If you are doing a remodel or an addition to your home, you will want to check with your city to find out what type of permits you will need. Each city will have different codes so you will need to check with your specific municipality before you begin your project. By complying with your local building codes you should be able to maintain the integrity of your home, meet building codes, and preserve resale value.
To get you started, here's a basic list of projects that usually require building permits.
Adding a room.
Building, tearing down, or moving a garage, shed, carport.
Cutting new windows or door openings, or widening existing openings.
Adding, moving, or taking out walls.
Building retaining walls.
Remodeling that requires moving existing plumbing.
Re-roofing when a complete tear off and re-sheathing is required.
Adding stairways.
Building raised decks.
Installing fans, exhausts, vents, or appliances that must be vented.
Installing wood stoves, fireplace inserts, pellet stoves, and any required venting.
Installing or changing any permanent electrical device or wiring, including conversion from fuse box to circuit breakers.
Installing low voltage systems such as security systems or computer networks.
Replacing water heaters or changing plumbing as well as any new plumbing installations.
This is just a short list of the various types of permits your city may require. Remember, each municipality has different requirements for distance, heights, sizes, and so forth. For example, the building code in one town may mandate a permit for any deck more than 30 inches above grade while another may say 36 inches. The exact specifications could be very important and have safety factors involved while others are just arbitrary.
Some areas will require that you get the work inspected before you cover the work. For instance, if you are doing electrical work in a wall, you will need to have it inspected before the drywall is put in place. Plumbing is very similar. Make sure you get the permit required and have the proper inspections done during and after the project.
Additionally, you will want to put the building permits in your name. If you allow the contractor to pull all of the building permits, you could have problems later if you have to fire the contractor or he is unable to complete the project. A building permit is often issued in a person's name and if your contractor leaves before the project is done, you may be required to get a new building permit.
Many cities allow homeowners to do the work themselves without necessarily getting permits. Keep in mind though that it's vital for you to adhere to city codes anyway. Too often a homeowner makes changes without the required permits. Later when they go to sell, they are unpleasantly surprised that the sale can't proceed until the work is brought up to code. Fixing the work or bringing it up to code can cost thousands of additional dollars that could have been avoided at a significantly cheaper cost.
For specific information, contact your local building department for details that pertain to your area and project. You can usually find the right department by calling your local city government.
In summary, permits are not always required, but when you do a remodel, you will want to check with your local municipality to find out what permits are required. It is suggested that you keep the permits in your name and make sure that all of the work has the proper inspections before completion. Failure to properly adhere to building codes can be costly to correct.
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