What Do I Need to Get a Building Permit?
So you’ve decided that you’re going to build something, and the property you’re building on falls within your city’s zoning jurisdiction. Whether it’s a new house, a garage, a shed, or just a small addition to your home’s structure, odds are that you’ll need to apply for a building permit from your city’s building or permit department.
Every city or municipality has different rules and regulations you’ll need to follow to get your permit, but there are some things that you can expect to find pretty much everywhere. Below you’ll find some of these general requirements. They’ll get you started, and then you can contact your local building permit-granting organization to learn any area-specific requirements.
You need a site plan. First and foremost, you’ll need to have site map created for the area you where you want to build, and you have a few options on how to get it made.
You can attempt to survey the site yourself, but this can take up a lot of your time if you aren’t a pro. A professional surveyor can come to your property and do the work for you, though many people find the cost prohibitive.
MySitePlan offers an alternative that is not only much less expensive, but also faster and easier for you. Just let us know what you want a site plan of and we’ll use satellites to provide you with one that’s both accurate and meets your municipality’s requirements.
You need to apply using the proper forms. As noted earlier, every city has its own set of unique rules when it comes to getting a permit, but all will require a form or application to be filled out as part of the permit process.
Depending on where you live, the number of forms you have to deal with for your building project will vary, so get in touch with your city’s building department and find out what you need well in advance of the planned project.
You need to manage your time well. It can take days or, in all likelihood, weeks for your building permit to be fully approved and issued to you. Take this into account when planning your project, so you can avoid finding yourself in the awkward position of getting all your materials, tools, and workers together only be forced to wait for your permit application to pass the last few checks in the process.
And don’t be tempted to cut corners when it comes to the timing of your permit to build, as the fines for building without a permit or before your permit is issued can be fairly high. Normally, it’s best to aim to have your permit a couple weeks before any work on the project is set to begin.
You need to pay the permit fees. This may seem obvious, but you definitely need to pay your permit fees. As mentioned above, the cost of a fine, or multiple fines, can take a considerable chunk out of your project’s budget. And permit fees are much, much lower than the costs of fines for violations, so paying your application fee is definitely the lesser of two evils when it comes to the overall cost of your building project.
An important note: the cost of fees usually corresponds to the overall cost of the proposed building operation, so the higher your project’s cost, the higher the fee will be.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What should I do if my building permit application is denied? | If your application is denied, the first step is to understand the reasons for the denial, which will be provided by the building department. Depending on the reasons, you may need to adjust your plans to comply with local regulations or appeal the decision if you believe there has been a misunderstanding or misapplication of the rules. |
| Can I make changes to the plans after a permit is issued? | Yes, changes can be made after a permit is issued, but they must be approved by the same authority that issued the original permit. Typically, this involves submitting revised plans and possibly additional fees. It's important to get these changes approved to avoid legal issues or fines. |
| How long is a building permit valid? | The validity of a building permit varies by locality. Generally, a permit remains valid as long as work begins within a specified period (usually 6-12 months) and does not stop for more than a certain period (commonly 6 months). If work hasn't started or has been suspended for longer than the permitted time, you might need to renew your permit. |
| Do I need a permit for small renovations or repairs? | This depends on your local building codes. Minor repairs like painting or replacing fixtures don't usually require a permit, but structural changes, electrical or plumbing work often do. Always check with your local building department before starting any renovation work, no matter how minor it seems. |
| What are the risks of building without a permit? | Building without a permit can lead to several risks including fines, having to remove or redo the work, and difficulties in selling the property. Unpermitted work may not be covered by insurance if it leads to damage or injury. It’s always safer and more cost-effective to obtain the necessary permits. |
| Can a building permit affect my property taxes? | Yes, obtaining a building permit and completing work that increases the value of your property can lead to an increase in property taxes. Local authorities may reassess your property value upon completion of the project, which might increase your tax liabilities based on the new value assessment. |
- Ryan Crownholm
