Pittsburgh residential deck permit drawings

Pittsburgh Deck Stairs Permit Plot Plan: Landings, Setbacks and Site Access

Adding stairs to an existing deck in Pittsburgh can affect landings, side and rear setbacks, yard access, guards, handrails and the complete deck footprint. A clear permit plot plan shows how the proposed stairs fit within the property before the project reaches review.

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Quick answer

A Pittsburgh deck-stair plot plan should show the existing deck, proposed stair run, top and bottom landings, direction of travel, nearby property boundaries, setback dimensions and the access route between the stairs and the yard. The complete stair footprint should be shown rather than only the existing deck.

Pittsburgh deck stairs permit plot plan showing landings, setbacks, site access, property lines, and stair layout — A deck-stair plot plan can show the existing deck, proposed stair run, landings, property-line distances and route from the deck to the yard.

If you are adding stairs to an existing deck in Pittsburgh, the layout matters. Deck stairs are not simply a minor attachment. They can change the complete footprint of the deck system and affect how close the work comes to a side or rear property line.

The stairs may also affect:

Top and bottom landings
Side-yard and rear-yard placement
Access between the deck and yard
Nearby fences and retaining walls
Slopes and changes in grade
Guards and handrails
Existing walkways or patios
The relationship between the deck and neighboring structures

For broader information about additions, garages, decks, pools, sheds and other residential projects, visit our site plan for permit in Pittsburgh, PA guide.

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Send us your property address, photographs of the deck and yard, proposed stair location, stair width, landing dimensions and any existing survey or plot plan. We can organize the supplied information into a clear residential permit drawing.

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Do Deck Stairs Need a Permit in Pittsburgh?

In Pittsburgh, residential permits apply to qualifying work performed on residential structures, including accessory structures serving single-family and two-family dwellings. The residential permit process can include application submission, plan review, permit issuance, inspections and project completion. [1]

Pittsburgh’s deck guidance states that an uncovered deck with a floor no more than 30 inches above grade may not require a building permit, although zoning approval can still be required. Other deck projects may require building and occupancy permits. [2]

A stair project should therefore be reviewed in the context of the complete deck and property. Even when the existing deck is relatively low, adding stairs and landings can change the footprint, access arrangement and relationship to required yards.

Permit and zoning requirements depend on the complete project, deck height, property, zoning district and existing approvals. Homeowners should confirm the current requirements before construction begins.

Why a Plot Plan Matters for Deck Stairs

A deck-stair plot plan shows the proposed stair location in relation to the house, existing deck, yard, property lines and access path.

It helps answer several basic review questions:

Where is the existing deck?
Which part of the project is new?
Where will the stairs begin and end?
How wide is the stairway?
Where are the top and bottom landings?
Which direction will people travel?
How far is the stair system from the property lines?
Does the landing interfere with a fence, wall or walkway?
Can the stairs be accessed safely from the yard?
Does the plot plan agree with the deck construction drawings?

Pittsburgh’s zoning code defines setbacks in relation to a structure’s furthest projection and the property line. Because stairs and landings project beyond the main deck platform, the complete stair layout should be shown. [3]

What a Pittsburgh Deck-Stairs Plot Plan Should Show

The exact requirements depend on the property and project, but the following information is commonly useful.

Complete property Property boundaries, available lot dimensions, adjoining street or alley and the relevant portion of the yard.

Existing house and deck The dwelling footprint, existing deck platform and connection between the house and deck.

Proposed stair run The complete proposed stair footprint, width, direction of travel and connection to the deck.

Top and bottom landings The location and dimensions of each landing forming part of the stair system.

Setback dimensions Actual distances from the stairs and landings to the nearest side and rear property boundaries.

Site access The route between the bottom landing and the yard, walkway, patio, gate, driveway or side access.

Nearby site features Fences, retaining walls, slopes, patios, walkways, accessory structures and other relevant improvements.

Drawing information Property address, north arrow, drawing scale, project labels and existing-versus-proposed legend.

Construction coordination Stair and landing locations that agree with the deck plans, elevations and structural details.

Show the Existing Deck and Proposed Stairs Separately

One common mistake is showing only the completed project without identifying what already exists.

A clearer plot plan distinguishes:

Existing house
Existing deck
Proposed stairs
Proposed landings
Existing features to remain
Existing features to be removed or relocated

Use labels such as:

Existing deck
Proposed deck stairs
Proposed top landing
Proposed bottom landing
Existing fence to remain
Existing walkway

A different hatch, line weight or shading pattern can make the proposed work easier to identify.

