Deck Builder in Glen Burnie, MD

When does a Glen Burnie deck need a permit?

Any attached deck does, including a replacement that sits exactly where the old one was. Anne Arundel County also requires a permit to replace a deck’s railings or any of its structural members. The one common job that skips the permit is laying new boards over framing that’s still sound.

For most Glen Burnie homeowners, that’s the whole question. Census estimates put about 19.4% of the town’s homes in the 1970s, and the original decks on those houses are well past the point where new boards alone will do. Once railings or framing are involved, the job is permitted.

The detached-deck exemption and its limits

Anne Arundel offers one exemption that matters for ranch houses: a freestanding deck under 200 square feet and under 3 feet high may not need a permit. The catches:

• It has to be more than 3 feet from the house. A deck pushed up against the back wall counts as attached, even if it isn’t bolted on.
• The lot has to be outside the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and any Bog Contribution Drainage Area.
• Size and height limits are firm. A 210-square-foot platform or one that steps up past 3 feet no longer qualifies.

For a patio-height platform in a backyard away from the creeks, this exemption can make a small project simple. We’ll confirm whether your lot qualifies before relying on it.

Rebuilding a 1970s or ’80s deck

Decks that have stood 40 years or more tend to fail in the same places. Ledger boards rot where water got behind them, posts sit on footings that have heaved or settled, and railings loosen at the bolts. Our rebuilds remove the old deck down to the ground, set new footings, and frame with new joists, beams and a flashed ledger before the decking goes on.

On split-levels, where the deck often comes off a raised kitchen or family room, stairs are a big part of the job. New stringers, treads and handrails go on the same permit as the deck.

Low decks behind ranchers and slab homes

Many post-war Glen Burnie houses sit close to the ground, especially slab homes with no basement. A deck off the back door may be only a step or two up. Low decks need extra attention to drainage and ventilation underneath, since boards and joists that stay damp wear out faster. We grade or add gravel under low decks where needed and leave gaps that let air move.

Near the creeks

Lots around Point Pleasant, on the peninsula between Furnace Creek, Tanyard Cove and Marley Creek, may fall in the Critical Area. There, lot-coverage limits and Buffer rules come into play, so we check the county map before drawing anything bigger than the existing deck. A small freestanding platform that would be exempt elsewhere in Glen Burnie needs a permit on those lots, and the deck surface may count toward lot coverage.

Planning inside work as well? See Glen Burnie kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling in Glen Burnie, or our exterior stairs work for front steps and landings.