%.	Valuation-based permit fee with plan check at 90% of the permit fee, plus green building, plan maintenance, earthquake instrumentation, planning and system surcharges.	No zoning fee stated. Yard projection and height rules apply, and the 42 in guard counts toward fence height.	Owner-builders may sign after initialing the Owner-Builder Declaration at issuance. A hired contractor needs a CSLB license, and LADBS matches building permits to the B classification.	LAMC 91.106.2 items 1 and 5; LADBS Permit Fee Calculator; IB P/ZC 2023-004 Platforms not more than 30 in above grade and work valued at $2,500 or less need no building permit. Simple wood-frame decks usually get Counter Plan Check in about 45 minutes. Reframing part of a deck at $10,000 runs $250.40 plus $214.19 plan check.
Louisville, KY	Under $200	$80 for a $12,000 deck: $50 + $30 ($2.50 per $1,000). A $30,000 deck is $125 and a $40,000 deck $150. Wiring adds an electrical permit of $75 or $100.	Metro fee schedule (LMCO 150.096, revised 2024-02-06): $50 plus $2.50 per $1,000 of estimated cost, $75 minimum, for structures other than buildings.	No zoning fee stated.	The page tells owners to call Construction Review at (502) 574-3321 to confirm how an owner files; licensed contractors apply in the Louisville Metro Business Portal.	LMCO 150.096 (rev. 2024-02-06); Kentucky Residential Code R105.2 Every attached deck needs a permit, however low or small; the exemption is a freestanding deck up to 200 sq ft, 30 in or lower and not at the exit door. Deck work started without a permit can draw a penalty equal to the permit fee. Footings must reach 24 in.
Miami, FL	Under $200 ⚠	About $180 for a $12,000 deck: the $110 minimum + $40 application fee + $26.40 solid waste surcharge + $4 state surcharges, before a county surcharge the code does not quantify. A $40,000 raised deck with stairs is about $333.	City Code 10-18: 0.50 of estimated construction cost, read by the page as one-half of one percent, with a $110 minimum ($45 under $2,500), plus a $40 application fee.	No zoning fee stated. Miami 21 setbacks apply, and a roofed deck counts toward the 50% lot coverage limit.	Owner-occupants of a one- or two-family home may file as owner-builder under FS 489.103(7) if they will not sell or lease it, appearing in person to sign.	City Code 10-18 and 10-5(b); Miami 21 No height exemption exists: City Code 10-5(b) exempts no deck or platform. An up-front fee of $2.80 per $1,000 paid at filing is 80% credited to the permit fee. Re-inspections are $57. Deck lighting or an outlet is an electrical trade permit at $110 plus $40.
Milwaukee, WI	$200 to $399 ⚠	$223.20 for an $8,000 deck: 1.6% of cost is $128, so the $150 minimum applies, + $50 plan review + $3.20 surcharge + $20 processing. A $25,000 raised deck with stairs is $477.20.	1.6% of construction cost with a $150 minimum, a flat $50 plan review fee, a 1.6% surcharge and a $20 processing fee per permit; any deck under $9,375 pays the minimum.	No zoning fee stated. MCO 295-505-3 sorts decks by height for setbacks, and a deck on a one- or two-family lot may not exceed 1,000 sq ft.	Owner-occupants may pull permits for their own work; a hired deck builder needs a City Home Improvement Contractor License and state Dwelling Contractor credentials.	MCO 239-12; DNS deck handout; MCO 295-505-3 Any attached deck needs a permit, and so does a freestanding deck more than 2 ft above grade. Board-only replacement needs no permit except on historic properties. Electrical work for deck lighting is a separate permit.
Minneapolis, MN	$200 to $399	$379.87 for an $8,000 deck: $227.80 permit + $148.07 plan review + $4.00 state surcharge. A $3,000 deck is $207.42 and a $20,000 deck $793.75.	Valuation: $104.20 for the first $2,000 plus $20.60 per $1,000, plus 65% plan review and a 0.0005 state surcharge.	No zoning fee stated. Zoning reviews the deck alongside Construction Code Services, and most decks must stay out of required yards.	Owner applicants are allowed: the application step says owner applicants include a valid photo ID. The page states no other conditions.	Minneapolis building permit fee schedule; Minn. R. 1300.0120 subp. 4 A freestanding platform 30 in or lower, not attached and not at the main entrance, is exempt; a low deck attached to the house is not. Expect about 15 business days for the first plan review. The city may double fees if work starts before the permit.
