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Remodeling Permits: Answers to Your Most Burning Questions
Any major renovation, such as adding square footage to your home or moving a wall, will require a building permit. However, depending on local regulations, you may even need a permit to add a fence around your property or to reroof your home. Given how so many renovation projects require you to get a building permit, at some point, you’ll probably find yourself filling out the paperwork, submitting a plan and jumping through hoops. Or, at least, hiring a contractor to do the work for you.
To help you understand the process, we’ve compiled a list of the most burning questions people have about getting building and remodeling permits.
Why do I need a remodeling permit?
Issued by the city or county, a building permit authorizes you to complete a specific construction project or renovation at your home. A permit is required to ensure that the work is completed safely and that it complies with all building, construction and zoning codes. That should be reason enough to make sure you have one. You want to know the job is done right and your home is safe, even if you are the one doing the work.
But failure to obtain a permit comes with some pretty stiff consequences, according to Realtor.com, including:
- The county or city could issue fines and penalties.
- You may have to do the work again to bring it up to code.
- Work not completed to code can be a hazard, making your home unsafe.
- A lender can refuse to give you a mortgage if you have unpermitted work.
- It can be harder to sell a house with unpermitted work.
- Home insurance usually doesn’t cover unpermitted work.
- A home appraiser may not include it in an appraisal.
When do I need a remodeling permit?
Whether you need a building permit for your home renovation project depends somewhat on where you live. A project in one city may require a permit while the neighboring city does not. In general, however, you’ll need a building permit to:
- Add or remove walls
- Add square footage to your home
- Demolish a portion of your home
- Change the use of a room (for example, convert a garage into a bedroom)
- Modify the electrical wiring
- Upgrade the piping in your house
- Re-roof your house
- Attach a structure, like a patio cover, to your home
- Install or remodel a swimming pool
Usually, you do not need a building permit to:
- Repaint your home’s exterior
- Plant a tree, bushes or flowers
- Repave your driveway
- Install flooring
- Add kitchen cabinets
These lists are by no means complete and can vary depending on your local building code. When in doubt, call your local planning and building department.
Who is responsible for obtaining the remodeling permit?
The answer to this question depends on whether you plan to do the work yourself or hire a contractor to do it for you. Assuming you hire a contractor, the contractor is in charge of “pulling,” or getting, the building permit. In addition to being less work for you, it means less responsibility, too. The person who pulls the permit is responsible for the work meeting code.
On the other hand, if you choose to do the work yourself, you are considered the contractor for the project. That means you’re responsible for following the code.
At times, it may make sense for you to apply for the building permit yourself, even if you hire a contractor. For example, if your contractor charges by the hour, you can save some money by handling the details yourself. Before you decide to try, though, know that the more complicated the project is, the more detailed and complicated the paperwork will be. Not only will an experienced contractor know how to provide the necessary information but he may be able to pull the permits in a timelier manner because he understands the process better.
How do I get a remodeling permit?
If you plan to do the work yourself, you’ll have to pull the permit. While the process may vary slightly from municipality or county, the typical steps are:
- Obtain and complete the permit application.
- Prepare a site plan. (You may need to hire an architect to do this for you.)
- Schedule an appointment for plan approval.
- Respond to any corrections (requests for additional information).
- Get the permit.
- Schedule inspections for each part of the project.
- Complete the project and obtain final approval.
Although the steps are fairly straightforward, applying for a permit can be complicated when you are completing a major renovation. You may be able to provide some basic details and pull a permit “over the counter” for a new water heater installation. However, if you are converting your garage into a living space, the plans will be more detailed, you may have requests for more information and you’ll have multiple inspections.
How long does it take to get a remodeling permit?
At some planning and building departments, you can get a building permit “over the counter” for some simple projects. More complicated projects can take up to three weeks, or even longer depending on the department’s backlog and whether you need to submit additional information or make corrections to your plan.
If you are in a hurry, it can help to hire a contractor who will pull the permit for you. The contractor will know how to fill out the paperwork, what to expect and maybe even the best person to submit the paperwork to for a speedy turnaround.
How much does a remodeling permit cost?
The cost will depend on where you live and what the work entails. You can usually find fee schedules online for your local planning and building department. Typically, the fee will be based on a Moving.com has an extensive network of reputable and reliable movers who can do all the heavy lifting as well as pack and move your entire house. And, because they’re licensed and bonded, you can rest assured that your belongings will arrive safely to your new home.