Deck Permit in Henrico County, Virginia
By Mario Bailey Last checked 2026-07-06 · 3 official sources
Verified against official sources Confirmed on official pagePermit required
Quick answer
A building permit is required in Henrico County to build a new deck on footings or posts, enclose an existing deck, or make structural repairs involving rails, structural members, or stairs, per the county's own Permit Center guidance. The Virginia USBC's permit exemptions do not include decks, consistent with practice across Virginia localities.
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?
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When a permit is usually needed
Before building a new deck, enclosing an existing deck, or making structural repairs to rails, framing, or stairs
What your deck permit must meet in Virginia
Under Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code, which adopts the 2021 International Residential Code, a residential deck must meet prescriptive rules for guards, stairs, footings, and how the deck ties to the house. These are the concrete numbers a homeowner needs before building.
- Guards are required wherever the deck floor is more than 30 inches above grade (measured 36 inches out from the deck edge), and those guards must be at least 36 inches tall.
- Guard and railing openings must be small enough that a 4-inch diameter sphere cannot pass through any opening.
- Stairs are limited to a maximum riser height of 8 1/4 inches and a minimum tread depth of 9 inches, with individual steps not varying by more than 3/8 inch, and a minimum stair width of 36 inches.
- Any stairway with four or more risers must have a handrail on at least one side, mounted 34 to 38 inches above the stair nosing.
- Footings must bear on solid, undisturbed ground below the local frost line (24 inches below grade in Fairfax County and Northern Virginia), going deeper if solid ground is not reached, using concrete of at least 3,000 psi.
- The ledger board must be positively bolted to the house with 1/2-inch lag screws or through-bolts (not nails alone), be at least a 2x8 and no shallower than the deck joists, use continuous flashing, and may not be attached through brick veneer.
- Deck framing follows prescriptive span tables for joists, beams, and footings and is designed for a 40 psf live load (IRC R507).
Based on Virginia USBC / 2021 Virginia Residential Code (2021 IRC): R312 guards, R311.7 stairs, R403.1.4 footing depth, R507 decks. Read the code. Local amendments can be stricter; confirm the current requirement with your office before you build.
What deck permit costs in Henrico County
Existing-dwelling addition or alteration permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000 of labor and materials cost, plus $6 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, plus a 2% state levy; total capped at $693.60, per Henrico's residential building permit fee schedule.
How Henrico County compares in Virginia
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington County | Permit required | No size exemption is published for decks; new decks and deck modifications are treated as additions requiring a Residential Building Permit. |
| Chesterfield County | Permit required | Not specified |
| Fairfax County | Permit required | Not specified |
| Henrico Countythis page | Permit required | Not specified |
| Loudoun County | Permit required | Not specified |
| Orange County | Permit required | Not specified |
| Prince William County | It depends | building permit required if deck floor is 16.5 inches or more above finished grade |
How to apply in Henrico 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. Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections sets the exact checklist for Henrico County.
Where to apply in Henrico County:
Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections
- 4301 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228
- Phone: (804) 501-4360
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 Henrico County permit portal or by phone at (804) 501-4360.
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 Henrico County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before building a new deck, enclosing an existing deck, or making structural repairs to rails, framing, or stairs.
- Budget the fee. Existing-dwelling addition or alteration permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000 of labor and materials cost, plus $6 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, plus a 2% state levy; total capped at $693.60, per Henrico's residential building permit fee schedule. 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 Henrico County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections. Phone: (804) 501-4360. Address: 4301 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228.
- 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 2026-07-06.
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Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a deck permit in Henrico County?
- A building permit is required in Henrico County to build a new deck on footings or posts, enclose an existing deck, or make structural repairs involving rails, structural members, or stairs, per the county's own Permit Center guidance. The Virginia USBC's permit exemptions do not include decks, consistent with practice across Virginia localities. Always confirm with the Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections before starting.
- How much does a deck permit cost in Henrico County?
- Existing-dwelling addition or alteration permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000 of labor and materials cost, plus $6 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, plus a 2% state levy; total capped at $693.60, per Henrico's residential building permit fee schedule. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a deck permit in Henrico County?
- You can apply through the Henrico County permit portal or contact the Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a deck permit themselves in Henrico County?
- Under Virginia law (Va. Code 54.1-1101(A); 13VAC5-63-80 (USBC Sections 108.3, 108.4)): Yes. Va. Code 54.1-1101(A) exempts any person who performs or supervises construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by them and for their own use during any 24-month period. The exemption covers the whole licensing chapter, including tradesman licensing for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, so it reaches trade work on the owner's own primary residence. Under the USBC the permit applicant may be the owner or the owner's agent, and an applicant may file a written statement that they are not subject to licensure instead of proof of license. Limits: one primary residence per 24 months, for the owner's own use; rental and investment property work is not covered. Confirm how Henrico County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Henrico County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom Remodel Permit | It depends | Not specified | Falls under the existing-dwelling building permit formula of $100 for the first $5,000... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Existing-dwelling trade permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000 of labor and mate... |
| EV Charger Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No EV-specific fee; |
| Fence Permit | It depends | fences 7 feet or less in height that do not serve as a swimming pool barrier are exempt; taller fences and any fence serving as a pool barrier require a building permit | Fences up to 7 feet that are not a pool barrier need no permit; |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Existing-dwelling trade permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000 of labor and mate... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | on-grade concrete or paver patios are exempt; a permit is required for a patio cover, roofed patio structure, or an addition built over or attached to the patio | No permit fee; |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Existing-dwelling trade permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000 of labor and mate... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | pools, hot tubs, or spas with a surface area greater than 150 sq ft, more than 5,000 gallons, or 24 inches or more deep require a building permit; smaller and shallower pools are exempt | Existing-dwelling addition or alteration permit fee applies to swimming pools requiring... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | like-for-like replacement of roof covering on one- and two-family homes is exempt in areas with nominal design wind speed of 100 mph or less; a permit is required when more than 256 sq ft of roof sheathing (decking) is repaired or replaced and may be required in historic districts or flood hazard areas | Roof covering replacement is exempt in unlimited amounts so typical reroofing needs no... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | sheds and playhouses over 256 sq ft or more than one story require a building permit; 256 sq ft or less and only one story is exempt | Sheds of 256 sq ft or less and one story need no permit; |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential solar needs only an electrical permit with no separate building permit per... |
| Water Heater Permit | It depends | Not specified | Electric, gas and oil water heaters need a mechanical permit for new or replacement ins... |
Deck Permit in other Virginia localities
Official sources
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title13/agency5/chapter63/section80/
- https://henrico.gov/permitcenter/permit-required/
- https://henrico.gov/permitcenter/permit-not-required/
- https://www.grafton-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17797/2021-IRC-Residential-Deck-Guide
- https://www.spearfish.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5233/Residential-Deck-handout-PDF
- https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment/sites/landdevelopment/files/assets/documents/pdf/publications/deck-details.pdf
Verified by a person against the sources above on 2026-07-06, not confirmed with Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: 2026-07-06Report an error on this page
Permit office
Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections
(804) 501-4360Permit portalCompare
Deck Permit across Virginia