New York, NY	Under $200	About $164 in DOB filing fees for an $18,000 deck: the $130 minimum covers the first $5,000 of job cost plus $2.60 per $1,000 above it. A $40,000 deck files at about $221. The PE or RA who prepares the filing and the contractor who builds set their own fees.	DOB alteration filing under Admin Code Table 28-112.2 at a 1-3 family home: $130 minimum for the first $5,000, then $2.60 per $1,000.	No zoning fee stated. The ZD1 zoning diagram is part of the DOB filing, and the Zoning Resolution decides where the deck may go.	Licensed professionals only: a PE or RA files the alteration, and the permit goes to a Registered General Contractor who needs a DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license at 1-4 family homes.	Admin Code Table 28-112.2 (L.L. 128 of 2024); 1 RCNY 101-14; DOB Decks and Porches code notes A new deck has no exemption; only an in-kind board or railing swap with no structural change is an ordinary repair. In buildings that are not 1-3 family and are under seven stories the minimum is $225 for the first $3,000 plus $10.30 per $1,000. Lighting or outlets need a separate electrical permit from a Licensed Master Electrician.
Philadelphia, PA	$200 to $399	$271.50 for an EZ deck with no plans: $75 building fee + $189 residential zoning fee + $7.50 city and state surcharges. The $25 filing fee on each application is applied to the balance. Swapping deck boards (up to 200 sq ft) is a $63 permit plus surcharges.	Flat lines: $75 for a new accessory structure or addition up to 500 sq ft (plus $56 per extra 100 sq ft) and a flat $189 residential zoning fee.	A separate residential zoning fee of $189 is charged; the zoning permit page exempts only a platform 12 in or less above the ground and not over a basement.	An owner who lives in the one- or two-family house may build it, since a deck by itself needs no electrical or plumbing permit. Otherwise a licensed Philadelphia contractor or a registered PA Home Improvement Contractor.	L&I construction fee summary; zoning fee summary; EZ Deck standard PB_018 (Aug. 2026) The EZ permit with no plans covers only a rear-yard, first-floor deck attached to a single-family home, up to 160 sq ft or 216 sq ft with intermediate posts; others need plans and a 15-business-day review. A deck circuit adds an electrical permit at $25 per $1,000 with a $63 minimum.
Phoenix, AZ	$200 to $399 ⚠	$231 for a 200 sq ft raised deck valued at $4,000 ($20 per sq ft): Table A gives $195 + 3 x $12, with no plan review fee because the valuation is under $5,000. A 400 sq ft deck ($8,000) is about $558 with plan review at 100% of the permit fee.	Table A of the 2026 Development Fee Schedule on the city's $20 per sq ft wood deck valuation: $195 for the first $1,000 plus $12 per additional $1,000.	A $98 plot plan review can be added to any single-family permit; the page does not say whether it is charged on a deck.	Owner-occupants may build under ARS 32-1121.A.5; if the home will be sold or rented within a year the law presumes the work was for sale and a licensed contractor is required.	Development Fee Schedule Appendix A.2 (eff. 2026-01-20); 2024 Phoenix Building Construction Code 105.2 Uncovered decks under 30 in above grade are exempt; a patio cover always needs a permit. The city uses the higher of its calculation and your contract price. Lights, outlets or a hot tub circuit need an electrical permit. Starting without a permit costs an investigation fee of at least $250 plus twice the permit fee.
Pittsburgh, PA	Under $200 ⚠	$191.50 for a $15,000 raised deck: $130 minimum base fee + $2 technology fee + $4.50 state training fund fee + $5 digital record fee + $50 zoning review. A $40,000 deck is $304.50.	PLI 2026 residential base fee of $6.00 per $1,000 with a $130 minimum plus fixed fees, and zoning review at $1.00 per $1,000 with a $50 minimum.	A separate zoning review fee of $1.00 per $1,000, $50 minimum, is in the total. A deck 30 in or lower pays only that, plus a stamped site plan.	The owner may self-perform at their own primary residence; at a rental or investment 1-2 family home it needs a city-licensed general contractor or a registered PA Home Improvement Contractor.	PLI 2026 fee schedule; Building and Development Application page; Residential Deck Application (AWC DCA 6) Every deck needs a Building and Development Application. A deck 30 in or lower gets zoning review only but needs a site plan stamped by a PA-licensed architect, engineer or surveyor. Forty percent of the base fee is due at application and is non-refundable.
