Deck Permit in Kansas City, Missouri
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a deck or platform that is more than 30 inches above grade at any point, or that sits over a basement or a story below, whatever its height.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
A building permit is required for a deck in Kansas City unless it clears both halves of the Sec. 18-16(b)(1)g exemption: it is not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, and it is not over any basement or story below. The second half is easy to miss, so a low platform built over a walkout basement is permitted work even though it is under 30 inches. Unlike many cities, Kansas City does not attach an area cap or an "attached to the dwelling" test to the exemption, so a large ground level deck can be exempt. Zoning sets the geometry: under Sec. 88-820-12 a deck or balcony of less than 500 square feet on a detached house may extend into the rear setback provided at least a 20 foot rear setback is kept, and decks may not encroach into the front setback. An uncovered, conventional light framed open deck is one of the few residential projects the department excuses from full plan review under Information Bulletin IB100, so the application is a description of the work plus a site plan; a sealed staked land survey is required since January 1, 2024 for new structures and additions, but an open one- or two-family deck more than five feet from a property line may use a plain site plan instead.
Typical threshold: height of a platform or deck above grade at any point, where it is also not located over any basement or story below.
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 platform that is more than 30 inches above grade at any point, or that sits over a basement or a story below, whatever its height.
What a deck permit costs in Kansas City
How Kansas City compares in Missouri
Closest deck permit thresholds outside Missouri
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Kansas City's 30 inches above grade.
- Arlington, Texas, height of an uncovered deck above grade at any point
- Aurora, Colorado, deck height above grade at which a permit is required regardless of whether the deck is attached to the house
- Clark County, Washington, Exempt only if the deck does not exceed 200 square feet, is not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, does not serve a required exit door, and is not used for a hot tub or pool; all other decks require a permit.
- Los Angeles County, California, height of the deck surface above grade; the exemption also requires the deck not to be over any basement or story below and not to be part of an accessible route
How to apply in Kansas City
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. Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall) sets the exact checklist for Kansas City.
Where to apply in Kansas City:
Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall)
- City Planning and Development Department, Permits Division, City Hall 5th floor, 414 E 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64106
- Phone: 816-513-1500
- Email: cdpermits@kcmo.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 Kansas City permit portal or by phone at 816-513-1500.
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 Kansas City
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: height of a platform or deck above grade at any point, where it is also not located over any basement or story below. Usually needed: Before building a deck or platform that is more than 30 inches above grade at any point, or that sits over a basement or a story below, whatever its height.
- Budget the fee. A deck over the exemption is a building permit priced from the one- and two-family valuation table in Sec. 18-20(b)(2): $52.00 up to $1,000.00 of valuation, $58.00 from $1,001.00 to $2,000.00, then $58.00 for the first $2,000.00 plus $4.33 per additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof to $100,000.00. Sec. 18-20 was last amended by Ord. No. 220612, Sec. 1, 10-27-22. One- and two-family work carries no separate construction document review fee. A reinspection is $75.00 under Sec. 18-20(h)(6), and building without the permit first triples the permit fee under Sec. 18-20(e)(2). 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 Kansas City permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall). Phone: 816-513-1500. Address: City Planning and Development Department, Permits Division, City Hall 5th floor, 414 E 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64106.
- 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 Kansas City?
- A building permit is required for a deck in Kansas City unless it clears both halves of the Sec. 18-16(b)(1)g exemption: it is not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, and it is not over any basement or story below. The second half is easy to miss, so a low platform built over a walkout basement is permitted work even though it is under 30 inches. Unlike many cities, Kansas City does not attach an area cap or an "attached to the dwelling" test to the exemption, so a large ground level deck can be exempt. Zoning sets the geometry: under Sec. 88-820-12 a deck or balcony of less than 500 square feet on a detached house may extend into the rear setback provided at least a 20 foot rear setback is kept, and decks may not encroach into the front setback. An uncovered, conventional light framed open deck is one of the few residential projects the department excuses from full plan review under Information Bulletin IB100, so the application is a description of the work plus a site plan; a sealed staked land survey is required since January 1, 2024 for new structures and additions, but an open one- or two-family deck more than five feet from a property line may use a plain site plan instead. Height of a platform or deck above grade at any point, where it is also not located over any basement or story below. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a deck permit cost in Kansas City?
- A deck over the exemption is a building permit priced from the one- and two-family valuation table in Sec. 18-20(b)(2): $52.00 up to $1,000.00 of valuation, $58.00 from $1,001.00 to $2,000.00, then $58.00 for the first $2,000.00 plus $4.33 per additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof to $100,000.00. Sec. 18-20 was last amended by Ord. No. 220612, Sec. 1, 10-27-22. One- and two-family work carries no separate construction document review fee. A reinspection is $75.00 under Sec. 18-20(h)(6), and building without the permit first triples the permit fee under Sec. 18-20(e)(2). See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a deck permit in Kansas City?
- You can apply through the Kansas City permit portal or contact the Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a deck permit themselves in Kansas City?
- Under Missouri law (RSMo 701.055.1 and 701.055.2; RSMo 327.101.2(5)(a); RSMo 327.191.2(5)(a); RSMo 700.656.5): Missouri does not license general contractors at the state level and has no statewide owner-builder permit statute, disclosure affidavit, or resale restriction comparable to Florida's one year rule. Whether a homeowner may pull the permit and do the work is decided by the city or county that issues the permit. Where state law does speak, it is permissive: RSMo 327.101.2(5)(a) and RSMo 327.191.2(5)(a) let an unlicensed person render architectural and engineering services for the construction, remodeling or repair of a privately owned dwelling house, provided the drawings say the person is not licensed, so plans for a house do not have to be sealed by an architect or engineer. RSMo 701.055.1 expressly preserves a property owner's right to install, modify or repair their own on-site sewage disposal system as long as the state standard is met, and RSMo 701.055.2 adds that no permit or contractor registration is required simply to clean it. RSMo 700.656.5 exempts a person who installs a manufactured home on his or her own property for his or her own occupancy from the otherwise mandatory state installer license. None of these exemptions excuses a local permit where the local jurisdiction requires one. Confirm how Kansas City applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Kansas City
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Not specified | Electrical permits for one- and two-family detached dwellings are priced from the same... |
| Fence Permit | No permit needed | Not specified | There is no fence permit and no fence permit fee. |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Not specified | Mechanical permits for one- and two-family detached dwellings run on the same valuation... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Not specified | A flat patio on existing grade is exempt and costs nothing. |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Not specified | Plumbing permits for one- and two-family detached dwellings use the Sec. |
| Pool Permit | It depends | water capacity of a prefabricated above ground pool accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling that is also less than 24 inches deep with its walls entirely above the adjacent grade | The pool building permit is priced from the one- and two-family valuation table in Sec. |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | Not specified | An exempt reroof costs nothing. |
| Shed Permit | It depends | projected roof area of a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse, garage, carport or similar use | A shed that needs a permit is a general building permit priced from the one- and... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Each trade permit is priced from the one- and two-family valuation table in Sec. |
Deck Permit in other Missouri localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Kansas City documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Permit office
Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall)
816-513-1500Permit portalCompare
Deck Permit across Missouri