City or county permit
Inside city limits, the City of Marietta issues building permits. Outside them, Cobb County's Community Development Agency does. Your mailing address does not tell you which, so we check the parcel.
Service area · Marietta, Georgia
Marietta Deck Builders
Marietta covers everything from historic homes near the Square to East Cobb subdivisions on sloping lots. We confirm who permits your address, then design a deck that fits the house and the grade.
✓Permit office confirmed
✓Sloped-lot framing
✓Walkout-basement decks
✓Written scope
Building in Marietta
Deck Builders in Marietta GA
Marietta is the county seat of Cobb County, with about 60,000 residents inside city limits. The Marietta name reaches much further than the city itself: ZIP codes 30008, 30060, 30062, 30064, 30066, 30067, and 30068 all carry it, and large parts of them, including most of East Cobb, are unincorporated county land.
That matters because the city and the county run separate permit offices. A deck behind a house off Church Street goes through the City of Marietta; a deck on a cul-de-sac off Johnson Ferry Road usually goes through Cobb County. We confirm which one applies before we draw anything.
The housing is just as varied: older homes and bungalows near the Square, mid-century ranches, and the 1970s to 1990s two-story homes that fill East Cobb, many with a walkout basement and a deck high off the back. Deck Contractor Atlanta builds new decks and replaces old ones across all of it.
Local factors
What shapes a deck build here
The historic district
Inside the Marietta Historic District, material exterior changes to historic buildings need a Certificate of Approval from the city's Historic Board of Review. We check the city's official historic map to see whether your lot is in the district.
Sloped lots and walkout basements
Many homes step down the hill toward the back yard. The deck ends up a full story or more above grade, so post sizing, bracing, footing depth, and stair layout take more planning than on a flat lot.
Georgia clay and runoff
Red clay holds water and moves as it wets and dries. Footings are set to bear on firm soil, and we look at where roof and yard runoff will go so it does not collect around the posts.
Permits
Permits and inspections
Whether the city or the county reviews it, a new or rebuilt deck generally needs a building permit and inspections. The City of Marietta's permit list includes decks, whether new, repaired, or replaced. What a deck application typically includes:
- A site plan showing the deck, the house, and distances to property lines
- A framing plan with footing, post, beam, and joist sizes and spacing
- Ledger attachment and flashing details, or a free-standing design
- Guard, handrail, and stair details
- A Certificate of Approval first, if the home is in the Marietta Historic District
Requirements and review times change, so we confirm both with the right office when we plan your deck.
Sources: City of Marietta: building permits; City of Marietta: Historic Board of Review; Cobb County Community Development: permitting.
What fits here
Designs that fit the house and the lot
On East Cobb two-stories, the most common project is replacing the original elevated deck off the kitchen. We usually keep the footprint, rebuild the frame to current standards, and add a landing so the stair does not run straight into the yard.
Near the Square, decks tend to be smaller and lower, and they need to look right next to an older house: simple railing, painted or stained wood, and trim that matches the home. Where the lot is wooded, we plan footings around tree roots.
If your deck needs fixing rather than replacing, see our deck repair service in Marietta.
City or county permit? Call and we will check your address.
Call (470) 279-4199Common questions
Questions homeowners ask
Does the City of Marietta issue my deck permit?
Only if your property is inside Marietta city limits. Many homes with a Marietta mailing address, including most of East Cobb, are in unincorporated Cobb County, where the county issues the permit. We check your parcel before we plan the deck.
My house is in the Marietta Historic District. Can I still build a deck?
Often, yes, but there is an extra step. In the Marietta Historic District, material exterior changes to historic buildings need a Certificate of Approval from the city's Historic Board of Review, and so do new structures visible from a public street. We check the city's historic map early and plan for that review.
Why are so many Marietta decks built so high?
A lot of Marietta and East Cobb homes sit on sloping lots with a walkout basement, so the main-floor door is a full story above the back yard. The deck has to reach that door, which means tall posts, bracing, and a long stair.
Do you replace old decks or only build new ones?
Both. Many Marietta decks were built when the house was, decades ago. If the frame is sound we can resurface it; if the ledger, posts, or footings are failing, a full rebuild is the safer choice. For smaller problems, see our Marietta deck repair page.
Service area
Where we work
We build and replace decks across Marietta, from the historic neighborhoods near the Square to East Cobb and the areas around Kennesaw Mountain.
Start with your address
Ready to get started?
Tell us your address and what you have in mind. We will confirm the permit office, look at the slope, and give you a written scope.