Portland, OR	$400 to $999 ⚠	About $750 for a 12x16 attached deck 4 ft above grade declared at $9,000: permit $318.22 + plan review $206.84 + Development Services fee $61.92 + 12% state surcharge $38.19 + zoning inspection $125. A 400 sq ft composite deck at $25,000 is about $1,204.	Valuation-based building permit (new decks valued at 50% of the ICC utility figure, or the stated value if greater) plus 65% plan review; $167 minimum.	A $125 zoning inspection is in the total. A low deck in an environmental, greenway or river overlay may need a zoning permit.	Owners may build their own deck or hire a contractor licensed by the Oregon CCB. A homeowner may do the deck's electrical work only if they own and occupy the home.	PP&D building permit, plan review and Development Services fee schedules; Oregon 12% surcharge; Brochure 3 No building permit for a deck 30 in or lower, measured 36 in out from the edge, at least 3 ft from a lot line. A deck light or outlet adds an electrical permit at $194.88. Starting early adds an investigation fee of at least $167.
Sacramento, CA	$1,000 or more ⚠	About $1,056 for a $15,000 attached deck built by a contractor: building fees $660.65 (permit $392 + plan review $165 + surcharges) plus Planning's $132 Site Plan and Design Review form fee and a $263 minimum Planning review. An $8,000 detached owner-built deck is $477.14 before Planning fees.	Residential Addition valuation fee on the 2026 schedule (CDD-0245, revised 2026-07-12), on the contract price or ICC value if higher, plus technology, General Plan, green building and strong motion surcharges.	Planning adds a $132 Site Plan and Design Review exemption form fee (CDD-0159) and Planning review at 15% of building plan review with a $263 minimum; both are in the $1,056.	Property owners can be the permit holder after signing the owner-builder verification form; state law requires living in the home for the 12 months before the work is completed.	CDD-0245 (rev. 2026-07-12); CDD-0417; CDD-0159 Exempt only if detached, 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or lower and not at the exit door; any attached deck needs a permit. The technology surcharge is 10% of permit plus plan review. If Fire is routed, add $294 + $260 + $176.
San Antonio, TX	Under $200	$198.72 online for a deck up to 1,000 sq ft and one story: the flat $184.00 Carport Covers and Decks Fee plus two 4% surcharges. Staff processing of a paper application adds $11.50 and card payments add 3%.	Flat Carport Covers and Decks Fee in the FY 2027 Development Fee Schedule (revised Sept. 2026).	No zoning fee stated. DSD's form lists general setbacks of 10 ft front, 5 ft side and 20 ft rear for an attached deck.	A homeowner may apply for any deck by certifying they will live in the home for more than 12 months; if they are selling soon, a licensed contractor has to apply.	FY 2027 Development Fee Schedule (revised Sept. 2026); City Code 10-6(e)(1)o; IB 151 Exempt only if uncovered, 300 sq ft or less, 30 in or lower, detached and not at an exit door. Decks over 1,000 sq ft or two stories use the Residential Building Permit with plan review. Decks 48 in or more above grade need an engineer or architect letter. An electrical permit is $57.50 base plus per-item charges.
San Diego, CA	$1,000 or more ⚠	About $2,691 for a 300 sq ft attached deck: $1,677.99 plan check + $264.25 inspection + $737.00 General Plan Maintenance Fee + $12.16 mapping fee. A 600 sq ft deck is about $3,840.	Flat Deck line of IB 501 Table 501C: $1,677.99 plan check and $264.25 inspection up to 500 sq ft, $2,649.60 and $440.82 above 500 sq ft.	No separate zoning fee. The $737.00 General Plan Maintenance Fee is charged once on plan-reviewed work and is in the example.	Owner-builders may hold the permit with the signed Owner-Builder Verification Form DS-3042; the plans must still follow IB 211 or be engineered.	IB 501 Table 501C; SDMC 129.0203(a)(15); IB 211 A deck built from City pre-approved plans is cheaper: $1,148.29 plan check plus $264.25 inspection. Exempt only if detached, 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or lower and not at an exit door. State fees, a $17.11 collection charge and (for pre-1978 houses) a $58.00 lead hazard fee are small extras.
