What's included
- Site measure and drawn plan: the deck footprint, height above grade at every corner, stair landing location and distances to property lines — the same site plan Boise's #402 residential submittal checklist asks for.
- Construction details ready for plan review, including the ledger connection to the house, beam and joist sizes, post spacing and footing sizes, so the permit desk has what it needs on the first pass.
- Footings dug below the 24-inch frost depth that Boise and Star both publish, with posts set on metal bases above the concrete instead of buried in soil.
- Framing sized from the span tables for the code's 40 psf deck live load, with engineering added when a hot tub, a roof or a long clear span pushes the design past what prescriptive tables cover.
- Decking, railing and stair choices matched to exposure: lighter capped composite or PVC on south- and west-facing decks, wood where budget or a natural look matters more than upkeep.
- An HOA architectural-review packet — plan, products and colors — prepared alongside the city submittal so neither review sits waiting on the other.
- Multi-level and split layouts that step down a sloped yard, keeping each level's height (and its guard and permit requirements) deliberate rather than accidental.
Materials we use
| Category | Options |
|---|---|
| Decking | Capped composite (Trex Transcend, TimberTech Pro, Fiberon) — no staining; lighter colors for full sun · PVC / cellular (TimberTech AZEK) — no wood content, the most moisture-resistant boards · Western red cedar — natural grain and color; needs a penetrating finish · Pressure-treated pine — lowest upfront cost; re-stain every two to three years in Boise sun |
| Structure | Pressure-treated joists and beams, ground-contact rated where close to soil · Concrete footings below the 24-inch frost line · Galvanized or stainless hangers, post bases and ledger fasteners rated for treated lumber · Butyl tape on joist and beam tops |
| Railing | Powder-coated aluminum — slim posts, open sight lines · Composite railing systems matched to the decking · Stainless cable infill for view lots · Wood rail with metal balusters |
| Add-ons | Low-voltage post-cap, riser and stair lighting · Pergola or solid-roof cover framed with the deck · Reinforced, engineered framing for a hot tub · Privacy screens and built-in benches or planters |
How the work goes
Walk the site
We measure the house wall, run a level line to see how the grade falls away, note door thresholds, sprinkler lines, utility locates and sun angles, and ask how the deck will be used. Height above grade gets settled early because it decides whether the deck crosses Boise's 12-inch permit line and where guards are required.
Design and written scope
You get a drawn layout and a line-item scope: footings, framing, decking, railing, stairs, lighting and permit responsibility as separate items. Material options come with their trade-offs written out — surface heat, upkeep, fire performance, how each one weathers — rather than a single take-it-or-leave-it recommendation.
Permits and HOA review
We assemble the site plan and construction details the city asks for and, in an HOA neighborhood, the architectural committee's packet. Construction waits for both approvals. In a Boise local historic district, exterior work can also need a Certificate of Appropriateness from Planning and Zoning, a separate step from the building permit.
Footings and framing
Footing holes go below 24 inches, posts sit on connectors above the concrete, the ledger is bolted through to the house band joist and flashed, and joists are hung, blocked and taped. Where a permit applies, the framing stays exposed until the inspector has signed off on it.
Decking, rails and walkthrough
Boards go down with the gaps and fasteners the manufacturer specifies, followed by railings, stairs, fascia and lighting. We walk the finished deck with you, go over care for the material you chose, and confirm the permit has its final approval before the job is closed out.
Treasure Valley conditions we design for
- Permit needed above
- 12 in
- Frost depth
- 24 in
- Ground snow load
- 20 psf
- Design wind
- 90 mph
- Nights ≤ 32°F / yr
- 108
- Annual precip
- 11.51 in
Sources: City of Boise — Residential Construction brochure; City of Boise — current codes & design criteria; NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, Boise Air Terminal (USW00024131)
Red flags to watch for in any quote
- A bid that never records the deck's height above grade. In Boise and Nampa a deck more than 12 inches up needs a permit, so a contractor who doesn't measure height can't tell you whether one applies.
