I live in a county that has adopted the 2009 IRC and I was provided the DCA Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide by the Inspections and Permits Office.

I was looking to keep the footers as far from the home as possible so I have a 12′ (16′ x 16′ deck with 2×10 joists) joist span. According to the Deck Construction Guide I am permitted an overhand of 3′ (Lj / 4), but the inspector failed my footing holes because they were not within 24″ of the house. He told me that 24′ OC from the house was code for a free standing deck, and didn’t have any idea what I was talking about with respect to the overhang and joist span.

I also submitted my framing plan showing the footings 3′, but he said that didn’t matter.

Is the 24″ really code, I couldn’t find it anywhere in the IRC?