Deck Permit in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before building a deck or porch. Any deck attached to the house counts as an addition to an existing building and needs a building permit at any size.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
A deck in Ann Arbor always needs a permit; the area and the attachment method decide which one. Unified Development Code Section 5.29.1 requires a zoning permit for any structure costing more than $100 or measuring between 100 and 200 square feet, and a building permit once the structure exceeds 200 square feet or is an addition of any size to an existing building. The zoning compliance permits page confirms that a floating or detached deck of 200 square feet or less needs a zoning compliance permit but no building permit, while a deck ledgered to the house is an addition and needs a building permit regardless of area. Decks and porches in rear and side yards qualify for the city's expedited residential permit track.
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 or porch. Any deck attached to the house counts as an addition to an existing building and needs a building permit at any size.
What a deck permit costs in Ann Arbor
How Ann Arbor compares in Michigan
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arborthis page | Permit required | Not specified |
| Detroit | It depends | deck area |
| Grand Rapids | It depends | floor area at which a freestanding deck with supporting beams, joists or posts requires a building permit; a deck attached to or adjacent to a house requires one at any size |
| Sterling Heights | Permit required | Not specified |
How to apply in Ann Arbor
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. City of Ann Arbor Building, Rental and Inspection Services (Construction and Building), with zoning review by Planning and Development Services sets the exact checklist for Ann Arbor.
Where to apply in Ann Arbor:
City of Ann Arbor Building, Rental and Inspection Services (Construction and Building), with zoning review by Planning and Development Services
- City Hall, 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Mailing: P.O. Box 8647, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8647
- Phone: 734.794.6263 ext. 0
- Email: building@a2gov.org
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 Ann Arbor permit portal or by phone at 734.794.6263 ext. 0.
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 Ann Arbor
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before building a deck or porch. Any deck attached to the house counts as an addition to an existing building and needs a building permit at any size.
- Budget the fee. Building Permit Fees (effective October 2019, revised 7/15/2025): $15 base application fee for all permits, plus a permit fee on estimated project cost ($100 for cost up to $1,000, which includes one rough and one final inspection; $100 plus $10 per $1,000 from $1,000 to $50,000), plus a plan examination fee of 20% of the building permit fee. A deck of 200 sq ft or less that is floating or detached instead pays the zoning compliance permit fee of $25 (projects up to $10,000) or $75 (over $10,000). Expedited plan review adds a $15 expedited plan review fee on top of the $15 base application fee. 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 Ann Arbor permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. City of Ann Arbor Building, Rental and Inspection Services (Construction and Building), with zoning review by Planning and Development Services. Phone: 734.794.6263 ext. 0. Address: City Hall, 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Mailing: P.O. Box 8647, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8647.
- 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 Ann Arbor?
- A deck in Ann Arbor always needs a permit; the area and the attachment method decide which one. Unified Development Code Section 5.29.1 requires a zoning permit for any structure costing more than $100 or measuring between 100 and 200 square feet, and a building permit once the structure exceeds 200 square feet or is an addition of any size to an existing building. The zoning compliance permits page confirms that a floating or detached deck of 200 square feet or less needs a zoning compliance permit but no building permit, while a deck ledgered to the house is an addition and needs a building permit regardless of area. Decks and porches in rear and side yards qualify for the city's expedited residential permit track. Always confirm with the City of Ann Arbor Building, Rental and Inspection Services (Construction and Building), with zoning review by Planning and Development Services before starting.
- How much does a deck permit cost in Ann Arbor?
- Building Permit Fees (effective October 2019, revised 7/15/2025): $15 base application fee for all permits, plus a permit fee on estimated project cost ($100 for cost up to $1,000, which includes one rough and one final inspection; $100 plus $10 per $1,000 from $1,000 to $50,000), plus a plan examination fee of 20% of the building permit fee. A deck of 200 sq ft or less that is floating or detached instead pays the zoning compliance permit fee of $25 (projects up to $10,000) or $75 (over $10,000). Expedited plan review adds a $15 expedited plan review fee on top of the $15 base application fee. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a deck permit in Ann Arbor?
- You can apply through the Ann Arbor permit portal or contact the City of Ann Arbor Building, Rental and Inspection Services (Construction and Building), with zoning review by Planning and Development Services directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a deck permit themselves in Ann Arbor?
- Under Michigan law (MCL 339.2403(b), (c); MCL 339.2401(a)(iii), (b)(ii)(A); MCL 339.5737(3)(g); MCL 339.6107(2)(d); MCL 339.5819): Yes. A Michigan homeowner may pull the building permit and do the work on their own home without a residential builder license, because the licensing article both defines the trade to exclude them and exempts them outright. MCL 339.2401(a)(iii) says a residential builder is a person that erects a residential structure except for the person's own use and occupancy on the person's property, and MCL 339.2403(b) exempts an owner of property with reference to a structure on the property for the owner's own use and occupancy. Own use and occupancy is the condition, so the exemption does not cover building to sell, and MCL 339.2403(c) limits owners of rental property to maintenance and alteration of that property. The statute sets no cap on how many times a homeowner may use the exemption; the only frequency rule in the article catches purchase, substantial rehabilitation, and resale of the same structure more than twice in 1 calendar year, and MCL 339.2401(b)(ii)(A) exempts work for the person's own use and occupancy from even that. Homeowners can also pull their own trade permits: electrical work in a single family home and accompanying outbuildings owned and occupied or to be occupied by the person doing the work (MCL 339.5737(3)(g)), their own plumbing, building sewer, or private sewer in their single-family dwelling if a permit is secured (MCL 339.6107(2)(d)), and a heating or refrigerating system if the owner affirms in the permit application that they are or will become the owner and occupant (MCL 339.5819). Confirm how Ann Arbor applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Ann Arbor
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 | Electrical Permit Fees (effective January 2020): $15 base application fee for all... |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Not specified | The Planning Services Fence Guidelines handout (revised 3/3/2025) states a flat Fence... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Mechanical Permit Fees (effective July 1, 2017): $15 base application fee required for... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Not specified | No patio specific line item is published. |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Plumbing Permit Fees (effective July 1, 2017): $15 base application fee required for all... |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Building Permit Fees (effective October 2019, revised 7/15/2025) carries a flat line... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | Not specified | No roofing line item is published. |
| Shed Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Building Permit Fees (effective October 2019, revised 7/15/2025), under the Zoning... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | For expedited residential solar the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System Permitting Checklist... |
Deck Permit in other Michigan localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Ann Arbor documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with City of Ann Arbor Building, Rental and Inspection Services (Construction and Building), with zoning review by Planning and Development Services. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Permit office
City of Ann Arbor Building, Rental and Inspection Services (Construction and Building), with zoning review by Planning and Development Services
734.794.6263 ext. 0Permit portalCompare
Deck Permit across Michigan