Do you need a permit for a deck in Austin?
It depends on the project. Austin exempts some decks from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 200 square feet, with the conditions in the city's wording below.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
Austin's rule“A deck that is no more than 200 square feet (18.58 m2 ) in area, is no more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling or townhouse, does not provide egress from the dwelling, and is not located within a flood hazard area.”1
City of Austin, Austin Development Services, Building - Residential
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Uncovered wooden deck construction, replacement or repair not meeting exemption | Pool or uncovered wooden deck construction, replacement or repair for a residential single-family, duplex, or two-family house lot…2 |
| Building permit | Attached deck reviewed as an addition | Please note: if the wood deck is attached to the main structure of your home, it will be considered an addition and not a small project.3 |
Limits and conditions in Austin'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 |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt up to this area | 200 square feet | A deck that is no more than 200 square feet (18.58 m2 ) in area, is no more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling or townhouse, does not provide egress from the dwelling, and is not located within a flood hazard area.1 |
| Exempt up to this height above grade | 30 inches | A deck that is no more than 200 square feet (18.58 m2 ) in area, is no more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling or townhouse, does not provide egress from the dwelling, and is not located within a flood hazard area.1 |
| Attached to the house: permit required? | Yes | Are not attached to a dwelling or townhouse…4 |
| Serves a required exit door: permit required? | Yes | Do not provide egress from the dwelling…4 |
| Like-for-like replacement exempt? | Deck-board-only repair exempt | A non-structural exterior deck repair that is limited to the existing deck boards and does not include guardrails or handrails.1 |
What to submit
- Completed application; plot plans and structural drawings3
- Structural drawings when attached/flood hazard/>200 sq ft/>30 in/serves a door3
Who can apply
- Registered general contractor (homeowner may register as GC)5
Deck permit fees in Austin
Fee lines as Austin's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Attached deck: fee by square footage (addition) | Per square foot | Attached deck assessed by square footage as an addition3 |
| Application Processing Fee | Plan review | $112.766 |
All of Austin's fee lines are on the Austin permit page.
Review time
5 business days2. This is the department's published figure, not a guarantee.
Special areas and extra reviews
- Flood hazard area: deck exemption does not apply3
Who to ask
Austin Development Services7
Building permits
- Website
- austintexas.gov7
- Apply online
- abc.austintexas.gov8
- Phone
- (512) 978-40009
- Address
- Permitting and Development Center (PDC), 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, Austin, Texas 7875210
- Hours
- Building hours Mon-Fri 7:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; standard staff service hours Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m.10
- Inspections
- Online via AB+C Portal or by phone (IVR 512-974-9405)11
Deck permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Austin 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
- Philadelphia, PA
Sources
- Work Exempt From Building Permits | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Residential Plan Review | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Residential Pool and/or Uncovered Deck Permit ApplicationCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesRevised April 5, 2023Checked November 7, 2026
- Ordinance No. 20250410-040 (2024 International Residential Code and local amendments, City Code Ch. 25-12 Art. 11)City of Austin, City CouncilEffective July 10, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- Activating a Permit | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- City of Austin Fee Schedule | Residential Building Plan Review & Inspection Permit FeesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesEffective October 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Contact Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Express Permits | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Homeowner Permitting Resources | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Visit The PDC | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Schedule a Building Inspection | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026