Permits: things to consider
Depending on your project, permits are something that may need to be in your budget. In general, you should consider: design/site plans, review times for applications, fees associated with the different entities you will be dealing with, as well as answering for any open Permit activity on record. Nothing is more painful than discovering an open permit for work that was not inspected or having a work site “Red-Tagged” and waiting for a resolution from the Municipality. Even worse, you may be asked to disassemble what has already been completed/built.
If you are planning on structural changes to your home, adding/subtracting plumbing/electrical, or even changing out your windows/roof/fence, check with your local municipality about codes and permits to put together your Site Plan. The municipality’s intent is to ensure the work is done to their satisfaction and codes (safety/uniformity) to prevent future problems. Sagging floors, a fence that has to be rebuilt because it is to tall, or problematic wiring/plumbing, these are all problems and some have future consequences. Have a General Contractor call a Planning/Development or Code Enforcement Office to gather some basic information of timelines, inspections and fees. This will help build a good Site Plan to ensure a smooth start-to-finish timeline with as few surprises as possible. It will also give you a chance to see your General Contractor working with/for you, before the project has actually begun.
Review times for permits vary by Government Departments. Permits from Planning may not involve/require the Health Department, but the Health Department may involve/require the Planning Department. Asking and understanding “how far out they are” in review times will give you an idea about how sooner or later you will have the rubber stamp to start as well as when to call for an inspection. Depending on if you buying a home to fix up in a certain City, or getting a home ready for a family member to move in that needs a special shower; have a General Contractor look into how long you can expect to wait on an approval, best case scenario. There is always the possibility a Department may ask for additional items after reviewing your application for Permit that could push out your approval date.
Permits come with a fee based on the physical size, work to be inspected, and total budget. Different Departments charge different fees. Have your General Contractor ask the Department Associate what an appropriate fee estimate would be, based on a similar project they have seen(square footage add, bathroom add, etc.).
Some cosmetic jobs such as Millwork, painting, flooring, cabinets, and fixtures may not require permits. Consequences of poor craftsmanship on these types of projects are (generally) not detrimental to the home. Most things involving structural, plumbing and electrical generally will require a permit and a plan. I believe the important takeaway here is that Permits and Codes are in place so you don’t find yourselves in a bad situation: correcting work that should have been inspected/permitted while being completed.