San Francisco, CA	$1,000 or more	About $1,093 for a 300 sq ft deck valued near $16,000 at 36 in or lower (DBI only): plan review $706.90 + issuance $385.84. A 150 sq ft deck is about $800. Over 3 ft, Planning's fee adds about $832, close to $1,925 in city fees.	DBI Table 1A-A (eff. 2026-07-12) on $53 per sq ft: plan review $310 for the first $2,000 plus $28.35 per $1,000, and issuance $266 plus $8.56 per $1,000.	Planning's building-permit fee is charged only when the deck is over 3 ft above grade: $504 under $10,000, or $516 plus 5.274% of cost above $10,000. A Section 311 notice adds $121 plus $4.25 per envelope.	Property owners may pull the permit and build the deck themselves, or hire a licensed B contractor; an unlicensed builder may take only a job under $1,000 that needs no permit.	DBI Table 1A-A; DBI cost schedule; Planning building-permit fee; Building Code 106A.2 Under 30 in needs no permit; 30 to 36 in needs DBI only; over 3 ft also needs Planning review. A $30,000 deck is about $1,609 at DBI plus $1,571 at Planning. Structural review beyond the standard check is billed at $602 per hour. Deck lighting needs an electrical permit ($305 for up to 10 outlets).
San Jose, CA	$1,000 or more ⚠	About $1,220 for a raised deck with stairs and a guard, plan-checked in Tier 3: $211 processing + $682.50 inspection tier + $325 plan check. A small attached deck reviewed over the counter in Tier 1 is about $585.	Hourly schedule: $211 processing, building permit billed at $315 per hour of inspection time in tiers (40, 70, 130 or 250 minutes), plan check at $325 per hour.	No zoning fee stated. Rear-setback projections follow SJMC 20.30.420.	The owner can: California exempts an owner-builder who does the work personally or hires licensed subcontractors, and a homeowner improving a principal residence occupied for 12 months.	Schedule of Fees and Charges (eff. 2026-07-01); SJMC 24.02.120.A.8 Exempt only if 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or lower, detached and not at an exit door. Decks are not an online permit type and are filed at the Permit Center. An electrical permit starts at a $315 minimum. Work without a permit is charged two times the plan review and inspection cost.
Seattle, WA	$400 to $999	About $625 for a 12x16 deck (192 sq ft, valued at $6,929.28): permit $421 + plan review $168.40 + 5% technology fee $29.47 + $6.50 state surcharge = $625.37. A 16x20 deck is $733.56. A deck over 8 ft high needing full plan review is about $1,045 for 320 sq ft.	Table D-1 index of the 2026 Fee Subtitle on SDCI's $36.09 per sq ft valuation: permit at 100% of the index plus 40% plan review for an STFI (subject to field inspection) permit.	No zoning fee stated. Setbacks apply above 18 in, and a deck over 36 in counts toward lot coverage.	Not stated on the page.	2026 SDCI Fee Subtitle Table D-1; Director's Rule 5-2025; SRC R105.2 item 7 A platform 18 in or lower, not over a basement or story below, is exempt. Fees rose 18% on 1/1/2026. A deck over 8 ft high, with beams of 14 ft or more, a roof deck or one over 750 sq ft goes to full plan review at 100% of the index.
St. Louis, MO	Under $200	$105 for an $8,000 attached deck on posts and footings, 24 in above grade: $25 application + $80 permit fee. A $15,000 deck is $175 and a $25,000 composite deck $275.	Building Division table: $25 application plus $19, $23 or $30 up to $3,000, then $10 per $1,000 or fraction.	No zoning fee stated. A deck may not be built across two parcels, and a tight side setback can be solved with a notarized maintenance agreement.	The owner, a lessee or an agent may apply, and an owner-occupant of a one- or two-family home may draw the plans without a design professional's seal.	Building Division fee table; Ord. 70795 Sec. 105.2 items 11 and 25; Table R109.4 A wooden platform resting on the ground, 12 in or less above grade, with no roof and no permanent foundation is exempt. Starting first adds a Table R109.4 surcharge of $90 on a permit fee of $51 to $200. Any new circuit needs a separate electrical permit.
Tucson, AZ	$200 to $399	About $359 for an $8,000 deck (the page gives no square footage): $227.15 permit + $113.58 plan review + $18.54 filing fee. A $3,000 deck is about $187 and a $15,000 deck about $600.	PDSD valuation fee effective 2026-07-01: $89.45 for the first $2,000 plus $22.95 per $1,000 to $25,000, plus 50% residential plan review and a 1% filing fee ($18.54 minimum).	No zoning fee stated. A deck in a Historic or Neighborhood Preservation Zone gets special district review first.	Owners may build on a home they own and occupy by filing the Owner/Builder Affidavit under A.R.S. 32-1121.A.5; rental properties require a licensed contractor.	PDSD fee schedule effective 2026-07-01; Tucson amendment to the 2024 building code Exempt only if 30 in or lower, not over a floor below, not part of an exit or accessible route and outside the setbacks. Lighting or outlets are trade work at $150 for the first item and $50 for each additional. Starting without a permit costs a penalty equal to 100% of the permit fee.

