Steps to Building a New Deck in Washtenaw County: What Is the Process?
Highlights from this Article:
- Building a new deck involves several steps, and a good contractor will manage most of them on your behalf.
- Ann Arbor Decks handles the permit application process for every project. You don’t have to navigate municipal offices yourself.
- Permitting timelines vary widely across Washtenaw County municipalities. We factor this into the project schedule from the start.
- If your neighborhood has an HOA, their approval typically needs to come before the municipal permit (something worth knowing early).
- Every Ann Arbor Decks project comes with a written timeline at signing so you know what to expect and when.
Skip down to the process overview table or the FAQs.
While most deck builds are not too complicated, the process isn’t just about framing and decking. There’s design work, HOA approval, zoning and permitting, material lead times, inspections, and sequencing to coordinate. Done well, most of that happens in the background and you experience it as a smooth, well-managed project.
This post walks through the process we follow at Ann Arbor Decks for every new build, so you know what to expect before you pick up the phone.
Step 1: Initial Consultation
Every project starts with a free on-site consultation, typically 45 minutes. We come to your home, walk the space with you, and talk through what you’re envisioning (size, materials, railing style, any special features like built-in lighting, a pergola, or an outdoor kitchen area).
We’re also looking at the site itself during this visit: grade, existing landscaping, how the deck will attach to the house, access for equipment and materials, and anything else that affects how the project gets designed and built. A deck that looks simple on paper sometimes has site conditions that require additional planning. We’d rather find those things at the consultation than mid-build.
After the consultation, we put together a written quote with clear, itemized pricing. No vague estimates. You’ll see what you’re paying for.
Step 2: Design and Drawings
Once you decide to move forward, we produce design drawings for your deck in-house. These aren’t rough sketches: they’re the detailed drawings that go to the municipality with your permit application, showing dimensions, framing layout, footing locations and sizes, ledger attachment detail, and railing specifications.
We’ll review your deck design with you first, so you have the opportunity to make adjustments while changes are still easy. This is also when we finalize material selections if you haven’t already.
Step 3: Material Selection
If you haven’t settled on materials by the end of the consultation, the design phase is when we nail that down. The main decisions are decking surface (composite or wood, and which product line), railing system, and any special features. We can walk you through samples and help you think through what suits your home, your yard, and your maintenance preferences.
Material lead times vary. Most standard composite products are readily available, but custom colors, specialty railing systems, or pergola kits may have longer lead times that affect the project schedule. We factor this in when we give you your build timeline.
Step 4: HOA Approval (If Applicable)
If your neighborhood has a homeowners association, their approval typically needs to come before you can apply for a municipal building permit. HOA review processes vary considerably. Some associations turn around approvals in a week or two; others meet only quarterly and require submissions well in advance of their meeting dates.
If you have an HOA, let us know at the consultation. We can provide the drawings and documentation their review board typically requires, but the submission and approval process runs through you as the homeowner. We’ve found it’s worth understanding your HOA’s timeline early, as it can be the longest single variable in the pre-construction phase.
Step 5: Permit Application
Ann Arbor Decks handles the building permit application for every project. You don’t need to visit municipal offices or navigate the application yourself. We take care of it.
If you need Ann Arbor historical permissions, that is something you would need to obtain first. We can assist you in any way possible.
Washtenaw County encompasses many Townships and municipalities, and permitting timelines vary more than most homeowners expect. The City of Ann Arbor, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, Pittsfield Township, Ypsilanti, and the surrounding townships each have their own building departments with their own review processes and workloads. Some turn permits around in a week or two; others can take considerably longer, particularly during the busy spring and summer building season.
A few things that affect permitting in this area:
- Zoning setbacks vary by municipality. How close your deck can be to a property line, easement, or structure depends on local zoning rules. Where possible, we obtain zoning approval before submitting your permit, so there are no setback surprises after the permit is filed.
- Deck drawings must meet Michigan Residential Code requirements. Our in-house drawings are prepared with code compliance in mind, which helps avoid revision requests that delay permit issuance.
- Permit fees vary by municipality and project scope. These are passed through to you at cost, plus our administrative fees. The permit costs will be clearly broken out for you on your contract.
Step 6: Site Preparation
Once the permit is in hand, we can more exactly schedule your project start date. If there’s an existing deck or structure being removed, demolition and debris hauling happens first. We handle all of that, including proper disposal of any pressure-treated lumber, which Michigan requires be taken to an authorized facility rather than placed in regular trash.
We also arrange to have Miss Dig mark utility lines before any digging begins. In Michigan, this means we call MISS DIG (dial 811) to have underground utilities located and flagged. This is a legal requirement before any excavation and a step we take seriously. Hitting an unmarked utility line is dangerous and costly. When flags show up in your lawn, you’ll need to leave them be until we remove them for you.
Step 7: Footings and Framing
This is the structural core of your deck, and it’s where the quality of a build is really established, even though most of it ends up hidden once the decking goes down.
