Deck Builderin Inglewood, CA
A deck builder in Inglewood cannot point to a City page that exempts decks, because the Municipal Code amends its exemption list for sheds and finish work only. Treat any attached, raised or large deck, and any repair that touches the ledger or posts, as permit-required until Building Safety, (310) 412-5294, says otherwise.
Most Inglewood backyards belong to houses that are older than their owners. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey for 2020 to 2024 counts 15,085 single-family detached homes among about 40,072 units, and 78.1 percent of all homes were built before 1980. The land is a flat coastal plain, so a rear deck is rarely about a view. It is usually an outdoor room, bolted to a stucco house that has already had decades of weather, termites and patching.
MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) is a general contractor based in Tarzana. We design the deck, take the permit question to Building Safety and book the trades, and licensed carpentry subcontractors do the building. You may ask for each one's license number and certificate of insurance, and our note on how general contractors use subcontractors explains the arrangement. Materials and sources are on the decks page, and the Inglewood overview lists the other trades we manage here.
What Inglewood's code and the state residential code say about decks
Where decks permits come from in Inglewood: City of Inglewood Development Services Department, Building Safety Division.
- The City's Patio Cover and Carport handout says a residential patio cover or carport needs a Residential Alteration permit, with a site plan showing dimensions to property lines, two elevations, a foundation plan, a framing plan with rafter and beam sizes, and any lights and outlets. An engineer or architect stamp may be required, and Planning (310-412-5230) and Public Works (310-412-5333) may add requirements.
- Municipal Code section 12-18 (R-1 One-Family Zone) permits detached one-story accessory buildings not used for garage purposes up to 400 square feet total and garages up to four cars. Accessory structures follow the R-1 yard rules, and the Planning Director may require a recorded covenant that an accessory building or addition will not be rented separately as a dwelling.
- The City's Residential Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub handout requires a Residential Pool/Spa permit, a site plan showing all structures, fences, utilities and equipment, and at least two of the seven drowning-prevention features listed in Health and Safety Code 115922.
Does deck repair need a permit in Inglewood, and what do termites have to do with it?
Possibly, and the City's own wording points that way. The Building Safety Permit Requirements handout says a permit is needed whenever a structure is altered, constructed, converted, demolished, enlarged, erected, improved, moved or repaired. Swapping a few worn boards is the mildest case. Replacing a post, a beam, stair stringers or the ledger against the house is structural, and we treat it as a permit question every time.
Termites are why repair here is rarely cosmetic. The City's Residential Code table rates termite damage as Very Heavy, and University of California pest management guidance says drywood termites are most prevalent in southern California and infest decks and fences. Wood touching soil, end grain at cut ends and the joint at the house wall are where we look first, and a licensed pest control firm, not a carpenter, does the termite inspection.
Ask any bidder for a deck repair how much framing will be replaced rather than patched, what the boards sit on, and how rot at the ledger will be handled if it is found once the boards come up.
- Which parts are being replaced, and which are only being refinished?
- Will the posts sit on footings, or on a bare slab or soil?
- How is a problem found under the boards priced?
Does a deck need a permit in Inglewood when the Municipal Code never names one?
Treat most decks as permit-required until the City says otherwise. Chapter 11, Article 2 amends the California Building Code's section 105.2 exemption list in two places only: one-story sheds up to 120 square feet and 7 feet high, and painting, papering, carpeting and similar finish work. Neither covers a deck. The model residential code exempts a deck of 200 square feet or less, not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to a dwelling and not serving the exit door, but we could not confirm that Inglewood uses that text, and its code edition is unclear.
Most projects need a Planning project number first, then a submittal through Accela Citizen Access with a site plan showing distances to the property lines and a framing plan. Work started before a required permit is issued is charged double the permit fees. The City's fee handout also asks for a geological plan check inside the Alquist-Priolo zone, though we found nothing tying a small deck to it.
Skipping the permit shows up later. A presale report lists permit numbers, dates and observed code violations, so an unpermitted deck can surface when the house is sold.
How close to the property line can a deck or patio cover go in Inglewood?
The R-1 zone sets the baseline, and the City's text we read does not state how far an open deck may project into a required yard, so ask Planning at (310) 412-5230. On an R-1 lot the front yard is 25 percent of the lot depth up to 25 feet, side yards are 10 percent of the lot width with a 3 foot minimum and 5 foot maximum, and the rear yard is 25 percent of the lot depth up to 25 feet.
