BUILDING PERMITS

Building a deck in Fairfax County requires the following permits.

• Building permit for all decks that are supported by footings regardless of the height above grade.
• Electrical and/or plumbing permit for hot tub, spa, and similar installations.

To apply for a permit, go to the Permit Application Center at the Herrity Building in Fairfax. To learn more about the permit application process, please refer to our Decks (PDF) publication.

BUILDING PLANS

You must submit the following during the permit application process.

• Two sets of building plans.  However, no plans are required if you agree to build your deck in accordance with the Fairfax County Typical Deck Details.
• Two copies of the house location plat.

For a full list of plan requirements, please refer to our Decks (PDF) publication.

CONTACT US

For a list of frequently asked questions, please refer to our FAQs page.  E-mail us or call 703-222-0801, TTY 711 during our hours of operation. The permit, plan review and inspection processes can also be accessed through the Fairfax Inspections Database Online (FIDO).