What's Required in Long Beach
- Building permit required unless the deck is freestanding, 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or lower at every point, and does not serve an exit door (LBMC 18.04.020.B.22)
- Residential decks get over-the-counter plan review by Planning and Building (IB-002)
- Raised decks with open guardrail: 3 ft from interior side and rear lines, up to 5 ft into the front yard; at-grade decks may reach the property line (Table 31-3)
- Roof decks only 3 ft from the rear line and never in front or side yards; railings count toward the zoning height limit
- Permit fee is valuation-based on $47.70 per sq ft minimum plus 85 percent plan check, zoning plan check, $115 processing and state fees
- Plans at least 18 x 24 inches at 1/4 inch per foot with FORM-028 plot plan, as PDFs on a USB drive
- Unlicensed persons may draw plans for a one-story wood-frame deck built to IB-010; otherwise a registered design professional stamps them
- Permit holder is a CSLB-licensed contractor with a Long Beach business license or the homeowner under IB-029; work must start within 90 days
Do You Need a Permit to Build a Deck in Long Beach?
Usually yes. The only deck exempt from a building permit under LBMC 18.04.020.B.22 has to pass four tests at once: no more than 200 square feet, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to the dwelling, and not serving the exit door. The Building and Safety Bureau's Do I Need a Permit page summarizes this as decks up to 30 inches above adjacent ground, but the code's full wording means a ground-level deck bolted to the house, or one you step onto from the kitchen door, still needs a permit. Anything higher than 30 inches needs a permit, a guardrail and plan review. Decks are on the Over-the-Counter Plan Review list (IB-002), reviewed by Planning and Building at an in-person appointment.
Long Beach Deck Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Freestanding deck up to 200 sq ft, no more than 30 in above grade at any point, not serving an exit door | None (zoning still applies) | LBMC 18.04.020.B.22 |
| Low deck attached to the house, or one you step onto from a back door | Building permit | LBMC 18.04.020.B.22 (attached and exit-door decks excluded) |
| Freestanding low deck over 200 sq ft | Building permit | LBMC 18.04.020.B.22 |
| Deck more than 30 in above grade, with guardrail | Building permit with over-the-counter plan review; 3 ft from side and rear lines | IB-002; Table 31-3 |
| Deck in the front yard | At grade to the property line; a raised deck may project 5 ft into the front setback | Table 31-3 |
| Roof deck | Building permit; 3 ft from the rear line, not in front or side yards, railing within the height limit | Table 31-3 note (c) |
| Patio cover over the deck | Separate scope on the permit; columns 3 ft from side and rear lines | Table 31-3; IB-002 |
Setbacks and Height for Decks in Long Beach
Zoning Table 31-3 treats decks in two classes. A deck at grade, no higher than 30 inches, may run to the property line on every side. A deck above grade with an open guardrail must stay 3 feet from interior side and rear property lines, may project up to 5 feet into the required front yard, and on a corner lot may project 5 feet or half the required setback, whichever is less, into the street side yard. Roof decks are allowed only within 3 feet of the rear line and not in front or side yards, and the railing of any raised or roof deck counts toward the zoning height limit for the district, 25 feet in most R-1 zones. Patio cover columns follow the same 3-foot side and rear rule. Historic districts and the Coastal Zone add their own approvals.
How Much Does a Deck Permit Cost in Long Beach?
The permit is priced on valuation, and IB-077 sets the minimum for a balcony or wood deck at $47.70 per square foot. The building permit fee is $149 for the first $2,000 of value plus $16 per $1,000 up to $20,000. Plan check is 85 percent of the permit fee with a $154 minimum, the zoning plan check is 0.5 percent of valuation with a $310 minimum capped at 95 percent of the building plan check, and each application adds a $115 processing fee, state fees of $0.13 per $1,000 plus $1, and a records fee of 5 percent of the permit fee with a $35 minimum.
Worked examples: a 200-square-foot raised deck is valued at 200 x $47.70 = $9,540, so the permit is $149 + (8 x $16) = $277, plan check $235, zoning plan check $223, and the total comes to about $887. A 400-square-foot deck ($19,080) pays a $437 permit fee, $371 plan check, $310 zoning plan check and about $1,271 in all. A patio cover adds $15.50 per square foot of valuation for lattice or $30 for a solid roof. The City Council approved a new fee schedule on September 8, 2026, effective October 1, 2026; check the posted schedule after that date.
Plans, Permits and Inspections
Bring APP-001, the FORM-028 plot plan and drawings as PDFs on a USB drive to a Minor Building Plan Review appointment; plans must be at least 18 x 24 inches at 1/4 inch per foot and show footings, framing, connections to the house and guardrails. An unlicensed person may draw plans for a one-story wood-frame structure appurtenant to a home if it follows the conventional framing provisions in IB-010. The permit is issued to a CSLB-licensed contractor with a Long Beach business license or to a homeowner of a one- or two-family home under IB-029. Request each inspection online by 3 p.m. the day before. The permit is void if work has not started within 90 days. Building without a permit adds an investigation fee equal to the permit fee, with a $465 minimum.
How to Get a Deck Permit in Long Beach
Apply the four-part exemption test
Freestanding, 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or lower everywhere, and not at an exit door means no building permit. Fail any one and you need a permit.
Lay out the setbacks
Keep a raised deck 3 ft from side and rear lines; an at-grade deck can reach the line. Check the zoning height limit if the deck or its railing is high.
Draw the plans
Plot plan (FORM-028), framing plan with joist and beam sizes, footings, ledger connection and guardrail details per IB-010, or engineered drawings if the design is not prescriptive.
Book an over-the-counter review
Schedule a Minor Building Plan Review appointment at the Permit Center with APP-001 and the PDFs on a USB drive; plan check fees are paid that day.
Pay the permit and schedule inspections
About $887 for a 200 sq ft deck including the $115 processing fee. Request footing, framing and final inspections online by 3 p.m. the day before each.