1. Decide how you’ll use the space.
List what needs a place on your deck: a dining table, lounge chairs, planting, or a clear route into the garden. Think about the door swing and where people will walk when the furniture is in use. Approximate dimensions and a few photos help make the first conversation concrete.
2. Look at the whole site.
Note the deck’s height, slope, access from the street, existing landscaping, and anything below the proposed deck. If you’re replacing a deck, describe its condition. Don’t assume an existing structure can be reused without assessment.
3. Compare the complete scope.
A useful estimate considers more than square footage. Materials, foundation and framing, stairs, railings, removal of an old deck, site access, and permit or design work can all affect the project. Ask what is included and which items need further review.
4. Check the right permit authority.
Seattle identifies decks more than 18 inches above the ground, roof decks, and decks in environmentally critical areas as requiring permits. The property and design can create other requirements, so a low deck is not automatically exempt from every rule.
Review Seattle SDCI’s current deck guidance and confirm what applies to your address before construction. Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish, Gig Harbor, and other cities have their own processes. Your mailing city does not always identify the permitting jurisdiction.
5. Discuss timing before choosing a date.
Scope, material availability, design decisions, permits, and scheduling shape the timeline. Share your preferred timing, especially if you have an event in mind, and ask for project-specific expectations.
Your first-call checklist
- Project city and address
- Approximate deck size and height
- New deck or replacement
- Photos of the current space
- Material preferences, budget, and desired timing
Seattle deck planning questions
Do I need a permit to replace a deck in the same footprint?
An unchanged footprint does not by itself settle the permit question. The extent of replacement and the property’s conditions matter. Describe the proposed work to Seattle SDCI or the authority for your address and confirm the requirements before construction. Do not assume all repairs and full replacements follow the same process.
Will my deck project need drawings or engineering?
That depends on the structure and the permit pathway. Seattle’s requirements vary with deck height, size, spans, and conditions such as roof decks or environmentally critical areas. Review the city’s deck permit guidance and establish the required documents before treating a preliminary layout as a construction plan.
Who should handle deck permit applications and inspections?
Agree in writing who will prepare the required documents, submit the application, pay fees, and arrange inspections. Ask whether those tasks and costs are included in the estimate or handled separately. Clear responsibilities help you compare proposals and understand what must happen before each stage of the project.
What should I prepare before a deck site visit?
Have photos, any existing plans, your preferred materials, and a list of the problems you want to solve. Make the relevant areas accessible and point out known repairs, drainage concerns, access restrictions, and landscaping you want to protect. Tell us how you use the space and any timing or budget priorities.
What if I want to change the deck design after receiving an estimate?
Describe the change before materials are ordered or affected work begins. A different footprint, stair position, railing, or board choice may alter quantities, structural details, permit documents, or timing. Request an updated written scope and price so you can make the decision with the full effect in view.
How does tight access or existing landscaping affect deck planning?
Tell us about narrow side paths, fences, steps, trees, and where deliveries could arrive. Access can change how materials and demolition debris move through the property. Discuss staging, protection of nearby areas, and cleanup in the project scope. Photos of the route from the street to the deck are useful.
Permit guidance reviewed September 13, 2026. The local permitting authority determines current requirements for your project.