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Deck project guide

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Share information about your project, and we’ll give you a list of any requirements needed by the City of Portland.

You can complete this form in under 10 minutes.

Property Details

Begin typing to see a list of possible address matches in the Portland metro area, then select one.

Find an address to begin. It must be in an area that's managed by the Portland Permitting & Development bureau.

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Property ID: 
Base zone 
Site slope%

Address and zoning data provided by PortlandMaps.com  

Project Details

Measure (in inches) 3 feet from where the perimeter of the deck will be.
 inches
Who will be doing the construction?
Using data from Portland Maps, we've determined that the average slope of your property is %. If the slope of the worksite is more or less than that, please enter the new number as a percentage. Learn more about slope.
%
Is there a wetland or body of water near the worksite?
Enter the distance in feet.
 feet
Will your project temporarily disturb more than 500 square feet of the ground?
Will the deck have only one level?
A single-level deck is one flat surface. If your deck will have multiple sections at different heights, it's not single-level.
Will the deck connect to the outside wall of the house?
This means the deck will be physically attached to the house, not free-standing.
Will you add tile, concrete, or other heavy finish materials on top of the deck?
Some decks are designed to hold finish materials like tile or concrete. These materials add extra weight, so your deck may have additional design requirements.
Will the deck be rectangular in shape?
This means your deck is shaped like a rectangle — not an L-shape, hexagon, or something more complex.
Will the deck have just one row of posts supporting the outer edge?
This means the joists (the boards under the deck that support the surface) run straight from the house to a single beam (a heavy board that rests on posts). This is called a single-span deck, and the joists may cantilever (stick out a little past the beam).
Will the deck need to hold something very heavy, like a hot tub?
Some decks need to support concentrated weight (heavy items in one spot), like a hot tub. This affects how the deck must be built to stay safe and strong.
Will the deck have manufactured handrails made of glass, cable, aluminum, or steel?
This refers to handrail systems that are pre-made by a company, often called proprietary handrails.
Will the project add more than 1,000 square feet of impervious surface?
Impervious surfaces are things like concrete or asphalt that stop water from soaking into the ground. We use this to understand how your project affects rainwater drainage.
Will the deck have a solid, covered roof?
Will the solid, covered roof be more than 200 square feet?
Is there a septic system or cesspool on the property?
Enter the distance (in feet) that the septic system or cesspool is away from the deck.
Are there trees near where the project will be happening?
Enter the distance (in feet) that the trees are away from the project.
 feet
Do any of these trees come close to a public right-of-way?
Public right-of-way are things like sidewalks, planting strips, road shoulders, street medians, alleys, etc.

Disclaimer

This form gives guidance based on your answers. The results are preliminary and are not a permit. The City of Portland may ask for more information at any point in the permitting process. If there is any difference between this form and the City's official publications, the publications control. If you have technical issues or questions about the form, contact us at ppd@portlandoregon.gov.

Your project guide

We've created a guide to help you follow the City of Portland's building rules based on the details you provided about your project.

  1. You don't need a building permit!

    Based on what you've told us, you don't appear to need a building permit for your project. However, all structures need to meet zoning requirements even if you don't need a permit. Please call 503-823-7300 to verify your zoning situation, or schedule a 15-minute appointment with an expert.

    Schedule a 15-minute appointment with an expert

    See the full list of all the 15-minute appointments you can schedule based on your specific questions.

    Learn

  2. Start building! 

    If your project follows the information you've provided, you will not need a permit.

    Learn

Project address:
Property ID: 
Base zone 
Site slope%
Deck height: inches
Who is doing the construction:
Worksite slope:%
Near body of water:
Disturb more than 500 sq. ft. of soil:
Single level deck:
Connected to house:
Finishing materials on top of deck:
Rectangular deck:
One row of posts supporting deck:
Support heavy weight:
Manufactured handrails:
More than 1,000 sq. ft. of impervious surface:
Solid covered roof:
Septic system or cesspool:
Trees near the project:

Address and zoning data provided by PortlandMaps.com  

Edit details

Project address:
Property ID: 
Base zone 
Site slope%
Deck height: inches
Who is doing the construction:
Worksite slope:%
Near body of water:
Disturb more than 500 sq. ft. of soil:
Single level deck:
Connected to house:
Finishing materials on top of deck:
Rectangular deck:
One row of posts supporting deck:
Support heavy weight:
Manufactured handrails:
More than 1,000 sq. ft. of impervious surface:
Solid covered roof:
Septic system or cesspool:
Trees near the project:

Address and zoning data provided by PortlandMaps.com  

Edit details

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