This is one of the first questions almost every homeowner asks, and the honest answer is: it depends on where you are and what you are building. Clark County and the cities within it — Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas, Washougal, Ridgefield, La Center — each run their own building department, and so does Woodland just to the north. Permit thresholds for decks and fences are set locally and do change over time. We are not going to publish specific numbers here that could be out of date by the time you read this. What we can tell you is how to think about it.

What usually factors into whether you need a permit

  • Height above grade. A deck a few inches off the ground is typically treated differently than one several feet up.
  • Whether it is attached to the house. A deck structurally attached to your home is generally reviewed differently than a freestanding structure.
  • Size. Larger decks and fences are more likely to require review than small ones.
  • Location on the property. Fences and structures near a property line, easement, or right-of-way often have their own rules, separate from size or height.

Because these thresholds vary by jurisdiction and change over time, the only reliable answer for your specific project is a call to your local building department, or checking their current published requirements.

Who is responsible for the permit

Under our standard contract, obtaining and paying for any required building permit is the homeowner's responsibility, not ours — and we tell every homeowner that up front, in writing. We will talk through what your specific project is likely to need when we walk the site, but we do not pull permits on your behalf.

HOA and other approvals

Separately from city or county permits, many neighborhoods have HOA or architectural committee approval requirements for fences and decks. That approval — and providing us a copy of it before work starts — is also the homeowner's responsibility under our contract.

Why we bring this up before you sign anything

Permit and inspection timing is one of the most common reasons a project's schedule shifts, and we would rather you know that going in than be surprised by it. See our schedule a site visit page to start the conversation, or read how long a project actually takes for more on how permitting fits into the timeline.