What's Required in Philadelphia
- Zoning permit required unless the deck is 12 in or less above the ground and not over a basement or other story; building permit required for any new deck
- EZ deck permit (no plans) only for a deck attached to an existing single-family dwelling, in the rear yard, on the first floor, up to 160 sq ft or 216 sq ft with intermediate posts
- Fees: $75 building (new accessory structure or addition up to 500 sq ft) + $189 residential zoning + $3 city and $4.50 state surcharges; $63 for deck flooring replacement up to 200 sq ft
- Guard rail 36 to 42 in high with openings under 4 in once the deck is more than 30 in above grade
- Footings 30 in below grade on undisturbed soil, 16 in diameter and 6 in thick; 6x6 pressure-treated Southern Pine posts with bolted diagonal bracing
- Deck 3 ft from the rear lot line or common driveway; columns at least 1 ft 6 in from all property lines; maximum 14 ft from footing to beam
- Ledger attached per the standard's details, never to stone or masonry veneer; no roof, no enclosed walls below, no hot tub or spa on an EZ deck
- Roof decks, decks above the first floor, decks at two-family homes and new rear-wall openings need separate building permits with plans
- Owner-occupants, registered PA HICs with a Commercial Activity License, or licensed Philadelphia contractors may build; the EZ standard cannot legalize unpermitted work
Do You Need a Permit to Build a Deck in Philadelphia?
Yes, two of them. A new deck enlarges the structure, which puts it on L&I's list of work that needs a building permit, and the zoning permit page exempts only a platform that is no more than 12 inches above the ground and not over a basement or other story. Anything higher needs a zoning permit as well. L&I's EZ Deck standard (PB_018, revised August 2026 for the 2021 IRC) says a structure 12 inches above grade is a deck, and once it reaches 30 inches above grade it needs a guard rail 36 to 42 inches high with no opening over 4 inches. The good news is that most rowhouse decks can be permitted without drawings: the EZ standard grants both the zoning and building permits by signature if the deck is attached to an existing single-family dwelling, in the rear yard, on the first floor, and 160 square feet or less, or 216 square feet with intermediate posts. Roof decks, second-floor decks, decks with a roof or hot tub, and decks at two-family homes fall outside it and need plans.
Philadelphia Deck Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New rear-yard deck up to 216 sq ft attached to a single-family home, first floor | EZ zoning + building permit, no plans (about $272) | EZ Deck standard PB_018; fee summaries |
| Deck over 216 sq ft, in a side yard, at a two-family home, or with a roof | Zoning + building permit with plans | EZ standard conditions; building permit page |
| Roof deck or deck above the first floor | Separate building permit with plans | EZ standard: roof decks excluded |
| Replacing decking boards on an existing deck, up to 200 sq ft | Building permit, $63 + $7.50 | Fee summary: porch or deck flooring |
| Ground-level platform 12 in or less above grade, not over a basement | No zoning permit; ask L&I about building | Zoning permit page exemption list |
| Deck that will carry a hot tub or spa | Plans and engineering, not EZ | EZ standard: no spa or unusual loads |
| New or wider door opening onto the deck | Separate building permit | EZ standard: existing openings only |
How Much Does a Deck Permit Cost in Philadelphia?
L&I's construction fee summary prices a new accessory structure or addition at a one- or two-family home at $75 for the first 500 square feet plus $56 per additional 100 square feet, so any EZ-size deck is $75. The zoning fee summary lists residential new construction, which L&I's use-fee note groups with single-family additions, at $189. Add the $3 city and $4.50 state surcharges on the building permit and a typical EZ deck comes to $75 + $189 + $7.50 = $271.50. The $25 filing fee on each application is applied to the balance. Swapping worn boards is cheaper: "porch or deck flooring, maximum 200 square feet" is a $63 building permit, $70.50 with surcharges. If the deck adds a new circuit for lighting, the electrical permit is separate at $25 per $1,000 of electrical cost with a $63 minimum, and only a licensed electrical contractor may pull it.
What the EZ Deck Standard Requires
The standard is a construction specification you sign. Framing must be pressure-treated Southern Pine with 6x6 posts on concrete footings 30 inches below grade, 16 inches in diameter and at least 6 inches thick, with diagonal bracing bolted at every post. The deck must keep 3 feet from the rear property line or a common driveway and every column at least 1 foot 6 inches from any lot line, may rise no more than 14 feet from footing to beam, may not be enclosed below with solid walls, and must be tied to the house through a ledger fastened per the standard's details, never to a masonry veneer. Stairs to grade are allowed only at detached or semi-detached homes. Deviate from any of it and the permit is revoked; the standard also cannot be used to legalize a deck built without a permit.
Who Files and How Long It Takes
At an existing one- or two-family home the work may be done by a licensed Philadelphia contractor, a registered PA Home Improvement Contractor holding a Commercial Activity License, or an owner who lives in the house, since a deck by itself needs no electrical or plumbing permit. L&I's processing sheet lists an EZ single-family deck at 5 business days with a $25 filing fee; a deck that needs plans is a one- or two-family addition, reviewed within 15 business days. Request inspections through eCLIPSE or (215) 255-4040 before the footings are backfilled.
How to Get a Deck Permit in Philadelphia
Confirm the deck fits the EZ standard
Attached, rear yard, first floor, 216 sq ft or less, no roof or hot tub, on a single-family home. Anything else needs drawings and a 15-business-day review.
Check the lot on Atlas
Verify the rear setback, corner-lot building line, garage access and historic status; historic properties need Historical Commission approval first.
Apply in eCLIPSE
File the zoning and building applications, upload the signed EZ Deck standard, and pay the $25 filing fee. EZ decks are processed in about 5 business days.
Pay the balance and name the builder
On approval pay the $75 building fee, $189 zoning fee and $7.50 surcharges. The permit issues once the contractor or owner-occupant is confirmed.
Schedule footing and final inspections
Call for inspection through eCLIPSE or (215) 255-4040 with the footings open, then again at completion for the Certificate of Approval.