A homeowner often thinks a deck permit needs one drawing:
“A floor plan showing the size of my deck.”
That drawing is important, but it usually does not answer every question the building reviewer needs answered.
The reviewer may also need to know where the deck sits on the property, how high it is above grade, how the footings support the posts, how beams support the joists, how the deck connects to the house, and how stairs, guards, handrails, and structural connectors complete the load path.
Georgia municipalities illustrate this clearly. Brookhaven requires a site plan and scaled construction drawings for deck and porch permits, including elevations and structural floor and roof framing where applicable. Johns Creek’s current residential permit requirements go further into footing size, framing, ledger details, stairs, handrails, guards, elevations, and load-path connections.
So the correct starting point for Georgia deck permit plans is not simply:
What does the deck look like from above?
It is:
Can the reviewer follow the deck from the property, through the structure, all the way down to the foundation?
If you first need the property-placement drawing, our Residential Site Plans service covers that part of the permit package. For deck-specific site planning, see our Deck Permit Plot Plan Guide.
Start With the Property Before Drawing the Framing
The structural deck plan matters, but it should not be the first problem solved.
Before deciding exactly where the posts and beams will sit, confirm where the deck can legally be located.
When a Site Plan Enters the Permit Scope
A site plan shows the deck in relation to the complete property.
Depending on the jurisdiction and project, it may show the house, proposed deck footprint, property boundaries, setbacks, easements, other structures, and relevant site conditions.
Brookhaven specifically lists a site plan as part of its deck and porch permit requirements. Johns Creek similarly requires its deck/porch/patio applications to include site information showing the entire property, setbacks, easements, existing and proposed structures, and distances from the proposed structure to property lines.
That means the site plan is not an optional illustration added after the structural drawings.
It establishes whether the deck belongs in that location in the first place.
For a closer look at this sheet, our Site Plan for Deck Permit guide explains the property-layout side of deck permitting.
Deck Footprint and Setbacks
The footprint needs to match across the permit set.
If the site plan shows a 12 × 20 deck but the structural framing plan shows 14 × 20, the reviewer now has two different projects.
The same applies when stairs project beyond the main deck footprint. Their location can matter when the deck is close to a property line or other site restriction.
This is why we want the overall dimensions and placement settled before moving deeper into the structural design.
Show the Deck Height, Not Just Its Length and Width
A plan view can make two decks look almost identical.
One may sit a few inches above grade.
Another may be several feet above the backyard.
Structurally and from a safety-review perspective, those are very different projects.
The City of Douglas’s 2026 deck permit checklist specifically asks for the overall deck size including height from grade, along with structural information for beams, ledger boards, posts, footings, joists, guards, and stairs.
Height affects several later decisions.
It can change the importance of guards, stairs, bracing, post design, footing conditions, and the overall structural arrangement.
That is why the elevation drawing becomes important.
The floor plan tells us the deck footprint.
The elevation tells us how that deck relates vertically to the house and ground.
Once that vertical condition is clear, we can follow the structural load path.
The Structural Plan Should Explain How Loads Reach the Ground
A strong deck drawing set should allow the reviewer to follow the structure logically.
A simplified load path looks like this:
decking → joists → beams → posts → footings → soil
If the deck is attached to the house, another important path passes through the ledger and its connection to the existing building.
Each structural component needs to make sense relative to the next one.
Footings
Footings are where the deck transfers loads into the ground.
A permit plan may need to identify their location, size, depth, and relationship to the posts.
Douglas specifically asks applicants to show footing size, depth, and connection. Johns Creek likewise requires a footing plan identifying size, depth, post size, and attachment details.
A small low deck and a large elevated covered deck should not automatically be assumed to use the same foundation approach.
The footing design needs to support the actual structure above it.
Posts and Beams
The posts carry the beam loads into the footings.
The permit drawings should make their sizes and locations clear enough that the reviewer can understand the support system.
The beams then support the floor joists.
Their size, span, spacing, support locations, and connections all influence how the deck performs.
These components should therefore be shown as one structural system rather than as unrelated notes scattered across different sheets.
Joists and Framing Define the Main Deck Platform
Once the foundation and primary supports are established, the framing plan explains the deck floor.
The reviewer generally needs enough information to understand the joist direction, size, spacing, span, beam relationship, and relevant connections.
Johns Creek’s current checklist specifically calls for framing information including member sizes, direction, spacing, species, and grade.
This is also where cantilevers need to be shown clearly where they occur.
A framing plan should not make the reviewer guess where joists stop, which beam supports them, or how the outside edge of the deck is formed.
Good structural drawings remove those questions before plan review.
Attached and Freestanding Decks Need Different Connection Strategies
One of the most important decisions is whether the deck connects structurally to the existing house.
Ledger-Attached Deck
An attached deck commonly uses a ledger at the house.
That connection requires more information than simply writing “attach to existing wall.”
The permit documentation may need to address the ledger size, attachment method, flashing, existing house construction, and associated connection details.
Douglas’s current deck checklist specifically calls for ledger-board size along with flashing and through-blocking information.
The reason is straightforward.
The ledger carries structural load.
