California / Contra Costa County
Deck Permit in Contra Costa County, California
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a deck larger than 200 square feet, any deck more than 30 inches above grade at any point, any deck attached to the dwelling, or any deck that serves the exit door required by code, regardless of size.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Contra Costa County exempts a deck from a building permit only when it clears four conditions at once: not more than 200 square feet in area, not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to a dwelling, and not serving the exit door required by code. Failing any one of those four puts the deck back under the county's general permit requirement. Because the four conditions are cumulative, most attached back-yard decks in unincorporated Contra Costa County need a permit even when they are well under 200 square feet.
Typical threshold: area of a deck that is also no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, and does not serve a code-required exit door.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
When a permit is usually needed
Before building a deck larger than 200 square feet, any deck more than 30 inches above grade at any point, any deck attached to the dwelling, or any deck that serves the exit door required by code, regardless of size.
What a deck permit costs in Contra Costa County
How Contra Costa County compares in California
Across the California jurisdictions we have verified, the same threshold runs from 120 to 200, so a project that is exempt here may still need a permit one county over.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Contra Costa Countythis page | It depends | area of a deck that is also no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, and does not serve a code-required exit door |
| Riverside County | It depends | A deck is exempt only if it is 200 square feet or less in area, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to a dwelling or townhouse, and does not serve the required exit door |
| Sacramento County | It depends | deck area, where the deck is also no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, and does not serve a required exit door |
| San Bernardino County | It depends | floor area of a detached residential accessory structure |
| San Diego | It depends | deck over 200 sq ft or over 30 inches above grade or attached to a dwelling requires a permit |
| San Jose | It depends | deck over 200 sq ft or over 30 inches above grade or attached to dwelling or serving required exit requires a permit |
| Santa Clara County | It depends | deck area, paired with a 30-inch height limit, no attachment to the dwelling, and no required exit door served |
Closest deck permit thresholds outside California
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Contra Costa County's 200 sq ft.
- Austin, Texas, uncovered decks with area no greater than 200 sq ft and no more than 30 inches above grade and not attached to the dwelling and not providing required egress and not in floodplain are exempt
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana, deck floor area; the exemption also requires the deck to be less than 30 inches off the ground and located in a buildable area of the lot
- Boston, Massachusetts, detached decks not more than 30 inches above grade and under 200 sq ft that do not serve an exit door may be exempt
- Corpus Christi, Texas, A deck needs a permit if it is larger than 200 square feet, or more than 30 inches above the ground, or attached to a dwelling, or serving the exit door; any one of the four triggers alone requires the permit.
How to apply in Contra Costa County
A residential deck permit application is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the IRC deck provisions. In practice that means a scaled site plan locating the deck and its setbacks, plus deck plans and structural details covering the footings, posts, beams, joists, ledger, guards, and stairs.
What most deck permit applications include:
- A permit application identifying the work, the deck's size (square footage), and whether electrical work such as lights or receptacles is included, submitted for plan review before construction begins (IRC R106).
- A scaled site plan (for example 1/4 inch to 1 foot) showing the new deck's location relative to the house, its overall length and width, and dimensioned distances from the deck to all property lines and other structures so required setbacks can be verified (IRC R106.1.1).
- A deck plan drawn to scale showing overall dimensions and the framing layout: joist size, spacing, span, and species; beam size and span; post size and height; and footing or pier size and depth (IRC R507.4 posts, R507.5 beams, R507.6 joists, R507.3 footings).
- A section or side elevation with connection details showing the ledger attachment to the house band joist with flashing, the fastener or bolt schedule, joist hangers, post-to-beam and post-to-footing connections, and the required lateral load connection (IRC R507.9 ledger connection, R507.9.2 lateral connection, R507.2.4 flashing).
- Footing sizing derived from tributary area, the soil bearing value, and design loads per IRC Table R507.3.1, with footings shown bearing on undisturbed soil at the frost depth required by the jurisdiction (IRC R507.3).
- Details for the guards required where the walking surface is more than 30 inches above grade, and for the stairs and handrails, showing guard height and opening limits, stair riser and tread dimensions, and handrail location (IRC R312 guards, R311.7 stairs and handrails).
- For designs that fall outside the prescriptive R507 tables (for example multi-story or stacked decks, or a ledger attached to a cantilever), engineered and stamped structural plans are submitted in place of the prescriptive details (IRC R507.1 and R301).
General submittal guidance from IRC R106.1.1 (construction documents) and IRC R507 (exterior decks), 2021 IRC. Source. Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division sets the exact checklist for Contra Costa County.
Where to apply in Contra Costa County:
Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division
- Application and Permit Center, 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553
- Phone: 925-655-2700
- Email: permits@dcd.cccounty.us
Inspections and closing out your permit
Deck work is inspected in sequence as it is built: the footings before concrete is placed, the framing before the decking boards go down, and a final inspection once the deck is complete. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if missed.
- Footing or pier inspection: after the holes are dug and any forms or reinforcing are set but before concrete is placed, the inspector checks footing depth and diameter, a flat undisturbed bearing surface, and that the holes are free of water (IRC R109.1.1 foundation inspection; R507.3 footings).