In Michigan, deck footings must extend below the frost line, which is 42 inches. This prevents the freeze-thaw cycle from heaving posts out of the ground over time (a common cause of deck instability on improperly built structures). We pour concrete footings to the required depth and allow appropriate cure time before framing begins. The inspector will come out to approve the size, position and depth of the holes (the ‘footings inspection’).
Framing involves setting posts, installing beams and joists, and attaching the ledger board to the house. If your deck is ledgered (not all decks are attached), this ledger connection is one of the most structurally critical details in any attached deck, and we take care with both the attachment method and the flashing that protects your home’s rim joist from water intrusion. A ledger that allows water behind it is a slow-motion problem that doesn’t show up until significant damage has already occurred.
Depending on your municipality, a framing inspection may be required before decking can be installed. Where required, we schedule and coordinate this inspection.
Step 8: Decking and Railing Installation
With framing complete and inspection passed, decking boards go down. Hidden fastener systems (which leave a clean surface with no visible screw heads) are standard on most of our composite installations. Stair construction, if your deck includes stairs, happens during this phase as well.
Railing installation follows. Whether you’ve chosen cable, glass, aluminum balusters, or a composite system, this is when the deck starts to look finished. We pay attention to detail at this stage (consistent spacing, plumb posts, secure connections) because the railing is both a safety system and one of the most visible design elements of the finished deck.
Step 9: Final Inspection
A final building inspection takes place before the permit is closed out. An inspector from the local building department visits the site and reviews the completed deck against the approved permit drawings and applicable code requirements, like stair riser heights, stair widths, and stair handrail requirements. We schedule and coordinate this inspection for you.
Once final inspection is passed, the permit is closed and the deck is officially yours to enjoy.
The Process at a Glance
| Step | Who Handles It | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Initial consultation | Ann Arbor Decks | Free, on-site, 30–45 minutes |
| 2. Design and drawings | Ann Arbor Decks | Reviewed with homeowner before submission |
| 3. Material selection | Homeowner (with our guidance) | Affects lead times and project schedule |
| 4. HOA approval | Homeowner (we provide documentation) | Required before permit in many neighborhoods; timelines vary |
| 5. Permit application | Ann Arbor Decks | Timelines vary by municipality |
| 6. Site preparation | Ann Arbor Decks | Includes demolition, MISS DIG, utility marking |
| 7. Footings and framing | Ann Arbor Decks | 42″ frost-depth footings required in Michigan |
| 8. Decking and railing | Ann Arbor Decks | Hidden fasteners standard on composite installations |
| 9. Final inspection | Ann Arbor Decks (schedules and coordinates) | Required by most Washtenaw County municipalities |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Washtenaw County? In virtually all cases, yes. Any attached deck (and most freestanding decks above a certain size) requires a building permit in Washtenaw County municipalities. Building without a permit creates problems when you sell your home and can result in costly remediation if the unpermitted structure is discovered. Ann Arbor Decks handles the permit application for every project we build.
How long does the whole process take from first call to finished deck? It varies by project, but the permitting phase is usually the longest variable. Once a permit is in hand, the active build time for your specific deck is something we are happy to provide. We also coordinate with you on your expected project start date, staying in good communication as the project approaches.
What if my HOA rejects the design? We work with you to adjust the design to meet HOA requirements and resubmit. Most HOA rejections involve aesthetic concerns (materials, colors, or height) that can be addressed without fundamentally changing the project. The important thing is to start the HOA process early so a revision doesn’t significantly delay the overall timeline.
What is MISS DIG and why does it matter? MISS DIG is Michigan’s underground utility notification service. Before any digging begins, Michigan law requires contractors to contact MISS DIG (by dialing 811) so that underground utilities (gas, electric, water, communications lines) can be located and marked. We handle this as a standard part of every project requiring digging, before excavation starts. MISS DIG won’t cover sprinkler lines, so we do ask that you have your landscaper move those before we start work, if possible.
Why do footings need to go 42 inches deep? Michigan’s frost line (the depth at which the ground freezes in winter) is 42 inches. Footings that don’t extend below the frost line are subject to frost heave, where freezing and thawing soil pushes the footing (and the post above it) up and out of position over time. This leads to decks that become unlevel, unstable, or structurally compromised. Frost-depth footings are required by code and are simply the right way to build in Michigan.
Can I start using my deck before the final inspection? Technically the deck isn’t permitted for occupancy until the final inspection is passed and the permit is closed. We schedule final inspections promptly at project completion. There’s no reason for this step to take long once the work is done.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re thinking about a new deck, the best first step is a conversation. Our free on-site consultations are no-pressure, take about 30 to 45 minutes, and give you a clear picture of what your project would involve. We then follow up with a written quote and a realistic timeline.
Book your free estimate today. We serve Ann Arbor, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, Pittsfield Township, Ypsilanti Township, and the surrounding Washtenaw County area.