This Information Bulletin describes the minimum requirements for obtaining a building permit for an attached or detached deck accessory to a single-family dwelling or a duplex. The information bulletin cannot be used for decks located closer than 5 feet from a property line or when heavy concentrated loads such as equipment or a hot tub are placed on the deck. The information and sample drawings provided herein are suitable as a guide and cannot be used for construction. Project-specific construction plans must be drawn and provided for review. Decks containing unusual design features and framing irregularities must be designed by a registered design professional (licensed architect or civil engineer).

When Is a Permit Required?

A building permit is required for any residential deck that exceeds 200 square feet in area, when located more than 30 inches above grade at any point, when attached to a dwelling, or when it serves as the main exit door of the dwelling.

Submittal Requirements

1. Forms
   1. Project Contacts Information Form (DS-345)

   2. Owner-Builder Verification Form

      This form is required if the property owner is acting as the general contractor. If you are not a licensed contractor and intend on performing the work yourself or hiring licensed subcontractors, an Owner-Builder Verification form (DS-3042) must be completed and submitted with your project documents.

   3. Water Meter Data Card

      A Water Meter Data Card (DS-16) must be completed if new plumbing fixtures are being added. This form is not required when replacing or relocating existing fixtures.

2. Plans

   Plans must be drawn to scale and be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the proposed work. Existing and proposed construction should be clearly shown. Plans must show that all work conforms to the provisions of the current edition of the California Residential Code (CRC), the San Diego Municipal Code, and all other relevant laws, ordinances and regulations applicable in the City of San Diego.

   1. Site plan and vicinity map (See Figure 1)

      For detailed information, see Information Bulletin 122. For the required setback when the deck is located on a sloping site, see Figure 2.

   2. Plans for decks shall be in accordance to one of the following:
      1. Project-specific construction plans and framing system determined in accordance with this Information Bulletin. To facilitate plan review also mark on the bulletin the selected structural framing sizes such as decking, joists, beams, posts, foundation, etc.
      2. Engineered framed deck plans and design calculations. The plans should include a deck framing plan, foundation plan, elevations, cross sections, connection details, etc.

   3. Overall plan

      When the deck is proposed to be attached or located directly adjacent to an existing dwelling, include a floor plan of the deck and the existing dwelling and show the following information:

      1. The use and dimensions for all rooms in the building opening onto the deck.
      2. The location and size of all windows and doors opening onto the deck from those rooms.
      3. The location of the main exit door to the dwelling.
   4. Deck framing (See Figure 3)
      1. Framing members
         • Decking and nailing (See Table F)
         • Size of joists and beams (See Table A, B and C)
         • Joist connection over beams (See Table F)
         • Joist hung from ledgers (See Figure 8, Case 1)
         • Size of posts based on the maximum heights (See Table D)
         • Post footing and connection (See Table E, Figure 6)
      2. Lateral bracing
         • Conventional diagonal bracing member and connection to beam and post, or decorative-diagonal bracings with an equal of the net area and (See Figure 4 and 10)
         • Hold-downs at end of attached deck to existing dwelling (See Figure 11)
         • Additional diagonal bracing for detached deck parallel to the exterior wall of existing dwelling (See Figure 8, Case 2)

      3. Stair handrails

         A handrail is required at least on one side of stairs with four or more risers. The required handrail shall be one of the following types:

         • Handrails with a circular cross section shall have an outside diameter of at least 1.25 inches and not greater than 2 inches.
         • If the handrail is not circular, it shall have a perimeter dimension of at least 4 inches and not greater than 6.25 inches with a maximum cross-section dimension of 2.25 inches. Edges shall have a minimum radius of 0.01 inch.

      4. Guards

         Guards shall be provided along the open side of a deck or stairs that are located more than 30 inches above the grade below. Guards shall be not less than 42” high, and openings in guards shall not allow passage of a sphere 4 inches in diameter. (see Figures 5, 9 and 10).

Additional Regulations

1. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

   When a deck is attached to a house or when the exterior wall of the dwelling is modified, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed within the dwelling as required per Section R314 and R315 of the California Residential Code (CRC).

2. Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ)

   When a deck is attached to an existing dwelling that is located on a lot within the VHFHSZ and if the building permit application for the existing house was deemed complete on or after 8/27/2009, or any detached deck located in a VHFHSZ (map per San Diego Municipal Code (SDMC) Section 55.9401) , the material and method of construction used for the deck shall comply with CRC Section R337, as amended by.

3. Brush Management Zone

   When a deck located within a Brush Management Zone, it shall comply with the City of San Diego’s Landscape Regulations, SDMC Section 142.0412.

4. Zoning and Planning Regulations

   The following regulations typically apply to residential deck additions. Please consult the City of San Diego’s Land Development Code for all zoning regulations that may apply to your project.

5. Historical Review

   1. Designated Historic

      If the project involves any parcel containing designated historical resource, or is located within the boundaries of an adopted historic district, plans will be required and shall be submitted for Historical Review. Please refer to Information Bulletin 581, Designated Historical Resource Review for additional Historic Review information.

   2. Potential Historic Resource

      If the site contains buildings or structures 45 years old or older, and the scope includes any exterior work (except in-kind roof repair and replacement), plans and other information will be required and shall be submitted for Historical Review. For other potential historic review exemptions, see Municipal Code Section 143.0212.

Options for Review Process

Plans for residential decks that require a building permit must be submitted electronically through the online portal, selecting Building Permit.

Project Fees

The following fees are required to be paid prior to review unless otherwise indicated below. For your convenience, DSD offers online payments. Payment may also be made in person by cash, check, debit card, Visa or MasterCard credit cards. Checks shall be in the exact amount, drawn on US banks, and made payable to the “City Treasurer.”

Refer to Information Bulletin 501, Fee Schedule, Construction Permits - Structures for all applicable fees.

Inspections

For inspection requirements, refer to Information Bulletin 120.

Figures 

Figure 1-Sample Deck Site Plan 

 

Figure 2-Structures on or Adjacent to Slope 

 

Figure 3-Typical Deck 

 

Figure 4-Post-to-Girder Connection

 

Figure 5-Typical Deck Elevation, Parallel to Rear of Dwelling 

 

Figure 6-Typical Footing Detail

 

Figure 7-Typical Stair Detail 

 

Figure 8-Typical Ledger Detail

Case 1-Leger to Rim Joist Connection (Attached Deck)

 

Case 2 –Rim Joist/Blocking at Stem Wall Connection (Detached Deck)

 

Figure 9 – Typical Guard Detail

 

Figure 10 – Typical Deck Elevation

 

Figure 11 – Deck Attachment for Lateral Loads

 

Table A - Allowable Span for Deck Joists (ft. - in.) ^1,2,3 

Species	Size	Spacing of Joists (inches)
		12	16	24
Douglas fir-Larch #2 or Redwood #1	2x6	6-9	6-2	5-1
	2x8	8-10	7-10	6-6
	2x10	11-2	9-7	7-10
	2x12	12-9	11-2	9-1

1. Live Load= 60 psf, Dead load= 10 psf, L/△=360
2. If joists within 8" inches of grade, use Pressure-Treated Douglas Fir-Larch or foundation-Grade Redwood.
3. Include incising factor (Ci=0.8)

 

Table B - Cantilever Length for Deck Joists (ft. - in.) ^1,2,5

Size	Spacing (inches)3,4
	12	16	24
2x6	1-0	0-10	0-9
2x8	1-7	1-6	1-5
2x10	2-5	2-2	2-0
2x12	3-2	2-10	2-3

1. Live Load= 60 psf, Dead load= 10 psf, L/△=240
2. The maximum cantilever length shall also be limited to one-fourth of the joist span.
3. Joist spacing for diagonal decking shall not exceed 16 inches.
4. Cantilever span includes 220 lbs. point load applied to end.
5. Solid blocking shall be provided between joists over the support. 

