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Deck Permit in Vancouver, Washington

Residential decks in Vancouver are built to the state's currently adopted IRC as amended by VMC 17.10, using the city's own design criteria.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Minimum roof snow load 25 lbs/sft for any covered structure
  • Frost depth 12 inches - footings must bear below it
  • Seismic design category D1
  • Design wind speed: V-ASD 105 mph or V-ULT 135 mph (Risk Category II) - use the one your design method calls for

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building permit fee
VANCOUVER IS UNUSUAL: ITS BUILDING PERMIT FEES ARE IN THE CODE ITSELF, AS TABLE I OF VMC 17.08, marked "2026 Fees". Show full citationVANCOUVER IS UNUSUAL: ITS BUILDING PERMIT FEES ARE IN THE CODE ITSELF, AS TABLE I OF VMC 17.08, marked "2026 Fees". The schedule is valuation-based and regressive, starting at $30.93 for work valued at $1 to $500 and reaching "$7,378.62 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4.14 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof" at the top bracket. THREE THINGS ARE ADDED ON TOP AND PEOPLE MISS THEM: a plan review fee of 65% of the building permit fee (100% if you want fast track review); a technology fee of five and one-half percent applied to the building fund fees in Tables I through VI; and, where the work involves two or more codes, a single permit fee of ONE AND SIX-TENTHS TIMES the fee otherwise set out. Valuation itself is not yours to choose - VMC 17.08.130 provides that it "shall be generated from national statistical averages as found in 'Building Standards' or similar source", with the determination made by the building official. These figures were read from the code on 2026-09-16 and checked for internal consistency; confirm them with the city before relying on them for a budget.
From the city's own schedule - see notes

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Deck Permit permit actually take in Vancouver?

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Inspection process

    Tips

    • Vancouver's 12-inch frost depth is half Spokane's 24 inches - a footing detail from eastern Washington is not transferable
    • Check which wind measure your span tables or engineer expect before using 105 or 135
    • Inspections as required under VMC 17.08.140

    Frequently asked questions

    Vancouver requires a deck permit for: Minimum roof snow load 25 lbs/sft for any covered structure; Frost depth 12 inches - footings must bear below it; Seismic design category D1; Design wind speed: V-ASD 105 mph or V-ULT 135 mph (Risk Category II) - use the one your design method calls for. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Vancouver - Building Division at 360-487-8480 before starting work.

    In Vancouver, the published Building permit fee is: From the city's own schedule - see notes. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

    Vancouver does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Vancouver - Building Division at 360-487-8480 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: Building permit application and construction documents. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Vancouver - Building Division. Phone: 360-487-8480. Official information: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/.

    Vancouver, Washington has adopted: VANCOUVER NAMES NO EDITION. VMC 17.12.010: "As required by RCW Chapter 19.27, the City of Vancouver hereby adopts by reference Washington State's currently adopted International Building Code (IBC) and appendices I and J (not including IBC Section J103.2, Exemption 1) and M (International Existing Building Code) as published by the International Code Council, and as adopted and amended by RCW Chapter 19.27, WAC Chapter 51-50, and the provisions of this chapter."; THE RESIDENTIAL CODE IS ADOPTED THE SAME WAY. VMC 17.10.010 adopts "Washington State's currently adopted International Residential Code (IRC) and appendices F, G, H and K".; NEITHER CODE'S CHAPTER 1 IS ADOPTED. VMC 17.12.010 states "The City of Vancouver does not adopt IBC Chapter 1" and VMC 17.10.010 states "The city of Vancouver does not adopt IRC Chapter 1." Chapter 1 is the administrative chapter in each model code; VMC Chapter 17.08 replaces it, and enforcement runs through VMC Title 22.; The exclusion at VMC 17.12.010 is surgical: appendix J is adopted but "not including IBC Section J103.2, Exemption 1".; Title 17 also carries separate chapters for the Energy Code (17.09), National Electrical Code (17.16), Uniform Plumbing Code (17.20), International Mechanical Code (17.24), Manufactured Housing (17.25) and the National Green Building Standard (17.42).; RCW 19.27 - the Washington State Building Code applies statewide.. Local amendments apply — see the Vancouver overview page for the full list.

    Vancouver publishes a frost depth of 12 inches in its amendment to IRC Table R301.2(1). That is a local figure: Spokane publishes 24 inches. Do not carry a footing detail across the state without checking.

    Sources & verification

    Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.

    Fee schedules

    Codes & ordinances

    Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Vancouver building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

    Vancouver's permit history isn't searchable here yet

    This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Vancouver yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.

    Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when Vancouver lands. Privacy.

    Other permits in Vancouver

    Building PermitVerify a Contractor Licence

    Deck Permit in other cities

    Bellevue, WashingtonClarkston, WashingtonSpokane, WashingtonSpokane Valley, WashingtonBountiful, UtahCasper, WyomingCheyenne, WyomingClearfield, Utah

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