Florida / St. Johns County

Deck Permit in St. Johns County, Florida

Permit required

Yes, a permit is required

Before constructing, enlarging, or altering a deck in unincorporated St. Johns County

From an official source Verified Building Services Division, Growth Management Department

By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources

Quick answer

St. Johns County requires a permit under its general rule for constructing, enlarging, or altering a structure, and decks are also named directly in the county's floodplain management code, which requires decks in Coastal High Hazard Areas and Coastal A Zones to meet specific elevation and construction standards in addition to the Florida Building Code. This applies to unincorporated St. Johns County; St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach operate their own building departments. No deck-specific size or height exemption from the general permit requirement is published.

Who is pulling this permit?

Apply yourself

Apply on the St. Johns County permit portal

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 constructing, enlarging, or altering a deck in unincorporated St. Johns County

What your deck permit must meet in Florida

In Florida a residential deck is built to the Florida Building Code, Residential (8th Edition, 2023), which is based on the 2021 IRC with statewide wind amendments. The governing concern is wind rather than frost: the deck and its attachment to the house must be designed for the local ultimate design wind speed, and it must meet the guard, stair, and connection requirements.

  • Guards are required on any deck walking surface more than 30 inches above the grade or floor below, with a minimum guard height of 36 inches (FBC-R R312).
  • Guard infill and balusters must be spaced so a 4-inch sphere cannot pass through; on the open side of stairs a 4 3/8 inch sphere limit applies (FBC-R R312).
  • The deck must be constructed for the local ultimate design wind speed (Vult) taken from Figure R301.2(4), not a fixed minimum (FBC-R R301.2.1).
  • Decks must be positively anchored to the primary structure for both vertical and lateral loads; the prescriptive lateral connection uses hold-down tension devices at not less than 2 locations within 24 inches of each end, each rated at least 1,500 lb, and joists framed to a ledger require approved joist hangers (FBC-R R507.8).
  • Stairs when present allow a maximum riser height of 7 3/4 inches, a minimum tread depth of 10 inches, and a minimum stair width of 36 inches (FBC-R R311.7).
  • Stair handrails are required on any flight with 4 or more risers, mounted 34 to 38 inches above the tread nosing (FBC-R R311.7).
  • There is no frost-depth footing requirement in Florida; deck footings and piers are governed by wind uplift and lateral connection detailing. In the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward counties), additional wind-design and product-approval requirements apply.

Based on Florida Building Code, Residential (8th Edition, 2023): R312 guards, R311.7 stairs, R301.2.1 wind speed, R507.8 deck attachment. Read the code. Local amendments can be stricter; confirm the current requirement with your office before you build.

What a deck permit costs in St. Johns County

Line item
deck permitBy formulaNo deck-specific fee line item is published. Deck permits fall under the general Building Services Fees table: Permit Issuance Fee $14.00, plus Total Valuation of Building fee (minimum $19.00, or $11.00 for the first $1,000 plus $2.63 for each additional thousand up to $50,000; higher tiers apply above that), per St. Johns County's Schedule of Fees and Services, Exhibit A (amended 07/21/2026).
Fee schedule in forceOfficial scheduleRead . Fees are the jurisdiction’s; we do not mark them up or estimate them.

How St. Johns County compares in Florida

No Florida jurisdiction we have verified sets a size threshold for this permit, so what actually differs between them is the fee.

JurisdictionPermit needed?Typical fee
Alachua CountyPermit requiredNo deck-specific flat fee is published.
Broward CountyPermit requiredNo separate deck fee line
Charlotte CountyPermit requiredAt application: flat fee $90, plus a building fee of 0.004 x ICC valuation (if...
Clay CountyPermit requiredNo deck-specific line item appears in the FY24/25 Building Fee Schedule...
Hernando CountyPermit requiredDeck: $140.00, per the Building Division fee schedule (Resolution No.
Hillsborough CountyPermit requiredResidential Misc Projects permit fee is $380 flat, covers decks, sheds...
St. Johns Countythis pagePermit requiredNo deck-specific fee line item is published.

