City of New Brighton

RESIDENTIAL DECKS

Frost footing/foundations Flashing

Required for any deck attached Information required for permit: All connections between
to a dwelling, porch or garage  Site Plan deck and dwelling shall be
that has frost footings. The weatherproofed. Cuts in
 Beam size
minimum depth to the base of exterior finish shall be
the footing is 42 inches.  Number of posts & size flashed.
Approved pin foundations are  Post spacing
acceptable. Pin foundations  Joist length, size & spacing Nails and screws
are not permitted to support Use only stainless steel,
 Joist cantilever length
screen porches, 3-season high strength aluminium or
porches or other attached  Decking material type hot-dipped galvanized.
habitable spaces.  Height above grade
Wood required
Total load All exposed wood is required
All decks shall be designed to support a live load of to be approved wood with natural resistance to
50 pounds per square foot (40 pounds live load decay (redwood, cedar, etc.) or approved treated
plus 10 pounds dead load). wood. This includes posts, beams, joists, decking
and railings. Any composite or plastic decking
Guards/guardrails materials must be approved by Building and
Required on all decks or stairs more than 30 Inspection prior to installation.
inches above grade. Required guards shall be
a minimum 36 in height and shall not have Stairs
opening from the walking surface to the Minimum width is 36 inches. Maximum rise is 7-
required guard height which allows passage of 3/4 inches, minimum rise is 4 inches. Minimum
a sphere 4 inches in diameter. Exception: On run is 10 inches. Largest tread width or riser
an open stairway, the triangular opening formed height shall not exceed the smallest by more
by the riser, tread and bottom element of a than 3/8 inch. Maximum 4 inch opening at risers
guardrail must be sized so that a six inch sphere greater than 30 inches above grade.
cannot pass through.
Illumination
The top rail must support a 200 pound lateral load. All exterior stairways shall be illuminated at the
Infill area must withstand a horizontally applied landing to the stairway. Illumination shall be
normal load of 50 pounds on an area equal to one controlled from inside the dwelling or automatically
square foot. activated.
Cantilevers: Overhanging joists and beams Handrails
Beams shall not overhang support posts by more The top shall be placed not less than 34 inches or
than one foot unless a special design is approved. more than 38 inches above the nosing of the treads.
Stairways having four or more risers shall have at
Framing details
least one handrail with handrail ends returned or
Header beams and joists that frame into ledgers or terminated in posts. Circular hand grips shall be
beams shall be supported by approved framing between 1-1/4 inches to 2 inches in cross-sectional
anchors such as joist hangers. dimension or the shape shall provide an equivalent
gripping surface.

803 Old Highway 8 NW, New Brighton, MN 55112 | 651-638-2050 | permits@newbrightonmn.gov

803 Old Highway 8 NW, New Brighton, MN 55112 | 651-638-2050 | permits@newbrightonmn.gov
803 Old Highway 8 NW, New Brighton, MN 55112 | 651-638-2050 | permits@newbrightonmn.gov
803 Old Highway 8 NW, New Brighton, MN 55112 | 651-638-2050 | permits@newbrightonmn.gov