The status is the band of the city's own worked example for a typical deck that needs a permit: the total the page states for a raised deck attached to the house, as close as the page allows to 200 to 300 square feet about 3 ft above grade, including every city fee the example bundles (the building permit, plan review, surcharges and any zoning or planning line the page folds into the total). The cell says which deck the example prices, and the sizes and values differ by city, so compare the cell, not only the band. Where a page gives several examples, the one nearest that deck is used and the others are noted. A zoning or planning fee that the page names but leaves out of its total is described in the zoning column. The fee-basis column sorts a flat deck or accessory line first, then square-footage pricing, then a valuation table, then hourly or itemized pieces. The zoning column sorts cities with no fee stated first, then a separate zoning or planning fee, then zoning review inside the permit, then unclear. The who-pulls-it column sorts an owner first, then limited or conflicting, then licensed professionals only, then not stated. A flag marks a row where the city's own documents disagree or the page calls a figure an estimate or says to confirm it. Download the table as CSV.

What the comparison shows

The city's own example is under $200 in 10 cities and $1,000 or more in 4

Under $200: Louisville $80, St. Louis $105, Kansas City $114, Albuquerque $126, New York $164, Fort Worth $177, Miami $180, Baltimore $183, Pittsburgh $192 and San Antonio $199. $200 to $399: Milwaukee $223, Phoenix $231, Charlotte $249, Philadelphia $272, Jacksonville $280, Houston $293, Chicago $300, Tucson $359 and Minneapolis $380. $400 to $999: Dallas $461, Cincinnati $476, Seattle $625, Indianapolis $630, Los Angeles $680, Portland $750 and Long Beach $887. $1,000 or more: Sacramento $1,056, San Francisco $1,093, San Jose $1,220 and San Diego $2,691. The median is $287. The examples are not the same deck. Phoenix prices a 200 sq ft deck valued at $4,000 and Long Beach a 200 sq ft deck valued at $9,540; Seattle a 12x16 deck (192 sq ft); Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Jacksonville, San Diego and San Francisco a 300 sq ft deck (San Francisco's is valued near $16,000); Albuquerque, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St. Louis and Tucson an $8,000 deck; Portland a 12x16 deck declared at $9,000; Louisville, Miami and Cincinnati a $12,000 deck; Kansas City, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and Sacramento a $15,000 deck; and New York an $18,000 deck. San Antonio, Chicago, Philadelphia, Indianapolis and San Jose price a type of deck instead of a size: any deck up to 1,000 sq ft and one story, a new deck no more than 6 ft high, an EZ deck with no plans, a deck over 30 in at the $490 structural subtype, and a raised deck with stairs and a guard. All four at $1,000 or more are California cities, and the six California cities run from $680 in Los Angeles to $2,691 in San Diego. The four Texas cities sit between $177 in Fort Worth and $461 in Dallas, which is an estimate because Dallas has no deck fee line.