Water intrusion at the house connection is also a durability concern.
The connection therefore needs to be both structurally understandable and properly detailed.
Freestanding Deck
Sometimes a freestanding deck is the better structural solution.
Instead of depending on an existing house ledger, the deck uses its own support system.
That may add posts or footings, but it can reduce uncertainty when the existing house construction is difficult to verify or unsuitable for a conventional ledger connection.
The right choice depends on the actual property and structure.
The important point for the permit set is that the drawings must clearly show which structural strategy is being used.
Stairs, Guards and Handrails Are Part of the Permit Design
Homeowners often focus on the deck platform and treat the stairs and rails as finish work.
The permit reviewer does not.
These elements are part of the life-safety review.
A proper drawing set should make the stair layout and relevant guard and handrail conditions clear.
Douglas’s deck checklist specifically includes stair location and pad, guardrail post size and spacing, guard height, and picket spacing. Johns Creek requires ledger, guardrail, stairway, and handrail details in its structural submission.
A useful permit set therefore coordinates:
- Stair location and geometry
- Guards at applicable deck and stair edges
- Handrails where required
- Post and connection details
- Openings and other safety-related dimensions
This is one of the few areas where a short checklist is more useful than a long paragraph.
The exact requirements should be checked against the applicable Georgia code and local jurisdiction rather than assumed from a generic deck detail.
A Covered Deck Changes the Structural Problem
Adding a roof can turn a relatively simple deck into a much more involved permit package.
An uncovered deck primarily carries floor loads.
A covered deck adds roof framing, additional dead and live loads, wind effects, new posts or structural reactions, and connections to either the house or an independent roof-support system.
This is why covered deck permit Georgia projects should not be treated as ordinary open decks with a roof drawn on afterward.
Brookhaven specifically requires structural drawings including roof framing for deck and porch construction where applicable. Johns Creek also identifies roofs over decks as projects that can require additional professional structural design.
Roof Framing
The roof plan needs to explain how the roof is supported.
Depending on the design, that may involve rafters, beams, posts, headers, connections, and new foundation loads.
Those roof loads eventually reach the ground.
That means adding a roof may affect the deck posts and footings below it.
Existing House Attachment
If the roof connects to the existing house, the drawings also need to explain that connection.
The design team may need to understand the existing roof, wall, or framing condition before deciding how the new covered structure attaches.
This is an important distinction.
A new deck can sometimes be designed almost entirely from new construction.
A covered porch connected to an existing house requires coordination between new structure and existing structure.
That is where structural engineering may become more important.
Know When Structural Engineering Enters the Scope
Not every Georgia deck needs a custom engineered structural package.
But certain conditions can move the project beyond straightforward prescriptive construction.
Examples can include complex framing, unusual spans, engineered products, multi-level decks, roof structures, heavy additional loads, uncertain existing conditions, or connections that need project-specific design.
Johns Creek specifically notes that multi-level decks or roofs over decks may require design and sealing by a design professional, and engineered wood products require a structural engineer’s stamp or seal under its current checklist.
If the jurisdiction or project requires professional engineering, our PE Stamp Services are the relevant next step.
SitePlans.Online also has a PE-Stamped Drawings resource explaining how sealed permit drawings differ from ordinary drafting.
The goal is not to engineer every deck unnecessarily.
It is to recognize when the structural questions can no longer be answered safely with a generic detail.
Atlanta, Savannah and Other Georgia Jurisdictions Can Review Decks Differently
Georgia now uses the 2024 International Residential Code with Georgia Amendments as a mandatory statewide construction code, effective January 1, 2026. Local governments still administer permits and can have their own application procedures, plan requirements, and locally adopted provisions.
That is why the exact property address matters.
Atlanta Deck Permit Plans
Atlanta identifies decks and porches among common projects that generally require permitting. Its electronic permitting system uses separate drawing categories that can include architectural plans, structural plans, civil plans, and site surveys depending on project scope.
One current Atlanta-specific issue is worth noting: effective January 12, 2026, the Office of Buildings temporarily suspended its own review of structural drawings, but structural documents must still be submitted and remain the responsibility of the Engineer of Record.
That reinforces an important point.
Not being reviewed in the same way does not mean structural documentation can be omitted.
Savannah Deck Plans
Savannah currently applies Georgia’s 2024 IRC and related state-adopted codes to new construction applications. Its permit guidance requires drawings, when requested, to be to scale and detailed enough to clearly describe the proposed work. Site drawings must identify the proposed structure and existing structures on the property.
Savannah also uses its eTRAC system for permit and plan-review activity.
That local process is why a deck drawing prepared for one Georgia city should not automatically be submitted unchanged in another.
Project Example: A Savannah Rear Porch
A Savannah rear porch project is a good example of why covered outdoor construction needs coordinated documentation.
At first glance, a homeowner may describe the project as:
“I want to add a porch to the back of the house.”
From a permit perspective, several separate questions immediately appear.
Where will the porch sit on the property?
How high will it be above grade?
How will its posts and footings support the floor?
How will the roof be supported?
How does the new roof or framing connect to the existing house?