Landings: Why They Need to Be Shown

Landings are part of the complete stair system and should not be omitted from the plot plan.

A landing may be located:

At the top of the stairway
At the bottom of the stairway
At an intermediate point
Where the stairs change direction
Where the stairs connect to a walkway or patio

Pittsburgh directs homeowners to the American Wood Council’s Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide as a resource for residential wood-deck compliance. That guide states that stairs should be at least 36 inches wide. Rectangular landings should have a minimum dimension of 36 inches in the direction of travel and should be at least as wide as the stairway served. [2][4]

The plot plan should draw and label each landing. When a landing is near a property line, fence, retaining wall, patio or walkway, the relationship should be measurable.

Important layout point

A deck platform may comply with the applicable setback while the proposed stair run or bottom landing extends closer to the property boundary.

Setbacks: Show the Full Stair Projection

Setbacks can be one of the biggest site-layout issues when stairs are added to an existing deck.

The complete project footprint can include:

Existing deck platform
Proposed stair run
Top landing
Bottom landing
Intermediate landing
Guardrails
Supporting posts
Footings

Pittsburgh’s zoning code describes setbacks in relation to the furthest projection of a structure and the property line. It also identifies certain projections that may be allowed within required yards, subject to applicable limitations. [3]

The plot plan should not assume that the new stairs automatically qualify for an exception. It should show:

The legal property boundaries
The complete stair footprint
The closest point of the stairway to each relevant boundary
The closest point of each landing to the boundary
The actual side-yard distance
The actual rear-yard distance

For more general guidance, read Property Setbacks Explained for Homeowners .

Site Access: Show How People Reach the Stairs

Deck stairs form part of the movement path around the property.

The plot plan should show how someone moves between:

The deck and yard
The stairs and an existing walkway
The stairs and a patio
The stairs and a side-yard gate
The stairs and a driveway
The stairs and a rear alley when relevant

A simple access arrow can help explain the intended path of travel.

This can be especially useful on Pittsburgh properties with:

Narrow side yards
Steep slopes
Retaining walls
Terraced yards
Raised decks
Fences and gates
Changes in ground elevation

The bottom landing should not appear to terminate against a fence, wall, steep slope or inaccessible section of the yard without explaining how the stairway will be used.

Slopes, Retaining Walls and Grade Changes

Pittsburgh properties frequently involve sloping yards and changes in grade.

When the proposed stairway is near a slope or retaining wall, the plot plan may need to show:

Top and bottom of slope
Existing retaining wall
Approximate wall location
Bottom landing elevation or relationship to grade
Distance between the stairs and retaining wall
Walkway or access route
Areas affected by excavation

More detailed projects may require elevations, sections, grading information, structural design or professional engineering in addition to the plot plan.

Stair Width, Guards and Handrails

The plot plan does not replace the construction drawings.

The construction documents may need to show:

Stair width
Number of risers
Riser height
Tread depth
Stringers
Posts and footings
Guard height
Handrail location
Connections to the deck
Landing construction

The American Wood Council deck guide states that stairs should be at least 36 inches wide and that stairs with four or more risers require a handrail on at least one side. [4]

Although these construction details are normally shown on the deck drawings, the plot plan should use the same stair width, direction and landing configuration so the permit package remains consistent.

Plot Plan vs Deck Construction Drawings

Drawing	What it explains
Plot plan	Where the deck, stairs and landings sit within the complete property.
Deck plan	Deck dimensions, joists, beams, posts, stairs, landings and structural layout.
Elevation	Deck height, stair rise, guards, handrails and relationship to grade.
Construction details	Footings, connections, stringers, guard attachments and material specifications.

The stair width, landing size, stair direction and deck dimensions should remain consistent across every drawing.

