Outdoor Projects
Does the Good Side of the Fence Face Out?
What the "good side" is, which codes and HOAs require it to face out, why it is the custom even without a rule, and fence styles…
Blog
Permit Tips & Project Advice
Short, practical articles on permits, site plans, setbacks and drawings, written by the people who draft them.
Outdoor Projects
Corner Lot Fences and the Sight Triangle Rule
What a sight triangle is, how to measure one at street corners and driveways, what is allowed inside it, and how corner lots change fence height…
Outdoor Projects
Fence Distance From the Property Line: Rules and Smart Choices
What codes say about fence placement, the pros and cons of building on the line or just inside it, and how to locate the line before…
Outdoor Projects
Fence Height Limits: Front, Side and Rear Yards
How fence height is regulated by yard, how it is measured on slopes and retaining walls, what counts toward height, and options when you need more…
Outdoor Projects
Fence Permit Guide: Heights, Placement and Approval
When fences need a permit, the height limits by yard, how close to the property line you can build, corner-lot rules, pool fences and the site…
Outdoor Projects
Deck Railing and Stair Code: Heights, Gaps and Steps
The guard, baluster, stair and handrail dimensions reviewers and inspectors check on residential decks, with a printable checklist.
Outdoor Projects
Deck Ledger Board Attachment: Code Rules and Details
The deck ledger is the connection reviewers look at hardest. Here is what it must attach to, how it is fastened and flashed, and when a…
Outdoor Projects
Deck Footing Requirements: Size, Depth and Frost Line
How deep deck footings go, how they are sized, how posts attach to them, and what to have ready for the footing inspection.
Outdoor Projects
Do You Need a Permit for a Deck? The Four-Question Test
A simple test based on the residential code, the local rules that override it, and the edge cases: replacements, platforms, floating decks and repairs.
Outdoor Projects
Deck Permit Guide: Rules, Drawings and Inspections
When a deck needs a permit, what drawings to submit, the footing, ledger, guard and stair rules reviewers check, and how the inspections work.
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