Do I need a permit for a deck in Montgomery County, MD?

Yes. Montgomery County requires a building permit for attached decks and most freestanding decks, with footing and framing inspections during construction.

Do I need a city permit for a deck in Bowie, MD?

Yes. The City of Bowie requires its own permit for work that needs a Prince George’s County permit, including decks and porches, in addition to the county permit.

Who pulls the deck permit, me or the contractor?

Normally the licensed contractor prepares the drawings and pulls it. We pull it under our licence and book the inspections.

What inspections does a deck need?

Typically a footing inspection before concrete, a framing inspection before the decking goes down, and a final inspection.

Do You Need a Permit to Build a Deck in Maryland?

Short answer: Yes, in most Maryland counties. Attached decks and most freestanding decks need a county building permit, with plan review before work starts and footing and framing inspections during the build. In the City of Bowie you need a city permit as well as the Prince George’s County one. A licensed contractor normally prepares the drawings, pulls the permit and books the inspections.

Who issues the permit

Montgomery County (Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg): the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services.

Prince George’s County (Bowie, Upper Marlboro, Hyattsville): the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement. The City of Bowie also requires its own permit for any work that needs a county permit, including decks and porches, and asks for the county permit and approved plans with the application.

Howard County (Columbia, Ellicott City): the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.

Anne Arundel County (Annapolis, Severna Park, Glen Burnie): the Department of Inspections and Permits. Near tidal water, Chesapeake Bay Critical Area rules can add review.

Frederick County: the Division of Planning and Permitting.

What the county checks

The drawings show footing size and depth, the ledger attachment to the house, joist and beam sizes, guard height and stair geometry. On site, an inspector checks the footing holes before concrete and the framing before the boards go down, then signs off a final. Setbacks from your property line and any HOA approval are separate from the building permit.

What happens without one

An unpermitted deck can surface when you sell, through a buyer’s inspection or the county’s records, and the fix can mean opening it up for inspection or taking it down. Insurers can also question a claim on an unpermitted structure.

How we handle it

We prepare the drawings, pull the permit under our licence, and schedule every inspection, so you never touch the paperwork. Most decks take about one to two weeks on site once the permit is issued.

MHIC #111971 in Maryland, Virginia Class A #2705183185, family-owned since 2005.

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We inspect across Maryland — Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, Anne Arundel, Frederick, Carroll and Baltimore counties. Free inspection, photo report within 24 hours, and the report is yours to keep whether or not you hire us.