Service area · Chamblee, Georgia
Chamblee requires a building permit for every deck and keeps decks 75 feet from streams. We check your lot, guide you through the permit, and build decks for ranch homes and new infill.
Building in Chamblee
Chamblee grew up around Camp Gordon, a World War I army camp, and later around Peachtree-DeKalb Airport. Most of its neighborhoods are postwar: Keswick Village dates from about 1950, Beverly Hills and Beverly Woods from the early 1950s, and Huntley Hills from the early 1960s.
In Sexton Woods, which Chamblee shares with Brookhaven, 1950s ranch houses sit beside newer craftsman-style homes. That mix produces two kinds of deck: a low, wide deck off an older ranch, and a taller deck off a new house whose main floor sits well above the yard.
The 30341 zip code also reaches into neighboring cities and unincorporated DeKalb County, so we confirm which government has your address first. As an Atlanta-based deck builder, we build new decks and replace old ones across Chamblee.
We build throughout the 30341 zip code.
Local factors
The city's deck guide says all decks and porches require a building permit, and permits are issued only after plan review. The application includes a site plan, construction details, a floor plan, and the contractor's license information.
Chamblee's deck guide says a deck cannot be located within 75 feet of a stream, or inside a sewer, drainage, or power line easement. The site plan has to show streams, easements, and trees that could be affected.
Decks count as impervious surface along with the house, driveway, and walks. Depending on the zoning district, the total is capped at 45 to 80 percent of the lot, so the site plan shows existing and proposed coverage.
An open, unenclosed deck on a single-family lot, stairs included, may extend up to six feet into the front or rear setback. Side setbacks still apply, and the allowance is lost once a deck is screened or enclosed.
Permits
Permits come from the city's Planning and Development Department. For a deck, the city asks for:
Applications can be filed online, by email, or in person, and the deck guide says review typically takes about five business days. The city may ask for a survey when a stream buffer, lot coverage, or a tight setback is in question. Inspections cover the footings before concrete is placed, the framing, and the finished deck.
The city updates its forms from time to time, so we confirm them while we plan your deck.
Sources, checked October 2026: City of Chamblee: about permitting; City of Chamblee: deck permit guide; City of Chamblee: prescriptive deck details.
What fits here
On a mid-century ranch the back door is often close to grade, so a low, wide deck with a short, broad stair fits the house. Because the deck counts toward lot coverage, we size it to what the lot allows before you choose materials.
On newer infill homes the main floor is higher, so the deck is elevated, with larger footings, bracing on tall posts, and a stair with a landing. Capped composite boards and aluminum rail keep upkeep low, and an under-deck drainage system can turn the space below into a dry patio.
Is there a creek behind your Chamblee home? Check the 75-foot setback first.
Call (470) 279-4199Common questions
Yes. The city's deck guide says all decks and porches require a building permit, and a permit is issued only after the plans are reviewed.
Chamblee's deck guide says decks cannot be located within 75 feet of a stream. We check the lot for streams and easements before proposing a size or location.
Yes. Decks count as impervious surface with the house, driveway, and walks. The limit depends on your zoning district and ranges from 45 to 80 percent of the lot.
No. The zip code also covers parts of neighboring cities and unincorporated DeKalb County, and each has its own permit office. We confirm which one has your address first.
Service area
We build, replace, and repair decks throughout Chamblee and the neighborhoods around it.
Start with your address
Tell us your address and what you want to build or replace. We will check streams, easements, and lot coverage, look at the house, and give you a written scope.
