Drawing for a deck--we want to do them ourselves

[Anonymous]

So we need to make drawing for a simple back deck on our DC rowhouse. We were originally going to hire someone to do them, but we have had trouble finding someone reasonable to do them, and everyone, including some of the architects we have contacted and the DC Homeowners Office, have told us we can do the drawing ourselves. It is a rectangular deck with a metal spiral staircase. Where do we start? How do we do this? Where can I find the codes to which we need to adhere? Help!

[Anonymous]

Do you intend to build the deck yourself? If not, then just have the contractor who will build it do the drawings.