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.