How to Prepare for the Plot Plan

1 Confirm the scope Determine whether the project includes only stairs or modifications to the complete deck.

2 Photograph the property Take clear photographs of the deck, yard, side access, fences, walls and nearby structures.

3 Measure the deck Record the existing deck length, width and approximate height above grade.

4 Mark the stair location Show where the stairs will connect to the deck and where the bottom landing will sit.

5 Provide property records Upload an existing survey, plot plan, deed drawing or other reliable property information.

6 Confirm nearby features Identify fences, retaining walls, patios, slopes, walkways and accessory structures.

Information to Gather Before Ordering

Complete Pittsburgh property address
Existing property survey or plot plan
Photographs of the existing deck
Photographs of the complete yard
Existing deck length and width
Approximate deck height above grade
Proposed stair location
Proposed stair width
Direction of stair travel
Top-landing dimensions
Bottom-landing dimensions
Distance to nearby property lines when available
Fence and gate locations
Walkway and patio locations
Retaining-wall information
Slope or grade information
Deck plans or contractor drawings
Permit comments already received

Common Deck-Stair Plot Plan Mistakes

Showing only the existing deck
Omitting the complete stair run
Not showing the top landing
Not showing the bottom landing
Leaving out the stair width
Not labeling the direction of travel
Failing to distinguish existing and proposed work
Leaving out property boundaries
Omitting side- or rear-yard dimensions
Measuring from a fence instead of a documented property line
Not showing the access route through the yard
Omitting nearby fences or gates
Leaving retaining walls or slopes off the drawing
Showing stair dimensions that conflict with the deck plans
Submitting a rough sketch that is difficult to measure
Failing to check the current zoning and permit requirements

A clear plot plan cannot guarantee permit approval, but it can reduce corrections caused by missing or inconsistent site information.

Read What Permit Reviewers Check First on a Site Plan and Why Site Plans Get Rejected for Permits .

Pittsburgh Deck-Stairs Plot Plan Checklist

Correct property address
Complete relevant property boundaries shown
Existing house footprint shown
Existing deck clearly labeled
Proposed stairs clearly labeled
Stair width included
Direction of travel shown
Top landing shown
Bottom landing shown
Intermediate landing shown when applicable
Side property-line distance shown
Rear property-line distance shown
Nearby fence or gate shown
Nearby retaining wall shown
Relevant slope or grade condition shown
Walkway, patio or yard access shown
Existing and proposed work visually distinguished
North arrow included
Drawing scale identified
Plot plan matches the deck drawings
Current zoning and permit requirements reviewed
Professional plans obtained separately when required

Frequently Asked Questions

Do deck stairs need to appear on the plot plan?

Yes. The complete proposed stair run and landings should be shown because they extend beyond the deck platform and can affect setbacks and site access.

Should the bottom landing be shown?

Yes. The bottom landing forms part of the stair layout and may be the closest part of the project to a property line, fence, retaining wall or walkway.

Should the direction of travel be identified?

Yes. An arrow or clear stair graphic helps the reviewer understand how the stairs connect the deck to the yard.

Are stairs included when checking setbacks?

They may affect the setback relationship because they project beyond the deck platform. The complete stair and landing footprint should be shown so the reviewing authority can apply the local rules.

Can I measure the setback from a fence?

Not automatically. A fence may not be located directly on the legal property boundary. Use reliable survey or property documentation when available.

Does the plot plan need stair-construction details?

The plot plan should show the stair footprint, width, direction and landings. Detailed risers, treads, stringers, guards, handrails, footings and connections are normally shown on the deck construction drawings.

What if the yard slopes?

Show relevant grade changes, retaining walls and the relationship between the bottom landing and the yard. More complex slope conditions may require elevations, sections or professional design.

Can USA Site Plans provide structural deck drawings?

USA Site Plans provides site-plan drafting. Structural deck plans, engineering and professionally sealed documents must be obtained separately when required.

Will a clear plot plan guarantee approval?

No. Pittsburgh’s reviewing authorities control approval and may request revisions, construction drawings, zoning information, professional design or other supporting documents.

Order Your Pittsburgh Deck-Stairs Plot Plan

Send us your property address, existing deck dimensions, proposed stair location, landing details, photographs and any survey or plot plan you have. We will prepare a clear residential site drawing based on the information supplied.

Order Your Plot Plan Pittsburgh Site Plan Guide

Sources

City of Pittsburgh — Residential Building Permits.
City of Pittsburgh — Residential Deck Permit and Zoning Guidance.
City of Pittsburgh Zoning Code — Setbacks and Permitted Projections.
American Wood Council — Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide.

Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and is not legal, surveying, engineering, architectural, zoning or permitting advice. Pittsburgh permit and zoning requirements vary according to the property, zoning district, deck height, project design, lot configuration and current regulations. USA Site Plans is an independent drafting service and is not affiliated with the City of Pittsburgh. A drafted plot plan does not establish legal property boundaries or replace a licensed survey, structural design, engineering or another professionally certified document when required. Confirm current requirements with the authority reviewing the application.