When Should a Homeowner Obtain a Permit for a Home Project?
Many people love working on home improvement projects. When done right, they can boost the resale value of a property and provide you with years of enjoyment. In addition to mulling over which of your many possible projects you want to start with, you’ll also spend time choosing a style and color scheme and deciding whether to hire a general contractor or do the work yourself. No matter which route you take, though, you’ll want to find out whether you will need an official building permit from your city or county.
Let us help you take the guesswork out of building permits! Here’s what kitchen remodeling contractors in Fort Worth, TX want homeowners to know about obtaining building permits for home improvement projects.
About building permits
A building permit is a written authorization from your city or county to construct a specific project. Permits are required for most remodeling and construction projects, as they verify that the work is safe to do and is in compliance with zoning, construction and building codes. The process varies depending on where you live, but here’s what you can expect.
First, you’ll need to complete a permit application. Prepare a site plan yourself, or have your contractor draw one up to prove the project will meet building and zoning codes. Next, schedule an appointment for plan approval. This approval may come from an over-the-counter review, or it may take the city several days or weeks to review the plans. They may or may not ask you for corrections and revisions of your plan.
If your project requires a permit, you must have one in hand before construction can begin. Inspections throughout the process are often required. This is so the city can verify you are acting on your plans accordingly. Once your project is complete, be sure to obtain final city approval.
Projects that require a permit
Some construction projects require a building permit, while others don’t. Again, this all depends on your local building codes. Home improvement projects that may require a building permit include adding or removing walls, demolishing a section of your house, converting a garage to a living space and updating home plumbing. Home projects that don’t usually require a permit include redoing kitchen cabinets, repainting your house, repaving a driveway, installing new flooring, building a small fence and replacing large kitchen appliances.
It’s important to know when you need to obtain special system permits, such as for plumbing, electrical or mechanical work (think sprinkler systems and central HVAC installations). Call your city’s building and permit office to find out if your project needs a building permit or a special system permit.
The party responsible for getting the permit
If you hired a reputable contractor, he or she will usually arrange to get the building permit for you. A contractor can often fly through the process, and they will be the party responsible for construction according to county building codes. If your contractor suggests you skip getting a permit for a project that requires one, consider hiring a different contractor.
Contact New Creation Construction today to start working with the best kitchen remodeling contractors in Fort Worth, TX!
Categorised in: Remodeling & Renovating