Where are the stairs and guards?
Does any part of the design require structural engineering?
This is why the useful lesson from a rear porch project is not the number of sheets.
It is coordination.
The site drawing, deck framing, footing plan, roof framing, elevations, and house-attachment details all need to describe the same structure.
A beautiful floor plan alone cannot do that.
What to Send Before We Start the Deck Plans
You do not need to prepare the permit drawings yourself before contacting the drafting team.
But good starting information reduces assumptions.
For most Georgia deck projects, send:
- Property address
- Approximate deck width, depth, and height above grade
- A sketch showing the basic shape and stair location
- Photos of the rear or side of the house where the deck will attach
- Survey or property plan if available
- Tell us whether the deck will be open, screened, or covered
If you already have contractor dimensions or a permit checklist, send those too.
For an existing deck being rebuilt or covered, photos of the current footings, posts, framing, ledger, and house connection can be especially useful.
Treat Permit Corrections as Coordination Issues
Deck corrections frequently occur because the reviewer cannot follow part of the structural story.
The comment might ask for a clearer footing detail, ledger attachment, guard connection, stair information, setback dimension, or roof framing detail.
Do not simply change the one note mentioned by the reviewer.
Check what else that change affects.
If the deck gets wider, verify the site plan and framing.
If a beam changes, verify the posts and footings.
If a roof is added, recheck the load path.
If the ledger strategy changes, verify how the deck is supported at the house.
That is how corrections should be handled across a coordinated permit package.
If the project has already been returned by the city or county, our Permit Rejection Analyzer can help break down the review comments before revisions begin.
Georgia Deck Permit Plan Checklist
Before the permit set is ready, the reviewer should be able to answer four basic questions.
Does the Deck Fit the Property?
The site plan should clearly establish the deck footprint, relationship to the house, property boundaries, and applicable setbacks or easements.
Can the Reviewer Follow the Load Path?
The structural drawings should connect joists to beams, beams to posts, posts to footings, and any house attachment to the existing structure.
Are the Safety Elements Clear?
Stairs, guards, handrails, elevations, and deck height should be shown clearly enough for review.
Is There a Roof or Other Added Complexity?
If the deck is covered, screened, multi-level, or carries unusual loads, the roof framing and additional structural requirements need to be coordinated with the original deck design.
That is the difference between a basic sketch and a permit-ready deck drawing set.
FAQs
What drawings do I need for a deck permit in Georgia?
Requirements vary by jurisdiction, but a permit package may include a site plan, deck/framing plan, footing details, elevations, post and beam information, ledger details, stairs, guards, handrails, and structural or roof drawings where applicable.
Does a Georgia deck permit require a site plan?
Many jurisdictions require site information because the reviewer must verify where the proposed deck sits in relation to the property and other restrictions. Brookhaven and Johns Creek are current examples of Georgia jurisdictions that specifically require site plans for deck or porch permits.
What needs to be shown on deck footing plans?
The drawings may need to show footing locations, dimensions, depth, post relationships, and connection details. The exact foundation requirement depends on the project and applicable code.
Do deck drawings need to show the height above grade?
They often do. Height affects elevations and can affect guard, stair, post, and other structural or safety conditions. Douglas specifically includes height from grade on its 2026 deck-plan checklist.
What is a deck ledger?
The ledger is the structural member used in many attached decks to connect the deck framing to the existing house. Its attachment and moisture-protection details can be important permit-review items.
Can I build a freestanding deck instead of attaching it to the house?
Potentially. A freestanding system uses its own supports instead of relying on a conventional house ledger. The appropriate solution depends on site conditions, deck configuration, and structural design.
Do I need engineering for a covered deck in Georgia?
Not automatically in every case, but roof loads, complex framing, engineered components, multi-level construction, or unusual existing conditions can trigger professional design requirements. Verify with the jurisdiction and project designer.
Does Atlanta require structural deck plans?
Structural documentation can be part of Atlanta permit submissions depending on the project. As of 2026, Atlanta still requires applicable structural documents to be submitted even during its temporary suspension of structural plan review.
Are Savannah deck permit requirements the same as Atlanta?
No. Both operate under Georgia’s state construction-code framework, but the cities administer their own permit processes and submission requirements. Always verify the actual jurisdiction.
What should I send to get deck permit drawings prepared?
Start with the project address, approximate deck dimensions and height, photos, a basic sketch, and any survey, contractor information, or permit checklist you already have.
Send My Deck Sketch & Address
You do not need a completed architectural plan to start.
Send us your Georgia property address and a simple deck sketch showing the approximate width, depth, stairs, and whether the deck will be open or covered.
We can then determine whether the project needs only a site-plan component or a broader structural permit package.
For the property drawing, start with Residential Site Plans.
For deck-specific site documentation, review Site Plan for Deck Permit.
If the jurisdiction requires engineered or sealed structural work, use PE Stamp Services.
And if your permit has already been returned, use the Permit Rejection Analyzer.
A deck permit is not just a drawing of the deck’s shape.
A good permit set shows where it goes, how it stands, how loads reach the ground, and how people can safely use it.
