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March 24, 2008
Deck permits
Do you need a permit to build a wooden deck in your backyard if it is freestanding and not connected to your home? I am not in a historic district if that makes a difference. Thanks!
Comments
My understanding is if it's movable it is considered furniture and thusly does not require a permit. Once you pour footings or attach it to your home or other structure you run into problems.
Posted by: Bklyn Fire Alarm Guy at March 24, 2008 11:29 AM
I belive that any wooden structure (or other flammable structure) has to be at least three feet away from the property line you share with a next-door neighbor.
Posted by: teamslap at March 24, 2008 2:03 PM
Do yourself a favor and take out a permit for the construction of the deck regardless where it's built. It keeps the contactor you hire honest. You want to make sure he or she pours the footings to the required depth and builds the deck to code. I could never understand why people think taking a permit out is a bad thing. Remember it's for your own protection. If something happens and someone gets injured, the first thing your insurance company is going to ask is: Did you take a permit for the construction of the deck?
Food for thought.
Posted by: wholesalerbill at March 26, 2008 3:16 PM
Actually, it's not terribly difficult to understand why people don't get permits: hiring an architect to apply for the permit costs $4,000 and up.
Posted by: guest at March 28, 2008 11:07 AM
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