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Deck Board Replacement in Orlando, FL

Q: Do I need a permit for a deck board replacement in Orange County, FL?

It depends on the exact scope of the work — check Orange County's official "Do I Need a Permit?" page or call your local building department before starting.

Updated 2026-08-04 · Sources verified 2026-07-20

Thinking about a deck board replacement in the Orlando area? Here's what actually matters — permit rules for Orange County and the City of Orlando, plus the mistakes and code requirements that trip up homeowners, sourced from manufacturer manuals and the Florida Building Code.

Do you need a permit?

It depends on the exact scope. Orange County and the City of Orlando require permits for more than most homeowners expect — and the rules change. Check the county's official "Do I Need a Permit?" page or call your local building department before starting work.

Orange County and the City of Orlando run separate permit offices with separate portals — and your mailing address alone doesn't tell you which one covers your home. Check which permit office covers your address →

Key facts before you start

"Above ground" is not decided by whether the wood touches dirt. AWPA U1 Note 1 forces GROUND CONTACT UC4A on physically-above-ground parts when soil/vegetation/leaf litter "may build up and remain in contact"; when the build "will not allow air to circulate underneath the construction and between decking boards"; when parts sit "less than six inches above ground (final grade after landscaping) and supported on permeable building materials... without a moisture break"; on contact with non-durable/decayed wood; on frequent wetting; or "in tropical climates". A low, skirted FL deck usually trips two or three. AWPA's component map: deck boards, joists/beams, stairs and railing UC3B minimum — posts AND the ledger UC4A. Read the end tag ("AWPA U1, UC3B" + preservative + retention), not the aisle sign.
FBC-R R317.3.1: fasteners for preservative-treated wood must be "hot-dipped, zinc-coated galvanized steel, stainless steel, silicon bronze or copper" and "Staples shall be of stainless steel"; zinc coating weights per ASTM A153; connectors follow the connector maker, else minimum ASTM A653 G185. Exception: steel bolts 1/2 in. diameter or greater. Simpson adds the two DIY traps — "Electroplated/electro galvanized and mechanically galvanized coatings should not be considered to be hot-dip galvanized," and do not mix metals: "You should not use galvanized fasteners with stainless steel connectors" (zinc corrodes against stainless). Types 304, 305 and 316 stainless are the tested performers.
Measure joist spacing BEFORE buying boards — the legal span changes with the material. FBC-R Table R507.7: 1-1/4 in. (5/4) wood decking = 16 in. o.c. max perpendicular / 12 in. diagonal; 2 in. wood = 24 in. / 16 in.; fasten every board at every joist with two 8d threaded nails or two No. 8 screws. Composite is NOT in that table: R507.2 requires ASTM D7032 compliance and R507.2.1 puts "the allowable load and maximum allowable span" on the label. Trex's own chart caps 1 in. boards at 16 in. o.c. residential (only 2x6 boards get 24 in.), subtracts 4 in. at 45° and half at 30°, and requires that "Trex decking must span at least three joists." So re-decking 24 in. o.c. joists in standard composite is an unsupported, non-compliant deck.
Sealing cuts is code, not a courtesy — FBC-R R317.1.1: "Field-cut ends, notches and drilled holes of preservative-treated wood shall be treated in the field in accordance with AWPA M4." Gap by the wood's moisture state, not by habit: wet treated boards butt TIGHT because "As drying occurs, some shrinkage can be expected"; KDAT (kiln-dried-after-treatment) boards get gapped "the width of an 8 penny nail (1/8\")" and must stay dry before and during install. Attach bark side up ("annual rings arc upward, like a rainbow") to reduce cupping, and pre-drill pilot holes near ends and edges to stop splitting.
Trex gapping per the current install guide: width-to-width minimum 3/16 in. "for both hot and cold weather installations," 3/8 in. for docks and heavily wooded areas, and "No gapping should ever exceed 1/2\""; end-to-end 1/8 in. above 40°F / 3/16 in. below; abutting a wall or other solid object 1/4 in. above 40°F / 1/2 in. below; maximum perpendicular overhang 3/4 in. Hidden fasteners set the gap themselves. "All decks require air circulation to keep them dry" — leave openings under the decking or widen gaps to 3/8 in. Pressure washing above 3,100 psi voids the warranty. Other composite brands publish different numbers — use theirs.
Boards off is the one chance to inspect the frame: probe joist tops and the ledger for rot and termites. FBC-R R507.8.1.3 requires deck ledger fasteners "hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel" and "Ledgers shall be flashed in accordance with Section R703.4 to prevent water from contacting the house band joist" — unflashed, nail-only, or a spongy band joist means stop and call a pro. Orange County permits ALL structures and lists a deck as an accessory structure: <=120 sq ft footprint = zoning permit with no engineered plans (Ord. 2024-04), larger = building permit (Building Safety 407-836-5550; an "Orlando" address may be City of Orlando, a different office). HB 803's under-$7,500 exemption cannot cover structural deck work at any value, cannot apply in a flood hazard area, and "A construction project may not be divided into more than one project" to slip under it.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a deck board replacement in Orange County, FL?

It depends on the exact scope of the work — check Orange County's official "Do I Need a Permit?" page or call your local building department before starting.

What's the biggest safety risk to know about before a deck board replacement?

Boards off is the one chance to inspect the frame: probe joist tops and the ledger for rot and termites.

Are there specific building-code requirements for a deck board replacement?

FBC-R R317.3.1: fasteners for preservative-treated wood must be "hot-dipped, zinc-coated galvanized steel, stainless steel, silicon bronze or copper" and "Staples shall be of stainless steel"; zinc coating weights per ASTM A153; connectors…

Sources

https://awpa.com/images/standards/U1excerpt.pdf
https://awpa.com/images/standards/ResidentialInfographic2021.pdf
https://awpa.com/info/technical/homeowners
https://www.strongtie.com/products/product-use-information/corrosion-information/pressure-treated-wood-faq
https://www.yellawood.com/resources/building-with-yellawood/building-tips/
https://www.yellawood.com/resources/building-with-yellawood/kdattips/
https://images.trex.com/is/content/trexcompany/2024_Trex_Decking_Installation_Guide(update)pdf
https://up.codes/viewer/florida/fl-residential-code-2023/chapter/3/building-planning
https://up.codes/viewer/florida/fl-residential-code-2023/chapter/5/floors
https://www.ocfl.net/PermitsLicenses/Permits/ResidentialAccessoryStructures.aspx
https://laws.flrules.org/2026/63

This guide is general informational content, not professional or legal advice. Codes and county rules change — confirm permit requirements with your local building department, and use a licensed professional for electrical, gas, structural, or main-line plumbing work.

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