20 cities price the permit on the deck's value, 5 charge a flat line, 4 price by square footage

A valuation table sets the fee in New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle, Miami, Portland, Charlotte, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Sacramento, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Louisville, Tucson, Kansas City, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Albuquerque and Long Beach. The valuations differ: Phoenix uses $20 per sq ft, Seattle $36.09, Long Beach $47.70 and San Francisco $53; Portland values a new deck at 50% of the ICC utility figure, or the stated value if greater; Albuquerque halves its Table 112-A fee with a 0.50 modifier; most of the others work from the stated cost of the job, such as Louisville's $50 plus $2.50 per $1,000, Kansas City's $58 plus $4.33 per $1,000 and Minneapolis's $104.20 plus $20.60 per $1,000. A flat line is used in Chicago, San Antonio, San Diego, Philadelphia and Indianapolis: Chicago charges $300 per structure for a new deck no more than 6 ft high, Philadelphia $75 plus a $189 zoning fee, San Antonio $184.00 with surcharges, Indianapolis $140 plus $290 to $490 once DBNS assigns the structural subtype, and San Diego a $1,677.99 plan check line plus $264.25 inspection. Square-footage pricing is used in Houston, Dallas, Jacksonville and Fort Worth: Houston's tier table, Dallas's $1.07 per sq ft, Fort Worth's $0.20 per sq ft over 175 and Jacksonville's per-100-sq-ft rates, where the minimums set the total. Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston cite Texas law barring value-based residential fees. San Jose is the one hourly schedule: San Jose bills $211 processing, $315 an hour of inspection time and $325 an hour of plan check.

9 cities add a separate zoning or planning fee on top of the building permit

Nine pages name a zoning or planning charge that sits beside the building permit: Portland, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Albuquerque and Long Beach. The amounts are Portland's $125 zoning inspection (included in its $750), Philadelphia's $189 residential zoning fee, Charlotte's $115 City review ($65 zoning and $50 stormwater), Indianapolis's $140 Improvement Location Permit, San Francisco's Planning fee of $504 under $10,000 or $516 plus 5.274% of cost above $10,000 (charged only above 3 ft, and left out of its $1,093), Sacramento's $132 form fee and Planning review at 15% of plan review with a $263 minimum (both in its $1,056), Pittsburgh's $1.00 per $1,000 with a $50 minimum, Albuquerque's $25 zoning review (left out of its $126) and Long Beach's zoning plan check of 0.5% of valuation ($223 in its $887). Four more fold zoning review into the filing with no separate fee: New York, Chicago, Jacksonville and Minneapolis, where Jacksonville's $37.50 Development Services fee is in its total. Phoenix is unclear: a $98 plot plan review can be added to any single-family permit, and the page does not say whether a deck pays it. The other 16 pages state no zoning fee; they still apply setbacks and lot coverage, but without a priced filing.

Plan review, surcharges and fixed add-ons are often most of the total

Plan review is a share of the permit fee in most valuation cities: 25% in Houston, 40% in Seattle, 50% in Tucson, 65% in Albuquerque, Minneapolis and Portland, 85% in Long Beach, 90% in Los Angeles, and 100% in Phoenix once the valuation passes $5,000. Jacksonville charges 67% of the BID fee or $90, whichever is greater; Milwaukee a flat $50; San Diego folds it into a $1,677.99 line; San Jose bills $325 an hour. Kansas City charges no separate plan review fee for one- and two-family work, and Fort Worth charges no plan review deposit for accessory structures. Surcharges add to the base: Portland's 12% state surcharge ($38.19 in its example), two 4% surcharges in San Antonio, 1.6% plus $20 in Milwaukee, 5% plus $6.50 in Seattle, a 10% technology surcharge in Sacramento, about $11 per $100 in Cincinnati, $3 and $4.50 in Philadelphia, $4 of state surcharges plus a $26.40 solid waste surcharge in Miami and a 0.0005 state surcharge in Minneapolis. The biggest fixed add-on is San Diego's $737.00 General Plan Maintenance Fee, more than a quarter of its $2,691. Starting before the permit costs more in several cities: an investigation fee of at least $250 plus twice the permit fee in Phoenix, a fee equal to the permit fee in Long Beach and Cincinnati, at least $167 in Portland, a penalty equal to the permit fee in Louisville, 100% of the permit fee in Tucson, a $90 surcharge in St. Louis and possibly double fees in Minneapolis. New York's filing fee is only the DOB part: a PE or RA's fee to prepare the filing is extra.

