Forum
« antique table dissembly Ellen Kennon Paint »
July 22, 2008
When is a deck a deck?
In terms of DOB permitting...I put a door in my kitchen and since the yard is only 4 feet below I thought I'd just make stairs going down. I want to make a 4' X 5' landing for the stairs. Would that be considered a deck and need permitting? It would be wrought iron.
Comments
A deck is a deck is deck. Unless it's a landing. Which would suggest a platform between flights of stairs. Which you don't have. So it's a deck. Flippin' 'eck.
Posted by: James Patience at July 22, 2008 1:24 PM
What OP was asking is whether his "structure" is considered a deck or a non-deck, permit-wise. You didn't answer that, except tautologically.
OP, many places a "deck" at ground level does not require permits, and I wouldn't bother for something so small. Unless your door is being inspected.
Posted by: cmu at July 22, 2008 1:55 PM
Excuse my ignoraqnce, but where do you look for the DOB regulations regarding 'decks?' I have a deck behind my house. It replaced an older deck that is on the survey for my house. I would like to enlarge the deck, but I am unsure of the legal ramifications of doing it. I figure that the existing deck is covered under the existing survey. Do I need an architect to expand the deck? Do I need a permit?
Posted by: marty362 at July 22, 2008 3:38 PM
Marty you're right, it's not straightforward in the code to find deck regulations. That's because definitions of decks are covered in not in the code but in memo form "Technical Policy and Procedure Notice #4/03, Subject Decks, Porches, Terraces,Breezeways," issued by Borough Commissioner Ron Livian back in '03, the year the decks were collapsing everywhere.
If anyone wants a copy of the memo shoot me an email I can send it as a pdf. It is not very exciting reading, that's for sure.
Posted by: Smokychimp at July 23, 2008 12:06 PM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.