What About Getting A Permit?

The truth is, building permits are very beneficial to you and your community. By working with an expert building official, you will benefit from their knowledge of the building codes to ensure your construction project is build right, will be safe and will last.

What is a Building Permit?

A building permits gives you legal permission to start construction of a building project in accordance with approved drawings and specifications.

When Do You Need a Permit?

The best way to find out if you need a permits is to call your local building department. Discuss your plans with a building official before you begin construction to determine whether you will need a permit. If a permit is not needed, a building official will still answer your construction questions and may provide valuable advice.

Permits are usually required for the following:

• New Building
• Additions (bedrooms, bathrooms, family rooms, etc.)
• Residential work (decks, garages, fireplaces, pools, water heaters, etc.)
• Renovations (garage conversions, basements furnishings, kitchen expansions, etc.)
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems
• HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) systems

What Good Does a Permits Do?

Your home or business is an investment. If your construction project does not comply with the codes adopted by your community, the value of your investment could be reduced. Property insurers may not cover work done without permits and inspections. If you decide to sell a home or building that has had modifications without a permit, you may be required to tear down the addition, leave it unoccupied or do costly repairs.

A property owner who can show that codes requirements were strictly and consistently met as demonstrated by a building official's carefully maintained records, has a strong ally if something happens to trigger a potentially destructive lawsuit.

Your permits also allows the building official to protect the public by reducing the potential hazards of unsafe construction and ensuring public health, safety and welfare. By following code guidelines, your completed project will meet minimum standards of safety and will be less likely to cause injury to you, your family, your friends or future owners.

The Simple Permit Process

Talk to Your Local Building Official

Your building official wants your project to be a success and will help you avoid potential problems that could cost you time and money. You will be asked some basic questions (What are you planning to do? Where?), advised of any requirements and , if necessary, referred to other departments for their approval. The building official will provide you with the resource and information needed for compliance with the applicable building codes. Your will then receive an application for a building permit

Submit Application

At this stage you will document the "Who, What, When Where, and How" on the job, along with any sketches or plans of the proposed work.

Review Process

The building official will review your plans and determine if your project is in compliance with local requirements. If your plans meet these requirements, a permits is issued. If not, the building official may suggest solutions to help correct the problem.

Receive Permit

Now that you have been approved for a permits, you have legal permission to start construction. A fee, based on the valuation of the job, is collected to cover the cost of the application, the review and the inspection process. An experienced building official available to you should have any questions concerning you project. You should consider your building official as an ally who will help you make your project a success. Normally, separate permits are required for electrical, plumbing, and heating or air-conditioning work

Job-site Visits

On-site inspections will be required to make certain the work conforms to the permits, local codes and plans. Again, you will have access to the expertise of the building official to help you what questions or concerns regarding the project and to ward off potentially costly mistakes. Usually, a one or two day notice is needed when requestion inspection visits.

Final Approval

The building official will provide documentation with construction is complete and code compliance is determined. You will then have the personal satisfaction of a job done right. Enjoy your new surroundings with the peace of mind and knowledge that they meet the safety standards in your community.

It takes everyone in a community to keep our homes, schools, offices, stores, and other buildings safe for public use. Your safe construction practices help protect your, your family, your friends and your investment. Be sure to include your local building official on your construction project.