A HELPFUL PERMIT PROCESS GUIDE
WHAT IS A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMIT?
A residential building permit allows the construction of a building or structure to progress on the condition that it addresses and complies with the Building Code of a city, town, or county.
In some cases, buildings and structures may be exempt from the permit process.
Examples of common exempt structures include accessory buildings and repairs where the structure is not altered. In situations where a permit is required it will be submitted and reviewed under the requirement of the Building Code.
The project is checked for compliance with relevant elements such as minimum window size, structural stability, height of the railing, etc. Following the approval, an inspection will take place during the construction process to ensure that the work is carried out according to the approval.
WHEN DO I NEED A BUILDING PERMIT?
A residential building permit is required with any construction, relocation, alteration, demolition, or repair that is taking place on a property.
In some cities, towns and counties exceptions may apply. Additionally, repairs, maintenance and all work related to the esthetics of your home (new carpets painting ect.) generally don’t need approvals either. Regardless of whether a residential permit and inspection is required or not, the building code standard is always met.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR A BUILDING PERMIT?
Building permit approval is obtained with the submission of drawings illustrating the new construction.
Each city, town and county provide a specific list of the requirements to submit a permit application. A new deck for example, would require; a deck plan, elevations and construction details, and likely a site plan illustrating prospective deck location. Each type of construction comes with specific requirements for the application. A visit to your local municipality website would provide a list of these requirements.
WHAT IS THE REVIEW PROCESS?
When a package is completed and submitted, the local safety code officer will review the application and provide some relevant feedback and suggest amendments to your application if required. Once the application is deemed complete and consistent with the Building Code, the safety code officer will provide a stamped copy of the package. With this copy you can start construction and schedule the inspection for work evaluation and final approval.
All these steps may seem overwhelming, but they allow for your project to be safe and properly built.
This detailed process enables confidence in the homeowner and the satisfaction of knowing that the contractor has completed the work appropriately. If you are doing the work yourself, these steps will directly provide certainty and peace of mind that the work was properly completed.