Do you need a permit for a deck in Philadelphia?
Yes. Philadelphia requires a permit for a deck1.
On this page
Yes
Philadelphia's rule“Obtain zoning and building permits for building a deck without submitting plans by meeting the Conditions and Construction Requirements below.”1
City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and Inspections, p.1 intro
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Building a deck | Obtain zoning and building permits for building a deck without submitting plans by meeting the Conditions and Construction Requirements below.1 |
| Zoning permit or review | Deck more than 12 in. above ground or over a basement/story | Decks. A deck can’t be more than 12 in. above the ground or over any basement or other story.2 |
Limits and conditions in Philadelphia's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Express permit: maximum area | 160 square feet | Maximum size of deck: 160 sq ft [or 216 sq. ft. with intermediate post installations]…1 |
| Guard required above this height | 30 inches | A structure 12” above grade is a deck, if the deck is 30” above grade it requires a guard rail…1 |
| Express permit: rear yard only? | Yes | Deck must be in the rear yard. The deck cannot be in the front or side yards.1 |
Zoning rules: separate from the building permit
A project can be exempt from one and still need the other (zoning vs building permits).
| Zoning rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning exemption up to this height above grade | 12 inches | Decks. A deck can’t be more than 12 in. above the ground or over any basement or other story.2 |
Who can apply
- Owner residing in existing one-or-two-family home may perform EZ work3
Who to ask
Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I)4
Building permits
- Apply online
- eclipse.phila.gov4
- Phone
- 311; (215) 686-8686 outside Philadelphia5
- Address
- 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 191024
- Hours
- Permit and License Center (MSB, Public Service Concourse): 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; by appointment5
- Inspections
- ECLIPSE or IVR (215) 255-40405
Deck permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Philadelphia with 18 other cities on the national deck permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Austin, TX
Sources
- EZ Permit Standard: Deck (PB_018_F)City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsRevised August 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Get a Zoning PermitCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 5, 2026
- Get permits without plans (EZ permits)City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- Department of Licenses and Inspections | HomepageCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- Get a Building PermitCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026