Do You Need a Permit for a Deck in Georgetown, TX? (2026 Guide)
Short answer
Yes. The City of Georgetown lists decks, patios, and patio covers or pergolas among the projects that need a building permit inside city limits, and it does not publish a small deck exemption. Applications go through My Government Online (MGO Connect) with an official site survey and construction drawings, and the city says to allow 15 to 20 business days of plan review for a deck and 10 business days for a patio cover or pergola.
Georgetown homeowners ask us this more than almost any other question: do I really need a permit for a deck, a covered patio, or a pergola? Inside city limits the answer is yes, and the City of Georgetown is clear about it. This guide walks through what the city actually publishes on its permit pages, what you need to submit, how long review takes, which inspections to expect, and where HOA approval fits in, including in Sun City.
Key takeaways
- Inside Georgetown city limits, decks, patios, patio covers and pergolas are on the city's list of projects that need a permit.
- Georgetown builds to the 2021 International Residential Code, effective November 1, 2023.
- Deck applications need an official site survey, construction drawings with footing details, and impervious cover calculations.
- Plan review: 15 to 20 business days for decks and flatwork, 10 business days for patio covers and pergolas.
- Expect three inspections: foundation (pre-pour), setback with property pins exposed, and building final.
- Sun City and most other Georgetown HOAs need their own architectural approval on top of the city permit.
Do you need a permit for a deck in Georgetown, TX?
Yes, if your home is inside Georgetown city limits. The city's permit guidance says a permit is required for any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or demolish a building or structure, and its list of common projects that need a permit specifically includes decks, patios, and patio covers or pergolas.
A lot of homeowners have heard the rule of thumb that a deck under 30 inches tall and under 200 square feet does not need a permit. That exemption exists in the model International Residential Code, but Georgetown's own permit pages do not list it. The city's list of exempt work covers things like retaining walls under 4 feet, painting and flooring, prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep, and window awnings that project less than 54 inches. Decks are not on it. If you think your project might be exempt, ask the city before you build, not after.
Which building code does Georgetown use?
The City of Georgetown adopted the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) along with the rest of the 2021 International Code family and the 2023 National Electrical Code, effective November 1, 2023. That means your deck's footings, ledger attachment, joist spans, guards, and stairs are reviewed against the 2021 IRC, and any lighting, fans, or outlets on a covered patio are reviewed against the 2023 NEC.
Do patio covers and pergolas need a permit in Georgetown?
Yes. Georgetown has a separate permit type for patio covers, and that page covers pergolas and arbors too. The application needs an official site survey showing the property lines and the location of the proposed patio cover, pergola, or arbor with dimensions, plus construction drawings.
The city says to allow 10 business days for plan review once the project is assigned. Inspections are a foundation (pre-pour) inspection, a setback inspection, and a building final. If the cover includes electrical work such as fans or lighting, additional inspections apply.
Detached structures that are really accessory buildings, like a storage building, garage, or carport, fall under a different permit governed by Section 6.06 of the Unified Development Code. For those, the city caps size at 25 percent of the principal structure (not counting the garage) and limits accessory buildings to 30 percent of the rear yard.
What do you submit for a Georgetown deck permit?
Deck, patio, and flatwork permits are filed as a Residential Miscellaneous application through My Government Online, which the city also calls MGO Connect. According to the city's deck and flatwork page, the submittal includes an official site survey showing property lines, dimensions, and the proposed structure location; construction drawings with footing details; and impervious cover calculations, either on the survey or on a separate worksheet.
Two details trip people up. First, the impervious cover calculation is required, so if your lot is already close to its limit, a new patio slab or deck could become a design problem. Second, the city says engineer-stamped plans may be required if the deck is more than 6 feet high. On sloped lots that happens more often than people expect.
How long does a Georgetown deck permit take?
Georgetown publishes its own review targets. For patios, decks, and flatwork, the city says to allow 15 to 20 business days for plan review. For patio covers, pergolas, and arbors, it says to allow 10 business days. For accessory buildings, it says 10 to 15 business days.
Those are plan review times only. Corrections, HOA approval, and inspections add time, so on a deck plan for roughly a month from submittal to permit in hand.
What inspections will your Georgetown deck need?
For decks and for patio covers, Georgetown lists three inspections: a foundation or pre-pour inspection before footings are poured, a setback inspection, and a building final. For the setback inspection, the property pins must be located and exposed so the inspector can confirm the structure sits where the approved survey says it does.
Inspections are requested through My Government Online. The city asks for requests before 3:00 p.m. for next business day service and does not take inspection requests by phone. If the project includes electrical or plumbing, expect those inspections as well.
What if you live in the Georgetown ETJ, not city limits?
Not every Georgetown mailing address is inside city limits. The city says that if a project address is in the ETJ or county and the City of Georgetown provides water, wastewater, or electric service, building permits will apply. Its permit list for the ETJ focuses on new construction, additions and remodels with plumbing or electrical work, and utility connections.
Whether a deck or patio cover in the ETJ needs a city permit depends on your utilities and the scope of work. Before you build, ask the city two things: is my address inside city limits or in the ETJ, and does my deck or cover need a permit given my utility provider and any electrical work? Georgetown also runs a separate tree pruning and removal permit, so if an oak is near your build, ask about that too.
How does Sun City HOA approval fit in?
A city permit and HOA approval are two separate approvals, and in most Georgetown neighborhoods you need both. Sun City is the best example. The Sun City Texas Community Association publishes Design Guidelines, and its guidance says anytime a change is made to the exterior of a home or property, the Design Guidelines should be consulted. Some minor items are on a No Paperwork list. Anything else needs an application to the Modifications Committee, typically with a plot plan and the drawings the city will require.
We are not going to summarize Sun City's specific rules here because they are detailed and they change. Read the current Design Guidelines or call the Modifications office before you pick materials or a footprint. Most other Georgetown HOAs run their own architectural review, and the same principle applies: get HOA approval before construction starts.
How All Seasons handles Georgetown permits
All Seasons Decks & Gazebos has been building across Williamson County since 1984, with more than 5,000 projects completed from our home base in Liberty Hill. On every Georgetown job we pull the city permit, prepare the survey-based drawings and footing details, run the impervious cover numbers, and handle the HOA submission, including Sun City modifications applications. You get a fixed-price quote after a free on-site estimate, so the permit work is already priced in.
If you are planning a deck, patio cover, or pergola in Georgetown, call us at (512) 812-8168 or request a quote online and we will walk your lot with you.