A roof over the deck is a different structure. The City's handout for patio covers and carports calls for a Residential Alteration permit, a site plan, two elevations, a foundation plan, a framing plan with rafter and beam sizes, and any lights or outlets, and says an engineer or architect stamp may be required. Under section 12-18, a detached one-story accessory building not used as a garage may total up to 400 square feet, and the Planning Director may require a recorded covenant against renting it separately.
Overlays matter too. R-1 lots inside a transit-oriented district, such as the Downtown, Fairview and Crenshaw and Imperial plan areas, follow that plan's standards where they conflict with the zone.
How is a deck attached to an Inglewood house, and what do its footings have to resist?
Through a ledger bolted to the house frame, and the 2022 California Residential Code is specific. Section R507.9.1.1 calls for a pressure-treated ledger of at least 2 by 8 that carries no concentrated loads from beams or girders and is not fastened to stone or masonry veneer. Section R507.9.1.3 wants hot-dipped galvanized or stainless fasteners and a flashed ledger. Lateral loads are handled under R507.9.2 with two hold-down devices of 1,500 pounds within 24 inches of each end, or four of 750 pounds.
Because Inglewood's edition may differ, we cite these as the current state text and ask which applies. The City's Residential Code table lists Seismic Design Category D2, an 85 mph wind speed, zero snow load and zero frost depth. Zero frost depth means footing depth is set by soil and loads, not by freezing, so footings are not a place to cut corners. In our sample of 67 map points, 2 fell in the State's liquefaction zone, so ask whether the address needs a soils opinion.
On a stucco bungalow, the flashing at the ledger is the detail most often missed. Ask who installs it and who inspects it before the boards cover it.
How high can a deck be without a railing, and is a guard 36 or 42 inches?
A deck can drop 30 inches before a guard is required, and the guard itself is 42 inches. Section R312.1.1 of the 2022 California Residential Code applies once the surface is more than 30 inches above grade within 36 inches of the edge, R312.1.2 sets the minimum at 42 inches for a house deck, and R312.1.3 requires openings that stop a 4 inch sphere. The 36 inches in that section is a different measure: the distance from the edge within which the 30 inch drop is counted.
Stairs are the quiet failure point on older decks. Ask for the tread and riser dimensions, a graspable handrail and a landing at the bottom that does not sink into soil. A railing on a ground-level deck may not be required, but a hanging step or a drop at the edge can change that.
If the deck sits near a pool or spa, the City's pool handout requires a Residential Pool permit and at least two of the seven drowning-prevention features in Health and Safety Code 115922, so plan the deck and the barrier together.
Does an Inglewood deck need fire-rated boards?
Probably not, because the sources we read put no part of the city in a fire zone. The Safety Element says wildfire risk is very low and that no Fire Hazard Severity Zones lie within the city limits. In the County's layer of CAL FIRE's Local Responsibility Area zones, revised August 21, 2025, all 67 of our sample points came back Non-Wildland.
That matters because the ember-resistant decking list in the California Residential Code, section R337.9.3, applies in wildland-urban interface areas, and none of the city's sampled points sits in one. A sample is not a parcel map, so confirm the address with Building Safety. A decking maker's own fire rating and warranty are a separate matter, and a board rated for a fire zone may simply cost more than an Inglewood yard needs.
What does matter here is the airport. The Safety Element says multiple LAX approaches pass over the greater part of Inglewood, and a deck is an outdoor room, so think about where people will sit and what shade or cover they want before choosing the footprint.
What does a deck cost in Inglewood, and is wood or composite cheaper?
Wood is the cheaper deck to build, and composite is the cheaper one to maintain. For a flat-lot attached deck in the Los Angeles sources we use, pressure-treated wood runs about $45 to $75 per square foot installed, or $14,500 to $24,000 for a 16 by 20, and composite $65 to $110 per square foot, or $21,000 to $35,000. Permits and engineering are extra. Angi's Los Angeles page gives $45 to $90 per square foot and says permits run $500 to $3,000.
The Cost vs. Value 2025 report for Los Angeles prices a defined 16 by 20 deck with a bench, a planter, three steps and full railing. Wood came to $18,419 and returned 99.6 percent at resale. Composite came to $26,872 and returned 73.9 percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a mean carpenter wage near $37.79 an hour in May 2025.
