Q: What are the general rules for building permits?

Permits Required:

No building or structure regulated by the PERMITS AND INSPECTION DIVISION for the CITY OF BELLEVUE and the two mile jurisdiction shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, improved, removed, converted or demolished, unless a separate permit for each building or structure has first been obtained from the BUILDING OFFICIAL.

Exempted Work:

1. One story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the projected roof area does not exceed 120 square feet.

2. Oil Derricks.

3. Movable cases, counters, and partitions not over 5 ft 9 inches high.

4. Retaining walls not over 4 feet in height measuring from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable liquids.

5. Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1.

6. Replacement of concrete or asphalt driveways and walks provided that the area being replaced is no larger than that which previously existed, or that it does not go over any basement or story below.

7. Painting, papering, floor covering and similar finish (cosmetic) work.

8. Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery.

9. Window and door awnings supported by an exterior wall of a single family dwelling or garages when projecting not more than 54 inches.

10. Swimming Pools: Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a single family dwelling in which the pool walls are entirely above the adjacent grade and if the capacity does not exceed 5000 gallons.

UNLESS OTHERWISE EXEMPTED separate PLUMBING, MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL permits will be required for the above items.

Plumbing Work Not Requiring A Permit:

No permit shall be required in the case of any repair work as follows:

The stopping of leaks in drains, soil, waste or vent pipe, provided, however, that should any trap, drainpipe, soil, waste or vent pipe be or become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material in any part or parts, the same shall be considered as such new work and a permit shall be procured and inspections made as provided. No permit shall be required for the cleaning of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves, or fixtures, when such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.

Mechanical Work Not Requiring a Permit:

1. A portable heating appliance, portable ventilating equipment, portable cooling unit or portable evaporative cooler.

2. A closed system of steam, hot or chilled water piping within heating or cooling equipment regulated by this code.

3. Replacement of any component part or assembly of an appliance which does not alter its original approval and complies with other applicable requirements of this code.

4. Refrigerating equipment which is part of the equipment for which a permit has been issued pursuant to the requirements of this code.

5. A unit refrigerating system.

Electrical Work Not Requiring a Permit:

1. Portable motors or other portable appliances energized by means of a cord or cable having an attachment plug end to be connected to an approved receptacle when that cord or cable is permitted by the ELECTRICAL CODE.

2. Repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers or fixed approved appliances of the same type and rating in the same location.

3. Temporary decorative lighting.

4. Repair or replacement of current-carrying parts of any switch, contractor or control device.

5. Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the outlets.

6. Repair or replacement of any overcurrent device of the required capacity in the same location.

7. Repair or replacement of electrodes or transformers of the same size and capacity for sign or gas tube systems.

8. Taping joints.

9. Removal of electric wire.

10. Temporary wiring for experimental purposes in suitable experimental laboratories.

11. The wiring for temporary theater, motion picture or television sets.

12. Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy.

13. Low-energy power, control and signal circuits of Classes II and III as defined in the ELECTRICAL CODE.

14. A permit shall not be required for the installation, alteration or repair of electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment or the generation, transmission, distribution or metering of electrical energy or in the operation of signals or the transmission of intelligence by a public or private utility in the exercise of its function as a serving utility.

Q: What are the requirements for building a residential deck?

Permits are required to build or rebuild decks. The permit fee is based on Table 3A, which will include labor if any. on construction cost of material and labor if any.

1. A covered deck may be constructed in the rear yard and may extend only to your rear yard set-back area.

2. An uncovered rear deck that has a height no higher than the height limitations of your zoning area may be constructed so it extends a no more than 10 feet into the rear yard set-backs area.

3. An uncovered rear deck that is no higher than 30 inches may be constructed so it extends no closer than 3 feet from the rear property line and no more than 3 feet into the required side yard set-back area.

4. An uncovered front deck that is no higher than 30 inches may be constructed so it extends no more than10 feet into the front yard set-back.

5. Any deck that is constructed in the zoning set-back area may have a guardrail or railing that is no higher than 36 inches above the deck.

6 . Any guardrail that is within 5 feet from a property line will be required to be 50 % open for visibility.

There are other rules pertaining to visibility at the corners of streets and streets & alleys. Bring a copy of your plot plan showing your lot with dwelling location shown. Indicate on it where the deck will be erected..
(Your plot plan should be with your house mortgage papers). You will need to fill out a building permit application denoting the address where the deck is being constructed (Job Address), #2 owner's name, #3 who is installing the deck (yourself or a company), #7 describe what you are building, the size, and location (Such as rear, front, or side of dwelling), #8 the valuation (cost plus labor if any), and last your signature
with date at the bottom. (The #numbers are the numbered lines on the building permit application).

You need to provide 2 copies of your plans (to scale), showing a plan view (top) and elevation view (side). You need to show the species of wood (treated, redwood, or cedar), you need to show how the deck will be attached to the building,(size of ledger board and size of lag bolts with spacing), the size, spacing, and distance of span for the floor joists, the same for the beams that will support the joists.

Show the size of the posts and location, the size and depth of the footings (minimum depth 42 inches, minimum width will be twice the width of the supported post and 6" minimum thickness)

One of the installation methods is using the pier type footing where you dig an 8" or wider hole 42" deep, widen the bottom to twice the post width diameter, fill the hole completely with concrete, set a bolt or pin in the concrete so it protrudes a few inches above the concrete, when the concrete is cured the pin will insert into the bottom of the post and will hold the post from lateral movement, also the wood will last longer above the ground. The floor joists will be supported either by 1 ½ "bearing on wood or use the proper Tyco or Simpson type joist hanger that has a support under the joists. (Not by nails only). (Tyco and Simpson are listed by name only as recognizable examples, we will accept any 'listed' joist hanger.)

Use only stainless steel, high strength aluminum, or hot dipped galvanized nails or screws. The exterior deck screws seem to be superior. Deck joists should not overhang beams by more than two feet, nor should beams overhang posts by more than one foot unless a special design is approved.

When the deck is 30" or more above the ground level you need a guardrail that extends 36" above the finished floor with all spaces or holes in the guard rail small enough so a 4" round ball will not pass though. When there are stairs, the minimum width is 36 inches. The maximum rise is 8 inches, minimum rise is 4 inches. Minimum run is 9 inches.

The largest tread width or riser height shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 inch. A handrail/guardrail is required when there are more than three steps (counting the top landing) The 4" spacing rule, also applies to the steps if the steps are more than 30" above the ground. The top of the handrail shall be between 34" and 38" above the front edge of the steps.

The handgrip portion of the handrail for the steps will be 1 1/4" to 2" round, however we accept a 2"x6" if laid flat.
and the corners are rounded , sanded smooth with no splinters. This would allow about 1 ½" to grip.