- Framing inspection: after the deck is framed but before the decking conceals it, the inspector verifies the ledger attachment and its flashing, the fastener and bolt schedule, joist hangers and metal connectors, post-to-beam and post-to-footing connections, and the lateral load connection; call it before decking is installed (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R507.9 ledger and flashing).
- Final inspection: after the deck is complete and before it is used, the inspector confirms guard height and opening limits (a 4 inch sphere must not pass, 4 3/8 inch at stairs), stair riser and tread dimensions, handrail height and graspability where there are 4 or more risers, stair landings, and required stair lighting (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R312 guards, R311.7 stairs and handrails).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Contra Costa County permit portal or by phone at 925-655-2700.
Inspection sequence from IRC R109 (inspections: R109.1.1 footing before concrete, R109.1.4 frame, R109.1.6 final), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Deck Permit checklist for Contra Costa County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: area of a deck that is also no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, and does not serve a code-required exit door. Usually needed: Before building a deck larger than 200 square feet, any deck more than 30 inches above grade at any point, any deck attached to the dwelling, or any deck that serves the exit door required by code, regardless of size.
- Budget the fee. No deck-specific flat fee is published. The Building Valuation Data Supplement values a "Deck" at $25.13 per square foot, and the permit fee is then computed from that valuation using the S-001 plan review and S-002 building permit tables (from $49.00 plan review and $75.00 building permit at the lowest tier). The supplement carries a 7 percent increase effective 08/10/2022 and a 5 percent increase effective 01/01/2025. Fee schedule adopted May 24, 2022, effective August 10, 2022. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. A residential deck permit application is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the IRC deck provisions. In practice that means a scaled site plan locating the deck and its setbacks, plus deck plans and structural details covering the footings, posts, beams, joists, ledger, guards, and stairs. Start at the Contra Costa County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division. Phone: 925-655-2700. Address: Application and Permit Center, 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553.
- Plan for inspections. Deck work is inspected in sequence as it is built: the footings before concrete is placed, the framing before the decking boards go down, and a final inspection once the deck is complete. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if missed.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a deck permit in Contra Costa County?
- Contra Costa County exempts a deck from a building permit only when it clears four conditions at once: not more than 200 square feet in area, not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to a dwelling, and not serving the exit door required by code. Failing any one of those four puts the deck back under the county's general permit requirement. Because the four conditions are cumulative, most attached back-yard decks in unincorporated Contra Costa County need a permit even when they are well under 200 square feet. Area of a deck that is also no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, and does not serve a code-required exit door. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a deck permit cost in Contra Costa County?
- No deck-specific flat fee is published. The Building Valuation Data Supplement values a "Deck" at $25.13 per square foot, and the permit fee is then computed from that valuation using the S-001 plan review and S-002 building permit tables (from $49.00 plan review and $75.00 building permit at the lowest tier). The supplement carries a 7 percent increase effective 08/10/2022 and a 5 percent increase effective 01/01/2025. Fee schedule adopted May 24, 2022, effective August 10, 2022. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a deck permit in Contra Costa County?
- You can apply through the Contra Costa County permit portal or contact the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a deck permit themselves in Contra Costa County?
- Under California law (Business & Professions Code 7044(a)-(b); Business & Professions Code 7031.5): California exempts an owner-builder from contractor licensing when the owner personally performs the work, or uses only wage employees, on their own property and does not intend the improvements for sale. A homeowner may also directly hire licensed trade contractors for up to four single-family residences a year, or improve their own principal residence without a general contractor's license, as long as they have actually lived there for the 12 months before the work is finished. Selling a self-built structure within one year of completion creates a rebuttable presumption that it was built for sale, which defeats the exemption, and selling five or more structures within a year makes that presumption conclusive. Separately, every city or county that requires a building permit must also require the applicant to file a signed statement giving their contractor license number or the basis of their claimed exemption; a false or missing statement carries a $500 civil penalty. Confirm how Contra Costa County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Contra Costa County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 C.6, "Electrical Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | height of a fence, with concrete and masonry walls treated as walls rather than fences | Land Development Fee Schedule item 13, "Fences Greater than 7ft": Building Permit /... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 D.6, "Mechanical Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | roof area of a trellis, arbor, or pergola accessory to a residence, treated by the county as a one-story detached accessory structure | The Building Valuation Data Supplement values a "Patio cover (includes pre-fab types... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 E.6, "Plumbing Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | depth of a prefabricated pool accessory to a one or two family dwelling that is installed entirely above ground and holds no more than 5,000 gallons | The Building Valuation Data Supplement sets a "Swimming pool, lump sum of: $39,514.98"... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Land Development Fee Schedule item 14, "Re-Roofs - Residential": Building Permit /... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure | No shed-specific flat fee is published. |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Land Development Fee Schedule item 7, "Residential solar energy systems - roof mount and... |
Deck Permit in other California localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Contra Costa County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Deck Permit requirements across California localities
Permit office
Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division
925-655-2700Permit portal