Deck Permit in Gwinnett County, Georgia
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before any land disturbance or construction for a deck added to a one or two family home.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Gwinnett County requires a building permit for a deck added to a one or two family home, with no size or height exemption published. The department's deck handout states flatly that a building permit must be obtained before any land disturbance or building construction, and the Construction Code's list of work exempt from permit contains no deck entry. The application needs an approved "Deck Addition Location Plan" reviewed by both Development Review and Stormwater Plan Review, and Gwinnett Environmental Health must sign off first if the home is on a septic system.
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 any land disturbance or construction for a deck added to a one or two family home.
What a deck permit costs in Gwinnett County
How Gwinnett County compares in Georgia
No Georgia jurisdiction we have verified sets a size threshold for this permit, so what actually differs between them is the fee.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Permit required | Not published |
| Cobb County | Permit required | Decks are subject to a $100 site plan review fee in addition to the tiered... |
| DeKalb County | Permit required | Building Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245... |
| Gwinnett Countythis page | Permit required | Planning and Development Fee Schedule, "Building Permit Fees (Effective July... |
How to apply in Gwinnett 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. Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development, Building Division sets the exact checklist for Gwinnett County.
Where to apply in Gwinnett County:
Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development, Building Division
- Innovation Square, 446 West Crogan Street, Suite 300, Lawrenceville, GA 30046
- Phone: 678-518-6020
- Email: P&D-BuildingPermits@GwinnettCounty.com
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 Gwinnett County permit portal or by phone at 678-518-6020.
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 Gwinnett County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before any land disturbance or construction for a deck added to a one or two family home.
- Budget the fee. Planning and Development Fee Schedule, "Building Permit Fees (Effective July 1, 2024)", footer "Revised 05/23/2024". "Other Building Permit Fees: Minor Renovation Projects (valued less than $75,000) | Residential Renovation Permit | $125" and "Extensive Renovation Projects (valued at $75,000 or greater) | Extensive Renovation Permit | $4 per $1,000 of construction value". The schedule also states "Building permit fees include Plan Review and Building Inspections" and prices reinspections at "First Follow-up Inspection $0", "Second Follow-up Inspection $50", "Third and each Subsequent Follow-up Inspection $100", with "Penalty for Construction Prior to Issuance of Permit 100% of the Permit Fee". Caution on figures: the department's older undated handout "Regulatory Requirements for Residential Permits" still prices this work at "$0.006 x Value of Construction" and the 2012-era step sheets at "$6 per $1,000 of estimated construction cost (minimum fee is $30)", both of which predate the July 1, 2024 schedule. Confirm the current amount with the Permits Section at 678-518-6020 before budgeting. 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 Gwinnett County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development, Building Division. Phone: 678-518-6020. Address: Innovation Square, 446 West Crogan Street, Suite 300, Lawrenceville, GA 30046.
- 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 Gwinnett County?
- Gwinnett County requires a building permit for a deck added to a one or two family home, with no size or height exemption published. The department's deck handout states flatly that a building permit must be obtained before any land disturbance or building construction, and the Construction Code's list of work exempt from permit contains no deck entry. The application needs an approved "Deck Addition Location Plan" reviewed by both Development Review and Stormwater Plan Review, and Gwinnett Environmental Health must sign off first if the home is on a septic system. Always confirm with the Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development, Building Division before starting.
- How much does a deck permit cost in Gwinnett County?
- Planning and Development Fee Schedule, "Building Permit Fees (Effective July 1, 2024)", footer "Revised 05/23/2024". "Other Building Permit Fees: Minor Renovation Projects (valued less than $75,000) | Residential Renovation Permit | $125" and "Extensive Renovation Projects (valued at $75,000 or greater) | Extensive Renovation Permit | $4 per $1,000 of construction value". The schedule also states "Building permit fees include Plan Review and Building Inspections" and prices reinspections at "First Follow-up Inspection $0", "Second Follow-up Inspection $50", "Third and each Subsequent Follow-up Inspection $100", with "Penalty for Construction Prior to Issuance of Permit 100% of the Permit Fee". Caution on figures: the department's older undated handout "Regulatory Requirements for Residential Permits" still prices this work at "$0.006 x Value of Construction" and the 2012-era step sheets at "$6 per $1,000 of estimated construction cost (minimum fee is $30)", both of which predate the July 1, 2024 schedule. Confirm the current amount with the Permits Section at 678-518-6020 before budgeting. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a deck permit in Gwinnett County?
- You can apply through the Gwinnett County permit portal or contact the Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development, Building Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a deck permit themselves in Gwinnett County?
- Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(h); O.C.G.A. 43-14-13(d); O.C.G.A. 43-14-14): Georgia's contractor licensing law has a true owner builder exemption at O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(h), not 43-41-17(b). A property owner may construct a building on land the owner owns and act as his or her own contractor, personally providing direct supervision and management, but only if the finished building is intended solely for occupancy by the owner and the owner's family, firm, or corporation, is not for use by the general public, and is not offered for sale or lease. If the owner sold or transferred a self-built structure within the prior 24 months, measured from that structure's certificate of occupancy, the law presumes the new project was not really for personal occupancy and the exemption is unavailable without a license. The owner may not delegate supervision to any unlicensed person, and all work must still comply with county or municipal permitting and inspection requirements. For trade work, O.C.G.A. 43-14-13(d) separately allows an individual to install, alter, or repair plumbing, heating and air conditioning fixtures, and electrical or low-voltage wiring in a residential dwelling the individual owns or occupies, again in conformity with the codes and any local permit and inspection rules. Unlicensed trade work outside these exemptions is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or six months imprisonment or both (O.C.G.A. 43-14-14). Confirm how Gwinnett County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Gwinnett County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
Planning and Development Fee Schedule, "Building Permit Fees (Effective July 1, 2024)", footer "Revised 05/23/2024", for every permit type below. The fee column shows what differs by project.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Not specified | The schedule has no separate electrical trade permit line |
| Fence Permit | It depends | height of a fence; masonry and concrete fence walls follow a separate 4 foot limit | The schedule publishes no fence line item. |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Not specified | The schedule has no separate mechanical trade permit line |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Not specified | The schedule has no separate plumbing trade permit line |
| Pool Permit | It depends | prefabricated pools installed entirely above ground that also hold no more than 5,000 gallons | The schedule publishes no swimming pool line item. |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | "Other Building Permit Fees: Minor Renovation Projects (valued less than $75,000) |... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure that contains no electrical or plumbing system | The schedule has no accessory-building line item |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | The schedule grants a discount rather than setting a separate solar price: "Green... |
Deck Permit in other Georgia localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Gwinnett County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development, Building Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Permit office
Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development, Building Division
678-518-6020Permit portalCompare
Deck Permit across Georgia