Deck permits get denied when the plans are missing required details. Reviewers need clear information on deck location, footing and pier sizing, beam and joist sizes and spacing, ledger connection, and stair measurements. If those items are vague or not shown, the city cannot verify compliance and will deny the permit or require revisions.
How To Prevent Denied Deck Permits in Kansas City
Pier Size Decisions Cities Flag Fast
The first issue we see is pier sizing. Many people assume a 36-inch-deep, 12-inch-round pier will pass. That assumption is risky because depth alone does not solve the structural requirement. The pier has to be the right size in terms of surface area so it can support the load above it.
What reviewers typically need to see is that the plan defines the pier sizing clearly enough to evaluate support. If that information is missing or undersized for the design, the city will deny the permit or request revisions.
Pro Tip: If the pier detail is vague, the reviewer cannot confirm capacity, and the plan comes back.
Site Plan Distance Rules Vary By City
A site plan is another common reason permits get denied. You cannot build a deck anywhere you want on the back of the house. The layout must follow distance rules tied to neighboring properties, and those requirements can vary depending on the city.
Your plans should make placement easy to evaluate. When a site plan does not clearly show where the deck sits and how it relates to adjacent properties, the reviewer has no clear way to confirm compliance, and the plan gets sent back.
Pro Tip: Permit reviewers move faster when your drawings clearly show placement and support in plain, defined details.
The Plan Details Reviewers Require Before Approval
Beam and Joist Sizes Must Be Defined
Cities do not approve “general ideas.” They want the actual build defined. That includes the overall framing details such as beam sizes, joist sizes, and joist spacing. If the plan does not spell out those measurements, the reviewer cannot verify what the deck is designed to carry or how the system is laid out.
To keep the plan review smooth, the drawing set should call out the structural framing details directly, including spacing and member sizing, so nothing is left open to interpretation.
A simple checklist helps keep your plan complete:
- Beam sizes listed clearly
- Joist sizes listed clearly
- Joist spacing defined and consistent on the plan
Ledger and Stair Rise and Run Must Be Listed
Permits also get sent back when key details are missing, including ledger size and stair measurements. If the plan does not show ledger size, the reviewer cannot verify what the connection point is designed to be. Stairs also require specifics. Cities want stair rise and run defined, not guessed.
When those details are not on the plan, the city will deny it and request revisions. It is not personal, and it does not mean the project cannot happen. It means the plan set is incomplete.
Need expert help with denied deck permits? Contact DW Decks for a free consultation.
Why Generic and AI Drawings Often Get Sent Back
Non-Typical Designs Can Require Major Modifications
We are seeing more homeowners show up with AI renderings or computer-generated drawings. The problem is that a rendering can look good and still not work with the house as-is. Some concepts are not possible in conjunction with the home without major modifications, which can include changes tied to the roof line or the house framing, so the structure can support the load.
There is usually a way to build the project, but when the design is non-typical, it can become extensive and expensive. The permit plan still needs deeper detail than a generic drawing provides.
Loads, Capacities, and Wind Uplift Must be Documented
Cities expect the plan to define the technical requirements that make the deck safe and buildable. That includes loads, capacities, spacing, and how components interconnect and affect each other. It also includes resistance requirements such as side load and wind load resistance, wind uplift protection, and bearing capacities.
These items are mathematical. Engineers have calculated them over time and put them into tables that builders and homeowners can use. The key point is simple: the plan has to define these requirements clearly. Ambiguous drawings do not meet that standard, so the city sends them back.
Key Takeaway: A permit-ready deck plan must define loads, capacities, spacing, and wind-related requirements in clear, specific details, not generic visuals.
How Revisions and Resubmittals Typically Work
Most Denials are Revision Requests
A denial often means the city wants revisions, not that the project is dead. If the plan is missing details the city asked for, the reviewer will send it back and request the information. That is why complete documentation matters from day one.
When we prepare permit-ready plans, we focus on the exact details cities look for so the approval process stays predictable.
Online Portals Make Resubmittal Straightforward
Many cities now handle the permit process online. You submit through a portal, get comments back, and resubmit drawings and details through the same system. If your plan set is updated with the missing information, the revision process is typically manageable.
If you want fewer delays, the goal is to submit drawings that already include the required structural details and placement rules, so you do not lose time cycling through revisions. Schedule a quote with DW Decks and let us build the permit plan the right way for denied deck permits.