 

Table C-Deck Beams

Beam span lengths (ft.-in.)^1,2,3,4,6,7

 

Species	Size5	Joist span less than or equal to:8
		6 ft.	8 ft.	10 ft.	12 ft.	14 ft.	16 ft.	18 ft.
Douglas Fir-Larch #2  Redwood #1	3 x 6 or 2- 2 x 6	3-9	3-3	3-0	-	-	-	-
	3 x 8 or 2- 2 x 8	4-9	4-3	3-9	3-5	3-2	-	-
	3 x 10 or 2- 2 x 10	5-10	5-2	4-7	4-3	3-10	3-7	3-4
	3 x 12 or 2- 2 x 12	6-10	5-11	5-3	4-10	4-6	4-3	4-0
	4 x 6	4-6	3-10	3-5	3-3	-	-	-
	4 x 8	5-11	5-2	4-7	4-3	3-10	3-9	3-5
	4 x 10	7-0	6-2	5-4	4-10	4-6	4-3	3-10
	4 x 12	8-2	7-1	6-4	5-8	5-3	4-10	4-7
	3- 2 x 6	5-3	4-9	4-3	3-10	3-7	3-4	3-2
	3- 2 x 8	6-9	6-0	5-3	5-0	4-7	4-3	4-0
	3- 2 x 10	8-6	7-5	6-7	5-8	6-0	5-3	5-0
	3- 2 x 12	9-10	8-6	7-8	7-0	6-5	6-0	5-8

1. Live Load= 60 psf, Dead load= 10 psf, L/△=360 at main span.
2. Beams supporting deck joists from one side only. See footnote (8) below for beams supporting cantilevered joists.
3. Beam depth shall be greater than or equal to depth of joists with a flush beam condition.
4. Beams within 8" of grade shall be Pressure-Treated Douglas Fir-Larch or Foundation-Grade Redwood.
5. Beam piles shall be fastened with two rows of 10d threaded nails or #10d nails at 16"on center along the edges.
6. Beams are permitted to cantilever not more than one-fourth of the span.
7. Include incising factor (Ci=0.8).
8. Beams supporting cantilevered joists:

To select a joist span from Table, use span length equal to joist span length + 125%  of cantilevered length. 

(Example: Joist with 12 ft. span & 3 ft. cantilevered length, calculated joist span = 12'+125% x (3')=15.75' therefore, beam allowable span shall be based on 16' joist span).

 

Table D-Deck Posts ^1,2 

Post Size	Maximum Height 3
4 x 4	4'-10" 4
4 x 6	7'-0"
6 x 6	10'-0"
8 x 8	14'-0"

1. Deck Loads: Live load= 60 psf, Dead load = 10 psf
2. Species: Douglas Fir-Larch #1, or Redwood #1
3. Measured to the underside of the beam.
4. Maximum permitted height is 5'-8" when supporting one and two-ply beams. 

 

Table E-Square Footing at Posts (Inches)¹

Footing Dimensions	Tributary Area (sq. ft.) 5
	20	40	60	80	100	120	140	160
Width (in.)	12	18	21	25	28	30	33	35
Depth (in.)	8	8	10	10	12	12	14	16

1. Footings shall have #4 @ 12" each way at bottom.
2. Concrete strength minimum 2,500 PSI.
3. Footing sizes are based on 1,500 PSF allowable soil bearing pressure.
4. Footings shall be placed not less than 12 inches below the undisturbed ground surface.
5. Area of deck surface supported by a post and a footing. 

 

Table F-Nailing Schedule for Decks ^1,3 

Connection	Nails or Screws (Box or Common)
Joist to Girder	3-8d common nails
2 inches nominal thickness spaced decking boards approximately 1/8" apart 2	2-8d threaded nails or 2 #8 screws

1. Decking within 8 inches of grade shall be Pressure-Preservative treated lumber or foundation-Grade redwood.
2. Decking placement may range from an angle perpendicular to joists to an angle of 45 degrees to the joists. Each segment of decking must bear on minimum of 3 joists.
3. All fasteners and connectors shall be hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel.