Deck Permit in New York City, New York
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before constructing or altering any deck or porch, including at a one- or two-family house.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
DOB requires a work permit for every new or altered deck or porch, with no size or height exemption published. Only a New York State licensed professional engineer or registered architect may design the deck, and construction may not begin until DOB has approved the construction plans and issued the permit. DOB publishes the design limits separately: decks and balconies may project up to 8 feet from the building into the rear yard, must be at least 3 feet from the side property lines, need 42-inch guards with no more than 5 inches between rails or posts, and must carry at least 40 pounds per square foot. Renovation permits are issued to a licensed General Contractor, who must also hold a Home Improvement Contractor license from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
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 constructing or altering any deck or porch, including at a one- or two-family house.
What a deck permit costs in New York City
Line itemAmountApplies to
deck permitBy formulaFiled as an alteration on form PW1. Table 28-112.2 item 11 (Alteration work permit: One-, two- or three-family dwelling) sets a minimum filing fee of $170.00 for Alteration Type 1 and $130.00 for Alteration Type 2 or Type 3, being the "Minimum filing fee for the first $5,000, or fraction thereof, of the cost of alteration; plus $2.60 for each $1,000, or fraction thereof, of cost of alterations in excess of $5,000." Renewal is $130.00 per work type. DOB's PW3 fee-structure sheet (Rev. 04/25) confirms that alteration work types are priced on construction cost and require a PW3 statement of cost.
Fee schedule in forceOfficial scheduleRead . Fees are the jurisdiction’s; we do not mark them up or estimate them.
How New York City compares in New York
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | Permit required | Not specified |
| New York Citythis page | Permit required | Not specified |
| Rochester | It depends | height of the deck surface above grade |
| Town of Brookhaven | It depends | deck rising more than eight inches above grade at any point |
| Town of Hempstead | Permit required | Not specified |
How to apply in New York 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. New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) sets the exact checklist for New York City.
Where to apply in New York City:
New York City Department of Buildings (DOB)
- 280 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
- Phone: (212) 566-5000
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 New York City permit portal or by phone at (212) 566-5000.
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 New York City
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before constructing or altering any deck or porch, including at a one- or two-family house.
- Budget the fee. Filed as an alteration on form PW1. Table 28-112.2 item 11 (Alteration work permit: One-, two- or three-family dwelling) sets a minimum filing fee of $170.00 for Alteration Type 1 and $130.00 for Alteration Type 2 or Type 3, being the "Minimum filing fee for the first $5,000, or fraction thereof, of the cost of alteration; plus $2.60 for each $1,000, or fraction thereof, of cost of alterations in excess of $5,000." Renewal is $130.00 per work type. DOB's PW3 fee-structure sheet (Rev. 04/25) confirms that alteration work types are priced on construction cost and require a PW3 statement of cost. 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 New York City permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. New York City Department of Buildings (DOB). Phone: (212) 566-5000. Address: 280 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.
- 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 New York City?
- DOB requires a work permit for every new or altered deck or porch, with no size or height exemption published. Only a New York State licensed professional engineer or registered architect may design the deck, and construction may not begin until DOB has approved the construction plans and issued the permit. DOB publishes the design limits separately: decks and balconies may project up to 8 feet from the building into the rear yard, must be at least 3 feet from the side property lines, need 42-inch guards with no more than 5 inches between rails or posts, and must carry at least 40 pounds per square foot. Renovation permits are issued to a licensed General Contractor, who must also hold a Home Improvement Contractor license from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Always confirm with the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) before starting.
- How much does a deck permit cost in New York City?
- Filed as an alteration on form PW1. Table 28-112.2 item 11 (Alteration work permit: One-, two- or three-family dwelling) sets a minimum filing fee of $170.00 for Alteration Type 1 and $130.00 for Alteration Type 2 or Type 3, being the "Minimum filing fee for the first $5,000, or fraction thereof, of the cost of alteration; plus $2.60 for each $1,000, or fraction thereof, of cost of alterations in excess of $5,000." Renewal is $130.00 per work type. DOB's PW3 fee-structure sheet (Rev. 04/25) confirms that alteration work types are priced on construction cost and require a PW3 statement of cost. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a deck permit in New York City?
- You can apply through the New York City permit portal or contact the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a deck permit themselves in New York City?
- Under New York law (Inside New York City: NYC Admin. Code 28-104.1, 28-105.1, 28-105.4, 28-105.5.1, 28-401.3 (definition of "general contractor"). Outside New York City: N.Y. Exec. Law 381(2); 19 NYCRR 1203.3(a)(1).): New York State sets no owner-builder rule at all outside New York City. Executive Law 381(2) puts administration and enforcement in the hands of each local government, and 19 NYCRR 1203.3(a)(1) only requires each authority having jurisdiction to make building permits mandatory for work that must conform to the codes, leaving who may apply to local law. The state licenses no general contractors and imposes no owner-builder affidavit, disclosure form or post-permit sale restriction of the kind Florida uses, so whether a homeowner may pull the permit is a question for the specific city, town, village or county. New York City is the genuine outlier. Administrative Code 28-105.1 makes the work itself unlawful without a written permit, and Administrative Code 28-104.1 bars the department from issuing that permit until it approves the required construction documents, which must be prepared by or under the supervision of a registered design professional, meaning a licensed architect or engineer, as required by the code. A homeowner therefore cannot self-prepare and file the plans for permit-requiring work in New York City even though Administrative Code 28-105.5.1 defines the permit applicant as the person who performs the work or retains a subcontractor, and even though the general contractor registration definition in Administrative Code 28-401.3 expressly excludes an individual who constructs a residential structure of no more than three dwelling units for his or her own occupancy. Note that Administrative Code 28-105.4 exempts minor alterations and ordinary repairs from the permit requirement entirely, so the design professional bottleneck applies only to work that needs a permit in the first place. Confirm how New York City applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in New York 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 | Table 28-112.2 item 16, "Permit for electrical work," is "As provided by department... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | fences accessory to one- and two-family dwellings, measured from the higher of the two adjoining grades | No DOB filing fee where the fence is exempt. |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | packaged air-conditioning units installed in an existing one- or two-family dwelling that are not part of an alteration otherwise requiring a permit; the same exemption is capped at 3 tons in all other buildings | No DOB filing fee where the unit fits the 1 RCNY 101-14 exemption. |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | direct replacement of an existing fixture or faucet that does not alter the hot and cold shutoff valves or the fixture trap | Limited Alteration Application is the usual homeowner-scale route. |
| Pool Permit | It depends | outdoor in-ground or above-ground pools accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling, where the distance from the edge of an in-ground pool to any building or lot line exceeds the depth of the deepest part of the pool and a slop sink for indirect waste already exists or is installed under a plumbing permit | No DOB filing fee for a pool that meets the 1 RCNY 101-14 Table 1 exemption, though a... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | the permit requirement turns on whether the roof deck or sheathing is replaced, and on whether the NYC Energy Conservation Code calls for additional thermal insulation | No DOB filing fee for reroofing that stays above the deck. |
| Shed Permit | It depends | temporary portable freestanding sheds accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling that are also no more than 7 feet 6 inches high, at least 3 feet from every lot line, used for household storage, do not obstruct a required window, and are the only such shed on the tax lot | No DOB filing fee where the shed meets every condition in 1 RCNY 101-14 Table 1. |
| Solar Permit | It depends | solar landscape lights are the only solar work DOB exempts from permit | Solar Panels is work type SL, an alteration priced on construction cost and requiring a... |
Deck Permit in other New York localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not New York City documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with New York City Department of Buildings (DOB). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
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