Pointers

Complete guide to Obtaining a Residential building permit for your home

November 4, 2020 /

What is a Residential Building Permit

A residential building permit is one that allows the construction of a building or structure to move forward on the condition that it addresses and is in compliance with the Building Code of a city, town or county.  In some instance, some buildings and structures are exempt, such as accessory building or repairs not altering the structure of a property. Once applied for, building permits are reviewed under the requirement of the Building Code to ensure that the project is in compliance with things, such as minimum window size, structural stability, height of the railing, etc. Following the approval, inspection will take place during the construction process to ensure that the work is carried out according to the approval.

When do you need a Building Permit

A residential building permit is necessary when any construction, relocation, alteration, demolition or repair is taking place on a property. Some exceptions apply in some cities, towns and counties. In some instance, repairs and maintenance do not require a permit. That being said you always have to meet the building code but you do not need a residential building permit and inspection. All work related to the esthetics of your home like new carpets and painting do not need generally need approvals either.

How to apply for a Building Permit

In order to obtain a residential building permit approval, you will need to provide drawings illustrating the new construction. Each city, town and county provide a list of the requirements to submit an application. For instance, a new deck would require a deck plan, elevations and construction details and likely a site plan to show where the deck is located. Each type of construction comes with specific requirements for the application. A visit to your local municipality website would provide a list of the requirements.

What is the review process

Once a package is completed and submitted, the local safety code officer will review the application and provide some feedback that may require amendments to your application. Once the application is deemed complete and consistent with the building code, the safety code officer will provide a stamp copy of the package. With this copy you can start construction and call for the inspector to come and inspect the work for a final approval.

All these steps allow for your project to be safe and properly built. It allows the home owner to have the confidence to know their contractor have completed the work appropriately. If you are doing the work yourself, it provides you the certainty that you have completed the work properly and will give you piece of mind.