Residential Deck Permit

Follow the steps below in order to obtain a Residential Deck Permit:
  1. Complete a building permit application, available on the Goochland County Department of Building Inspection webpage, Construction Permit Applications tab.
  2. Create a site plan of the property showing the location of the new work on the lot. A sample site plan is available on the Goochland County Department of Building Inspection webpage, Site Plans tab.
  3. Create construction drawings of the proposed work and provide 2 copies with the application. For the minimum code requirements, view the Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide (PDF).
  4. Pay careful attention to the critical newel post connections for guardrails in the Residential Deck Guide referenced above. Any other type of newel post connection must be designed by a registered design professional (Architect or Professional Engineer) to meet the minimum loads of Table R301.5 in the Virginia Residential Code 2009 (200 pound load in any direction along the top rail).
  5. Attaching ledger-boards supporting deck flooring to or through masonry veneers is prohibited (See page 12 of the Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide referenced above). If a masonry veneer interrupts the structural connection to the building’s framing or foundation, the deck must be free-standing.

Related Information

  1. Specifications on Decks, Porches, Stairs, and Ramps
  2. Typical 10 x 12 Pressure Treated Deck Drawing