Building Permits: A Fact of Life

Like it or not, larger remodeling projects require that you get a building permit. Realistically, although you may resent spending the money on one of these, they are for your own good. The codes that building permits adhere to are standards set up by your community to ensure that the renovation is done properly and to the guidelines that have been specified as the safest. An inspection comes later and that’s the physical review of the work by a qualified professional, who looks to make sure that the project adheres to building codes and regulations.

Remember that permits are not required where there are no structural changes to the property. Some work in the bathroom may not require that you get a permit—it’s best to check with your local authority before proceeding with any work. There’s a procedure involved and the steps should be followed to ensure compliance with all the municipal codes for you area.

The first step involves a building plan. This is nothing more than a detailed drawing of exactly what you or your contractor will be doing to the existing structure. It always includes a drawing of the structure as it is now as well as the plans and what the structure will look like after the work is done. These plans will include at least some of the following although there can be variations. You’ll need a framing plan and a floor plan as well as a materials list and a specifications list. A trip to the local building department will give you all of the information that you’ll need.

Before 2003, the whole issue of building codes was a lot more complicated than it is today. That’s when the codes for the United States were standardized into one comprehensive code. Still, that’s not to say that your local municipality doesn’t tweak the code to satisfy their own needs, but what you can expect is a lot less complicated today than it was years ago. Building codes were developed as a reaction to the kind of damage that fires, earthquakes and other disasters created for homeowners and their properties, and every municipality has tweaked their design to allow for the situation in their particular area. What all this means is that the building codes in Los Angeles that pertain to earthquakes might not be the same set of instructions as the ones you might find in rural Montana.

Finally, you’ll need to take a look at the building permit itself. You’ll need to fill out a complete Building Permit Application and submit it with all the proper information to the appropriate building department.    

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