Deck lighting adds its own permit on 14 pages that price it

Most pages say a light or outlet on the deck needs an electrical permit, and 14 put a price on it: Albuquerque ($47 administrative charge), Baltimore ($6 per circuit), Cincinnati ($121.20), Houston ($91.06 minimum), Jacksonville ($60 minimum), Kansas City (from $52), Louisville ($75 or $100), Miami ($110 plus $40), Philadelphia ($63 minimum), Portland ($194.88), San Antonio ($57.50 base), San Francisco ($305 for up to 10 outlets), San Jose ($315 minimum) and Tucson ($150 for the first item). The rest name the permit without a price. Baltimore goes further than most: its residential code amendment requires at least one GFCI receptacle on every deck, which makes the electrical permit part of the job. Only licensed or registered electricians can pull it in several cities, and the owner's own rights are narrower than for the deck: Portland lets a homeowner do the electrical work only on a home they own and occupy, Kansas City lets an owner-occupant wire the deck, Chicago requires a Chicago-licensed electrical contractor and Houston issues electrical permits only to registered master electricians.

Who may pull it: the owner in 25 cities, licensed professionals only in New York

Twenty-five pages say an owner may pull the building permit, usually with a condition: Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Portland, San Antonio, San Diego, Philadelphia, San Jose, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Sacramento, Fort Worth, Milwaukee, Tucson, Kansas City, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Albuquerque and Long Beach. The conditions include living in the home for 12 months in San Jose, Sacramento and San Antonio, at least a year in Cincinnati, not selling or renting within a year in Phoenix, not selling or leasing in Miami and Jacksonville, one homeowner permit per 12 months in Albuquerque, once per calendar year in Chicago, and owner-occupancy, a primary residence or a homestead in Charlotte, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tucson and Fort Worth. Houston simply lets the owner, an agent or a contractor buy the permit, and Long Beach issues it to a homeowner of a one- or two-family home under IB-029. New York is the one city where a licensed professional is required: a PE or RA files the alteration and the permit goes to a Registered General Contractor. Dallas and Baltimore are limited or conflicting: Dallas's homeowner form covers patio covers and interior remodeling and does not mention decks, and Baltimore's code lets an owner apply while DHCD says an MHIC-licensed contractor is required. Seattle and Louisville do not say who may pull the building permit; Louisville tells owners to call Construction Review to confirm how an owner files.

Where the city's documents disagree or the page calls the figure an estimate

Baltimore: Section 109 has no deck line, so the page reads the fee by analogy and says DHCD sets the final fee from the stated job cost, and the code lets an owner apply while DHCD says an MHIC-licensed contractor is required. Chicago: the page prices a new low deck at $300 but the 2026 tables set a $602 minimum for all permits and a $600 deposit is due at submission, so it says to confirm the total in the portal. Dallas: Chapter 52 has no deck fee line, so the $461 is an estimate, and whether the $577 minimum plan review is charged is open. Indianapolis: the schedule has no deck line, so DBNS assigns the structural subtype and the total is $430 to $630. Long Beach: the fees are those in force before 2026-10-01, with a new schedule approved on 2026-09-08. Miami: the rate is written 0.50 and read as one-half of one percent, and the county surcharge is not stated. Milwaukee: the city assessor's $250 service charge under MCO 81-6 may or may not apply to a deck. Phoenix: the $98 plot plan review may or may not be charged on a deck. Pittsburgh: PLI's permitting page puts attached 1-2 family houses in the commercial category with a $605 minimum. Portland: the examples use declared values because the ICC table is paid. Sacramento: Planning fees are in the $1,056 but Fire Department fees are added only if Fire is routed. San Diego: a 2.5-hour impact-fee assessment charge may or may not apply to a deck. San Jose: the Building Official can adjust the tier, so the totals are published arithmetic, not a quote. The table flags these rows rather than resolving them.