- Precast pier blocks proposed for a deck attached to the house. Idaho's code lets blocks at grade skip the frost line only for small, free-standing, low decks (200 square feet or less, no more than 20 inches up); an attached deck needs footings below 24 inches.
- A ledger fastened with nails, or bolted onto stone or brick veneer. The code requires a positive connection to the house framing and does not allow a deck ledger supported on masonry veneer.
- No line item for flashing at the ledger. Water at that joint rots the deck and the house band joist behind it; flashing should be named in the written scope, not assumed.
- A single lump-sum price with no split between footings, framing, decking, railing and stairs, which makes two bids impossible to compare.
- "You don't need the HOA for a deck." Idaho's Supreme Court upheld a Boise subdivision's HOA enforcement against work that went beyond what was approved (Eagle Springs, 2019).
Budgeting? Our custom decks cost guide breaks down published Treasure Valley price ranges.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit to build a deck in Boise?
- Usually, yes. Boise requires a building permit when a deck is more than 12 inches above grade — stricter than the 30-inch figure many national articles quote. Nampa uses the same 12-inch line, while Meridian exempts only small, detached, low decks. Homeowners may pull a Boise permit for their own primary residence. The Boise deck permit guide walks through the submittal.
- How long does it take to build a custom deck?
- The build itself runs from a few days for a simple low deck to a few weeks for a large, high or multi-level one with stairs. The longer stretch is usually before construction: design, permit review and any HOA approval. Signing in late winter gives the best chance of starting soon after the April 24 median last freeze. Our page on the best time to build a deck in Boise covers scheduling.
- How much does a custom deck cost in the Treasure Valley?
- It depends mostly on size, height above grade, decking material, railing length and stairs, then on access and how many footings the frame needs. Published 2026 ranges, with their sources, are collected in the Boise deck cost guide, and the deck cost calculator turns your size and material into a range. A written Valley Decks quote follows an on-site measure.
- How deep do deck footings need to be in Boise?
- Below the frost line, which Boise and Star both publish as 24 inches. The footing also has to bear on undisturbed soil. Footings that stop short tend to heave as the ground freezes, which shows up after a few winters as stair gaps, sloping boards or a deck pulling away from the house. Our deck footing depth guide for Boise explains sizes and soils.
- Can you build a deck in winter in the Treasure Valley?
- Often, with limits. Framing and decking can go in on dry winter days, but digging and pouring footings in frozen ground is slower, and fresh concrete needs protection while it cures. Boise averages 108 nights at or below 32°F and 16 days that never get above freezing, mostly December through February, so late fall and early spring are the easier off-season windows.
- Will my HOA need to approve a new deck?
- In an HOA neighborhood, assume yes. Covenants commonly control deck size, placement, materials and colors, and that review runs separately from the city permit, so both should start early. Idaho's Supreme Court has backed HOA enforcement against work that wasn't built as approved, so the finished deck should match the approved plan. Our HOA deck approval guide lists what committees typically ask for.
- Should I build a deck or pour a concrete patio?
- A patio usually makes sense on flat ground right at door level. A deck is the better fit when the door sits well above the yard, the lot slopes, or you want boards underfoot rather than concrete. Switching to concrete doesn't remove the permit question: Boise's 12-inch rule covers a concrete patio more than 12 inches above grade the same way it covers a deck.
Sources
- City of Boise — Residential construction permit guide (deck, patio cover, pergola rules)
- City of Boise — 301 Current Codes and design criteria (2018 IRC; snow, wind, frost depth)
- City of Boise — #402 New Residential Submittal Checklist (July 2024)
- City of Star — Adopted codes and design criteria
- City of Nampa — Residential permit FAQ (decks more than 12 in high)
- City of Meridian — Residential detached accessory structures handout
- Idaho Residential Code (2020 Edition, 2018 IRC basis) — Chapter 5: decks R507 (UpCodes)
- American Wood Council — DCA 6 Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide
- Idaho DOPL — Adopted building codes (2025 update)
- Idaho Supreme Court — Eagle Springs HOA enforcement opinion (2019)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, Boise Air Terminal (USW00024131) — annual/seasonal
Last reviewed .