Do I need a permit to build a deck in Illinois?

Almost always, yes. Most Central Illinois municipalities require a building permit for a deck attached to the house or standing more than 30 inches above grade. Rural parcels are permitted through the county instead of a village office.

How deep do deck footings have to be?

Below the frost line, which is 42 inches across our service area. A footing poured shallower than that will heave in winter and take the deck with it, whatever the deck is made of.

How tall does deck railing have to be?

Guard rail is required on any surface more than 30 inches above grade, at a minimum 36 inches tall, with openings that won't pass a 4-inch sphere. Stairs with four or more risers need a graspable handrail.

Who pulls the permit — me or the builder?

We do. Permit drawings, submittal, fees and meeting the inspector are part of every job we quote. You never have to stand at a counter.

What if my existing deck was never permitted?

It's common, and it usually only matters when you sell or when we touch it structurally. If we're repairing or rebuilding, we bring the work up to current code and permit the new scope.

Paperwork, Handled

Deck permits and code, town by town

Every town in Tazewell, Peoria, Woodford and McLean counties handles deck permits a little differently. We pull them all. Here's what each one expects — always confirm current rules with your local office, since fees and thresholds change.

Morton, IL

Tazewell County

Morton requires a village building permit for any deck attached to the house or more than 30 inches off grade, plus a plat of survey showing setbacks. We pull it and meet the inspector.

Footings: Deep prairie loam over clay — clean augering, but footings still have to reach past the 42-inch frost line.

Pekin, IL

Tazewell County

Pekin issues residential deck permits through the city building department, with a zoning check on rear-yard setbacks. Elevated decks get a framing inspection before decking goes down.

Footings: Heavy clay that holds water. We over-dig footings and use gravel bases so posts don't heave or wick moisture.

Washington, IL

Tazewell County

Washington requires a building permit and a site plan for decks; post-2013 rebuild areas are held to current wind and attachment detailing.

Footings: Silty loam over firm clay — good bearing, but tree roots in the older neighborhoods slow the auger down.

East Peoria, IL

Tazewell County

East Peoria requires a building permit with a drawn plan for decks over 30 inches, and elevated bluff-side builds get a closer look at post and footing detail.

Footings: Bluff-side lots hit clay and shale fast; bottomland near the river is sandier and drains well.

Tremont, IL

Tazewell County

Tremont handles deck permits at the village office; acreages outside the limits fall under Tazewell County building review.

Footings: Prime black farm ground — easy digging, but soft enough that we bell the footings on taller posts.

Peoria, IL

Peoria County

The City of Peoria requires a building permit and plan review for residential decks, with footing and framing inspections on attached builds.

Footings: Loess over clay on the bluffs — stable once you're deep, but the top few feet can be loose fill on older lots.

Groveland, IL

Tazewell County

Groveland decks are permitted through Tazewell County building and zoning; setbacks are measured to the property line, not the mow line.

Footings: Loam over clay with occasional gravel seams that make augering quick.

Mackinaw, IL

Tazewell County

Village permits in town, Tazewell County review for rural parcels and acreage builds.

Footings: Deep, workable farm soil with clay beneath; footings hold well once past frost depth.

Metamora, IL

Woodford County

Metamora issues village deck permits, and Woodford County handles the surrounding rural parcels.

Footings: Rooty topsoil over firm clay; hand-clearing around roots is normal on wooded lots.

Germantown Hills, IL

Woodford County

Village permit plus a setback check; hillside builds get scrutiny on post height and bracing.

Footings: Hillside clay that needs proper bearing; we size footings to the post load rather than defaulting to a standard tube.

Dunlap, IL

Peoria County

Peoria County building permits apply to most Dunlap-area decks, along with subdivision covenant review.

Footings: Engineered fill in the newer developments — we dig past it to undisturbed soil before we pour.

Eureka, IL

Woodford County

Eureka issues city deck permits; Woodford County covers the surrounding township parcels.

Footings: Good farm loam over clay; straightforward footing work.

Chillicothe, IL

Peoria County

City of Chillicothe permit with a zoning setback check; floodplain parcels get an extra review.

Footings: Sandy near the river, clay up the bluff — footing depth and diameter change block to block.

Bloomington, IL

McLean County

The City of Bloomington requires a building permit with a plot plan for decks; attached ledgers get a flashing inspection.

Footings: Deep black loam over dense clay — clean holes, excellent bearing.

Normal, IL

McLean County

The Town of Normal requires a building permit and site plan; rear-yard coverage limits apply on smaller lots.

Footings: Prairie loam over clay; frost depth governs, not bearing capacity.

Straight Answers

Permit and code questions

Do I need a permit to build a deck in Illinois?: Almost always, yes. Most Central Illinois municipalities require a building permit for a deck attached to the house or standing more than 30 inches above grade. Rural parcels are permitted through the county instead of a village office.
How deep do deck footings have to be?: Below the frost line, which is 42 inches across our service area. A footing poured shallower than that will heave in winter and take the deck with it, whatever the deck is made of.
How tall does deck railing have to be?: Guard rail is required on any surface more than 30 inches above grade, at a minimum 36 inches tall, with openings that won't pass a 4-inch sphere. Stairs with four or more risers need a graspable handrail.
Who pulls the permit — me or the builder?: We do. Permit drawings, submittal, fees and meeting the inspector are part of every job we quote. You never have to stand at a counter.
What if my existing deck was never permitted?: It's common, and it usually only matters when you sell or when we touch it structurally. If we're repairing or rebuilding, we bring the work up to current code and permit the new scope.