We have no independent Los Angeles price for second-story, rooftop or ipe decks, so those are priced by site visit. For related work, see decks in Torrance, decks in Compton and decks in Los Angeles.
Deck photos from Inglewood and nearby communities
Seven photos of decks around Inglewood and its neighbors, from low rear decks and framing to posts, rails, covers and boards. Tap a photo to enlarge it.
What decks costs around Inglewood
Every number here is a Los Angeles figure from Cost vs. Value, Angi or the Bureau of Labor Statistics, so none is an Inglewood quote, and Angi does not publish its method. Our wood range is medium confidence and our composite range medium to low. Permits, engineering, demolition of an old deck and hauling are separate lines. A deck often goes with concrete work in Inglewood and flooring in Inglewood, and our contractor license guide shows how to check each trade.
| What it covers | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood deck | $45 to $75 per square foot |
| Composite deck | $65 to $110 per square foot |
| 16 by 20 foot wood deck (320 sq ft) | About $14,500 to $24,000 |
| 16 by 20 foot composite deck | About $21,000 to $35,000 |
| Hillside, second-story, rooftop and ipe decks | Priced by site visit |
| Permits and engineering | Quoted as separate lines |
Inglewood deck questions, answered
Can I build a deck without a permit in Inglewood?
Probably not, and we could not find a City page that says otherwise. The Municipal Code exempts only sheds up to 120 square feet and finish work, and the model code's deck exemption is narrow: 200 square feet, under 30 inches, detached and not serving an exit. Ask Building Safety at (310) 412-5294 before building, and get the answer in writing.
What is the largest deck without a permit in Inglewood?
We cannot give a verified number. The model residential code exempts a deck of 200 square feet or less that is under 30 inches above grade, detached from the house and not serving the exit door, but we could not confirm Inglewood uses that text. Ask Building Safety for its current exemption and its code edition in writing.
Does deck repair need a permit in Inglewood?
It can. The City's permit handout says a permit is needed when a structure is repaired, among other triggers. Replacing a few boards is the lightest case, while posts, beams, stairs or the ledger are structural. Send Building Safety a short description of the repair and ask whether the City wants a permit before the work starts.
Is railing height 36 or 42 inches for decks in Inglewood?
For a house deck it is 42 inches under section R312.1.2 of the 2022 California Residential Code, and openings must stop a 4 inch sphere. The 36 inches in that section is the distance from the edge within which the 30 inch drop is counted. Inglewood's own code edition is unclear, so ask Building Safety which edition applies to your address.
How high can a deck be without a railing in Inglewood?
Under the state residential code a guard is required once the walking surface is more than 30 inches above grade within 36 inches of the edge. Below that, a railing is not required by that section, but stairs still need handrails. Confirm the edition with Building Safety, because the City's code listings are not consistent.
How much would a 16x20 deck cost in Inglewood?
About $14,500 to $24,000 in pressure-treated wood and $21,000 to $35,000 in composite, from our Los Angeles working ranges for a flat-lot attached deck. The Cost vs. Value 2025 report priced a similar 16 by 20 with bench, planter and steps at $18,419 in wood and $26,872 in composite. Permits and engineering are extra.
Is it cheaper to build a wood deck or a composite deck in Inglewood?
Wood is cheaper to build, and composite is cheaper to maintain. In Los Angeles, Cost vs. Value 2025 shows wood costing $18,419 against $26,872 for composite on the same design, and wood returned 99.6 percent at resale against 73.9 percent. Composite saves staining but not termite checks on the framing underneath.
What happens if a deck is built without a permit in Inglewood?
Fees can double and the deck can surface at a sale. Work begun before a required permit issues is charged double the permit fees, and a presale report lists permit numbers, dates and observed code violations. The City pages we read do not say how it handles after-the-fact permits, so ask Building Safety about your address.
Does an Inglewood deck need fire-rated boards?
Probably not. The City's Safety Element says no Fire Hazard Severity Zones lie within the city limits, and all 67 sample points we checked in CAL FIRE's County layer were Non-Wildland. The ember-resistant decking rule applies in wildland-urban interface areas. Confirm the address with Building Safety, since a sample is not a parcel map.
Send the address and a photo of the yard
Tell us the deck's size, its height off the ground, whether it meets the house wall and what is in the yard today. The City gets our permit and setback questions before we phone you.