Method

The 30 cities are the ones whose BuildPermitGuide pages have been rewritten from primary sources as of October 2026: the city's adopted code and exemption list, its permit page or bulletin, its current fee schedule or ordinance and its contractor and owner-builder rules, each fetched and quoted on the city's deck permit page. The status in the table is the band of the city page's own worked example for a typical deck that needs a permit, using the total the page states for a raised deck attached to the house, as close to 200 to 300 square feet about 3 ft above grade as the page allows, and every city fee the example bundles; the deck size or value differs by city and the cell says what it is. Where a page gives several examples, the one nearest that deck is used and the others are noted in the cell. The pricing, zoning and owner columns are the page's fee section and scenario table, and the owner counts come from its licensing paragraph. Contractors' own prices, engineers' and architects' drawing fees, a PE or RA's filing fee and the cost of an outside inspection agency are never included. Nothing in this table is taken from a model code or another city's schedule; where a city's documents disagree or a page calls a figure an estimate, the row carries a flag instead of a resolution. Each city page carries the date its sources were last verified, and the change log records when a cited document changes.

Use this data. The table and CSV are published under CC BY 4.0. Cite it as:

BuildPermitGuide, “How Much Does a Deck Permit Cost? 30 Cities Compared” (2026), https://buildpermitguide.com/research/deck-permit-fees/

Questions, corrections or a city you want added: contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Across the 30 largest cities we compared, the city's own worked example for a typical deck that needs a permit runs from $80 in Louisville to $2,691 in San Diego, and the median is $287. Ten are under $200 (Louisville, St. Louis, Kansas City, Albuquerque, New York, Fort Worth, Miami, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and San Antonio), nine are $200 to $399, seven are $400 to $999 and four are $1,000 or more (Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego). The deck size and value in each example differ, and contractors' prices and drawing fees are not included.

Twenty cities price it on the job's value, using a valuation per square foot or the stated cost. Five charge a flat line (Chicago, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Indianapolis and San Diego), four price by square footage (Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Jacksonville) and San Jose bills hours. Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston cite Texas law barring value-based residential fees.

Four of the six California cities are the only ones over $1,000 in the table. San Diego charges a flat $1,677.99 plan check line, $264.25 for inspection and a $737.00 General Plan Maintenance Fee, which makes about $2,691 for a 300 sq ft attached deck. San Francisco charges DBI plan review and issuance on $53 per square foot, about $1,093 for 300 sq ft, plus Planning's fee when the deck is over 3 ft. Sacramento adds Planning fees to its building fees for about $1,056, and San Jose bills about $1,220 for a raised deck with a guard. Across the six California cities the example runs from $680 in Los Angeles to $2,691 in San Diego.

Nine cities charge a separate zoning or planning fee (Portland, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Albuquerque and Long Beach). Plan review adds 25% to 100% of the permit fee in most valuation cities, and surcharges add from 1.6% (Milwaukee) to 12% (Portland). A deck with a light or outlet needs an electrical permit, which 14 pages price from $6 per circuit in Baltimore to $315 minimum in San Jose.

Yes on the pages that address it. Fourteen price the permit, among them Kansas City (from $52), Albuquerque ($47 administrative charge plus $1.50 per outlet), Portland ($194.88), Cincinnati ($121.20), San Francisco ($305 for up to 10 outlets) and San Jose ($315 minimum). Baltimore requires at least one GFCI receptacle on every deck, so an electrical permit is part of the job there.

Twenty-five pages say an owner may pull the building permit, usually if they live in the home and will not sell or rent it within a set period (12 months in several cities). New York requires a PE or RA to file and a Registered General Contractor to hold the permit, Dallas and Baltimore are limited or conflicting, and Seattle and Louisville do not say.

That depends on the height, size and attachment limits, which are in the thresholds page linked above. New York, Chicago, Miami, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Baltimore and Philadelphia require a building permit for a new deck at any height, so the fees in the table apply to a deck on the ground there too. Elsewhere a low deck can be exempt and cost $0, but Pittsburgh still charges a $50 minimum zoning review and Indianapolis wants a notice to the county assessor within 30 days.

The city pages behind this table

Each page quotes the code section, exempt-work list and fee schedule it relies on and records the date they were last verified.