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A/C & Cooling |
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Air & Water Quality |
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Appliances |
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Basement, Attic & Loft |
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Bathrooms |
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Cabinets & Countertops |
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Car, Garage & Shop |
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Childproofing |
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Closets & Storage |
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Decorating & Furnishing |
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Design, Plan, Build |
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Doors |
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Electrical & Lighting |
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Floors & Stairs |
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Green Home, Save Energy |
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Heating & Fireplaces |
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Home Tech |
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Paint & Painting |
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Plumbing & Fixtures |
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Pools, Spas & Saunas |
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Real Estate & Finance |
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Roof, Chimney & Gutters |
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Safe & Secure Home |
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Seasonal, Family & Fun |
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Siding, Columns & Detail |
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Walls & Ceilings |
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Windows & Skylights |
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Building Permits |
For many different types of home repair and improvement jobs, permits are required. Though simple repairs usually don't call for permits, additions or major changes—particularly those that involve structural work, electrical, heating, and plumbing—usually demand that you get the appropriate permits from the local building department. If you're working with a contractor or subcontractor, this professional usually handles the permit process.
If your job falls within this category and your tradesperson suggests that you don't need a permit, be wary and check with the building department yourself. In most cases, getting a permit means the work will be inspected by the necessary officials. As a homeowner, this is good for you. Your contractor's work will be scrutinized by another set of knowledgeable eyes and the results must adhere to building codes, which set minimum safety standards for both materials and construction techniques.
Building codes ensure that your home will be safe for your family and any future families who live there. If work is done without a permit and discovered later, building officials may require that you bring the work up to permit standard—or even dismantle and redo the work—before they will give it a completion or occupancy approval.
For most permits, you must pay fees, typically based on the value of the project. Don't overestimate the value of the work because it will cost you more in permit fees.
A permit ensures oversight of your contractor's work (or yours). The scrutiny of an inspector can guard against mistakes and shoddy workmanship and ensure that the work adheres to building codes. You'll sleep better knowing your project meets safety standards for materials and construction techniques.
A permit will also help you avoid headaches in the future. If building officials discover you have done work without a permit, you could be legally obligated to disclose that you have remodeled without a permit, and the buyer could demand that you bring work up to code.
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