Boston's deck permit requirements are stricter than many surrounding communities, and the consequences of building without one are real. Here's what the city actually requires.
Boston requires a building permit for any deck that is: over 200 square feet in area, more than 30 inches above grade at any point, attached to the house via a ledger board (always requires a permit regardless of size), or includes any electrical work. In practice, virtually every deck project on a Boston triple-decker, colonial, or multi-family building requires a permit because they're either elevated or ledger-attached. The only decks that clearly don't require permits are small, freestanding, ground-level platforms under 200 sq ft with no ledger attachment. Boston ISD building permit requirements →
The Boston ISD permit application for a deck requires: site plan showing deck location relative to property lines and the house, floor plan showing deck dimensions and layout, framing plan showing joist sizing, spacing, beam sizing, and post locations, footing detail showing depth and diameter, and the contractor's HIC license number and insurance information. For elevated decks or those with complex loading on multi-family buildings, a structural engineer's review and stamp may be required. We prepare all permit documentation as part of our deck building projects. Massachusetts building code →
Massachusetts requires footings to extend below the frost depth — 42 inches minimum in Greater Boston. Footings that don't go deep enough heave in winter and cause the deck to move, damaging the structure and any ledger connection. Boston's soil conditions vary by neighborhood: areas like Allston and parts of Cambridge built on fill may have soft soil conditions requiring larger diameter footings or deeper bearing depth. We probe or auger to verify soil conditions before specifying footing dimensions on every project. NADRA deck building standards →
Insurance liability: if a guest is injured on an unpermitted structure, your homeowner's insurance may deny the claim. Home sale complications: buyers' attorneys pull permit histories; an unpermitted deck typically requires retroactive permitting or price reduction. Stop-work orders: identified unpermitted construction results in a stop-work order and required permit compliance before work can resume. We don't build without permits — it's not worth the exposure to our clients or to us. Verify MA contractor license →
Need Deck Building in Boston?
AURA Painting Inc serves all Boston neighborhoods. Licensed MA #193121, fully insured, 2-year warranty. Free estimates — most jobs scheduled within the week.
Call (617) 777-7700 ← Back to Deck Building