| Deck | City of Annapolis |
|---|---|
| Attached deck, or any deck over 200 sq ft or 30 in high | Building permit |
| Small freestanding deck (model code exempts 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or lower, not attached) | No building permit; zoning and Critical Area rules still apply |
| Any deck in the Historic District visible from a public way | Certificate of Approval from the Historic Preservation Commission |
| Deck in the 100-ft Critical Area buffer | Generally not allowed; see the modified buffer rules below |
1. When you need a permit
The City Code requires a building permit to construct, enlarge, alter or repair any structure (§17.05.010), and both the owner and contractor are responsible for getting it. The City adopted the 2021 International Residential Code without changing its exemption list, so only the model code's exemptions apply: the IRC exempts a freestanding deck of 200 square feet or less, no more than 30 inches above grade, that doesn't serve the required exit door. Confirm with the City's Department of Planning and Zoning before you build. A city permit is void if work hasn't started within 40 days or stops for 60 days, and is valid for two years (§17.05.110).
2. Where a deck can go
Open decks no more than 4 feet above the surrounding grade, with no permanent roof, may extend into every required yard (§21.60.090). The City added one rule to the residential code: a deck may not project over the lot line (§17.12.020). On a lot that touches a waterway, the waterside yard is the largest of the district's yard, 30 feet, or the average of neighboring houses within 300 feet (§21.40.010.H).
3. Waterfront lots and the Critical Area
Most of the city's waterfront is in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, with a shoreline buffer of at least 100 feet (§21.54.105). Inside the buffer, building is generally limited to water access and shore protection. On single-family lots in the city's modified buffer areas, new structures can come no closer to the water than the neighboring houses and never closer than 30 feet; total structures are capped at 500 square feet within 50 feet of the water and 1,000 square feet in the buffer, with planting mitigation at 2:1 (§21.54.106). A deck with gaps that let water through doesn't count toward Critical Area lot coverage, but a solid deck does.
4. The Historic District
Any deck in the Historic District that is visible from a public street or way needs a Certificate of Approval from the Historic Preservation Commission before construction (§21.56.040), even if no building permit is required. The Commission judges design, scale, materials and texture against the district's character. See our historic district guide.
5. City or county?
These rules apply only inside Annapolis city limits. Most homes with an Annapolis mailing address outside the city follow Anne Arundel County's deck rules. See our City of Annapolis permit guide for how the two offices differ.
