From – amacrealestateservices.com
“Do I need a building permit to do that?” is a question everyone should ask when thinking about building, remodeling, and home improvement projects. You might be surprised how many construction projects require a permit, according to the International Residential Code. Many people do not obtain permits when they should and building officials usually don’t go looking for unpermitted work. But inspectors know that work performed without a permit is a common source of safety issues and costly repairs. Work performed without a permit could make selling your home more difficult.
You often need a permit for:
- Replacement, modification, and major repairs of water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, gas and plumbing piping, and similar components.
- Replacement, modification, and major repairs to the electrical system such as adding or moving receptacles or lights, and adding new circuits.
- Replacement of building components such as roof coverings and exterior wall coverings.
- Construction of new buildings.
- Additions, structural modifications, and major structural repairs to existing buildings including decks.
- Movement and demolition of existing buildings.
- Changes to building occupancy. A change to building occupancy means changing how the building is used. Example: using a single family home as a place of business is a change in occupancy that may require a building permit and may require a zoning change or zoning waiver.
You may not need a building permit for:
- Building or installing a one-story detached accessory structure less than 200 square feet with no utilities (such as a storage shed or play house).
- Fences not more than 6 feet tall.
- Retaining walls not more than 4 feet tall measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall and not supporting a surcharge (dirt piled above the retaining wall).
- Driveways and sidewalks.
- Painting, wallpapering, floor covering installation, cabinet and countertop installation, and similar finish work.
- Installation of portable plug-and-cord connected electrical equipment such as refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, and ranges.
- Installation of portable gas heating, cooking and clothes drying equipment.
- Installation of portable HVAC equipment such as window air conditioners.
- Clearing of plumbing stoppages, repair of plumbing leaks, and removal and reinstallation of toilets if the repairs do not involve replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.
You usually do not need a building permit for routine maintenance of existing buildings, fixtures, and equipment if the building structure is not affected and if the nature and use of the electrical, plumbing, gas or heating/air conditioning system is not changed.
The Bottom Line
A permit is a good investment, even though it costs money and slows the project. A permit provides an inexpensive way to ensure that the project is inspected and it helps reduce your potential liability if there is a defect that causes injury or damage. The building official can require dismantling or removal of work performed without a permit.
You should obtain a permit when required. Each jurisdiction has its own requirements, so contact your local building official if your project requires one. Keep the permit and evidence of passing inspections with your home documents. It will be useful at the time of sale, should the purchaser have questions about the quality/nature of the work performed.
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