How to apply in St. Johns 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. Building Services Division, Growth Management Department sets the exact checklist for St. Johns County.

Where to apply in St. Johns County:

Building Services Division, Growth Management Department

  • 4040 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084
  • Phone: 904-827-6800
  • Email: bldcodes@sjcfl.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.

  1. 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).
  2. 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).
  3. 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 St. Johns County permit portal or by phone at 904-827-6800.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a deck permit in St. Johns County?
St. Johns County requires a permit under its general rule for constructing, enlarging, or altering a structure, and decks are also named directly in the county's floodplain management code, which requires decks in Coastal High Hazard Areas and Coastal A Zones to meet specific elevation and construction standards in addition to the Florida Building Code. This applies to unincorporated St. Johns County; St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach operate their own building departments. No deck-specific size or height exemption from the general permit requirement is published. Always confirm with the Building Services Division, Growth Management Department before starting.
How much does a deck permit cost in St. Johns County?
No deck-specific fee line item is published. Deck permits fall under the general Building Services Fees table: Permit Issuance Fee $14.00, plus Total Valuation of Building fee (minimum $19.00, or $11.00 for the first $1,000 plus $2.63 for each additional thousand up to $50,000; higher tiers apply above that), per St. Johns County's Schedule of Fees and Services, Exhibit A (amended 07/21/2026). See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
Where do you apply for a deck permit in St. Johns County?
You can apply through the St. Johns County permit portal or contact the Building Services Division, Growth Management Department directly. The links are listed on this page.
Can a homeowner pull a deck permit themselves in St. Johns County?
Under Florida law (F.S. 489.103(7)(a)-(c)): Florida lets you pull your own permit as an owner-builder under section 489.103(7), Florida Statutes, which exempts property owners from the contractor licensing law when they act as their own contractor and provide direct, onsite supervision of all work not performed by licensed contractors. The exemption covers building or improving a one-family or two-family residence or a farm outbuilding for your own occupancy or use, and commercial buildings only up to a $75,000 cost, and the property may not be built or improved for sale or lease. If you sell or lease the property within 1 year after completing the work, the law presumes it was built for sale or lease, which violates the exemption. To qualify, you must personally appear and sign the building permit application and sign a state-prescribed disclosure statement acknowledging that you are the party legally and financially responsible for the construction, that you must provide direct, onsite supervision, and that unlicensed people you use must be your own employees, bringing federal tax withholding and workers' compensation obligations. You may not hire an unlicensed person to act as your contractor and may not delegate supervision to anyone who is not licensed for the work being done; if these requirements are violated, the local permitting agency shall withhold final approval, revoke the permit, or pursue unlicensed-activity remedies. A separate narrow branch of the exemption also lets an owner take over and complete a permit on a one-family or two-family residence when the original contractor substantially completed the project. Confirm how St. Johns County applies this before you apply.

From the Library

What else needs a permit in St. Johns County

Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.

ProjectPermit needed?ThresholdTypical fee
Electrical PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedElectrical Permit Fees (F.S.
Fence PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedNo fence-specific fee line item is published.
HVAC PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedMechanical Permit Fees (F.S.
Patio PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedNo patio-specific fee line item is published.
Plumbing PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedPlumbing Permit Fees (F.S.
Pool PermitPermit requiredpool surface area per the LDC regulated-pool definition, which also uses a 2 foot depth testSwimming Pool Fees (F.S.
Roof Replacement PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedNo re-roof-specific fee line item is published.
Shed PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedNo shed or accessory-structure-specific fee line item is published.
Solar PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedSolar Permit Fees (F.S.

Deck Permit in other Florida localities

Everything above, sourced

sjcfl.us: building departmentread
sjcfl.us: building permitsread

Code references

National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not St. Johns County documents; the office above sets the local rules.

Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with Building Services Division, Growth Management Department. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.

Last checked: Report an error on this page

Compare Deck Permit requirements across Florida localities

Look up an existing St. Johns County permit record

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