Home Improvement Permits | Getting a Permit
When you or a hired contractor carries out home improvement work, a permit may be necessary. You will need to determine who is responsible for obtaining it, whether or not the improvement in question requires it, and how large a fee must be paid. Here are some details on successfully getting a home improvement permit:
When contractors perform your home improvement, they will usually acquire any necessary permits for you. The Federal Trade Commission web site warns that contractors who ask the customer to obtain the permit might not have a license. This would also result in a greater cost to the customer, making him or her pay the fee. The FTC advises home owners to ensure that the contract they sign includes getting permits as one of the contractor’s responsibilities. It also indicates that the type of work which must be permitted varies from one municipality or state to the next.
A permit can be directly obtained by the home owner instead, if he or she plans to complete the improvement without a contractor’s involvement. The owner will have to contact the appropriate state or municipal authorities, ensure that the improvement will adhere to building codes, and pay a permit fee. According to BBB.org, the home will undergo an inspection to verify that the project is legally compliant. A few towns and cities list the fees on their web sites; the prices appear to start at about fifty dollars and range up to the hundreds or thousands depending upon the size and complexity of the permitted project.
Many types of home improvement projects need a permit. Even relatively minor improvements sometimes require getting one of them. According to the Michigan Dept. of Labor & Economic Growth, permits are generally mandatory for installing heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and ventilation systems, as well as fireplaces, decks, pools, water heaters, and fences. Getting a permit is also necessary for some types of renovations and the addition of new rooms. SierraClub.org indicates that many localities charge substantial permit fees on solar panel installations.
Basically, getting a permit is more time-consuming if you are conducting the home improvement yourself (rather than a contractor), it is necessary to obtain one for a wide variety of improvements, and rules vary from one area to the next. For a project to receive permission, it must follow all relevant building and zoning laws.
mortgage101 on April 18th 2008 in Home Buying Tips
ContractorBids responded on 17 Oct 2009 at 5:32 am #
hmmmm I like this post but I would love to see some on how to save on construction costs in this tough market
Sprucing Up Your Home for Sale in Erie, CO? Pay Attention to the Permits : Erie Colorado Real Estate responded on 13 Jan 2010 at 12:31 am #
[...] how do you get a home improvement permit if you’re doing your own remodeling for your home for sale? Submit a building plan for big [...]
milwaukee sawzall responded on 18 Jan 2010 at 2:59 pm #
I do a lot of my own work for which I have pulled permits. (I don’t always pull one) I find that the people at the city planning office are pretty helpfull to do-it-yourself homeowners. They won’t help contractors much at all, but they seem to feel sorry for us!
Home Design responded on 05 May 2010 at 5:47 am #
If you are adding or expanding a room, think about how the space will be used and how the changes will affect traffic patterns. Also consider how new construction will affect the overall context of your home. An oversized addition may overwhelm your house or crowd a small lot.
Home Design
Brooke Morris responded on 21 Jun 2010 at 7:25 pm #
this year is a major home improvement time for our house. we are going to renovate everything.:**
Joshua Brown responded on 09 Sep 2010 at 3:04 am #
i always like to do some home improvements on our home;-”
Resan responded on 06 Feb 2011 at 6:47 pm #
actually like the article you posted . it really is not that simple to find great posts toactually read (you know.. READ and not just going through it like some zombie before going to yet another post to just ignore), so cheers mate for not wasting my time! :p
norman cunningham responded on 15 Mar 2011 at 1:52 pm #
i am wanting the easiest way to obtain a building permit. i would like to turn my attic into living quarters asap. can someone please contact me asap regarding this at 317-701-5865 or 317-701-1049 thankyou!
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