A deck addition is a great investment and it has a good return. Outdoor living spaces are sought after, which can give you a competitive edge if you ever want to sell your house. A deck addition can increase functional outdoor living space, creating a place for spending time with family and friends. In most cases, building a deck requires a permit.
Building codes and regulations will vary slightly from city to city, but it’s likely that obtaining a permit for your construction project is necessary. For example, decks that are higher than 2 feet above grade will require a building permit. The first thing you should do, before hiring deck contractors or attempting a DIY deck-building weekend, is check with your local municipality and find out what is required.
If you don’t get a deck permit, you could run into some trouble down the road. In some jurisdictions, you could be dinged with a fine. The consequences might be tearing down the deck and building a new one. If you hire a deck contractor and they don’t obtain a permit, there is no way of knowing if they built compliant to building code.
Building code exists to ensure structures are built properly and safely. Whether you did it yourself or a hired a company, building outside of code regulations could make your deck hazardous. Without a permit there is no guarantee that the work is quality or that the deck is safe. Someone could get seriously injured. In some cases, a contractor that builds without a permit can be penalized.
infographic by: blog.renovationfind.com
