Should You Get a Construction Permit for Home Renovations?

If you want to boost your home’s value, renovation and remodeling projects are a great investment. But whether your ambitions or comfort call for a sky-high or minor addition to your home, you are going to need more than adequate financing, building materials, and the right builder. And that is where construction permits come in. The cost of the building license will have more to do with the location and the project. If you live in a small town, you may part with roughly $150, but larger cities may require up to $7500.

What Are Construction Permits?

A construction permit is a written authorization issued by your city or county. Permits ascertain the clearance of the project drawings and that all specifications have been met without fail. As a homeowner, you ensure peace of mind that your addition is not only safe but compliant with the building codes of your state. Unpermitted construction projects also lower the home value when discovered during the sale rather than the anticipated high price tag.

Failure to obtain a construction permit before starting your project can result in a fine and the possibility that your structure will be torn down before it is completed.

How can you get a building permit?

1. Fill in the permit application form appropriately.
2. Prepare the project’s site plan. It may require the intervention of an architect to draw the project.
3. If the plan is straightforward, you may get approval immediately. With revisions and corrections, it may take several days or weeks.
4. If you’ve been approved, your permit will be issued.
5. During the construction phase, you must often schedule inspections with the responsible authorities to affirm that the project is being conducted according to the plans that you originally submitted.

If you’re working on a project yourself, you’re considered a contractor by law and must apply for your own permit. But typically, hired contractors pull the permits as they are responsible for the construction, which should be up to code.

What projects require permits?

• Adjusting the walls of your home
• Converting some spaces into rooms, like a garage to a guest room
• Altering your home’s piping system
• Roof replacements
• Demolishing any part of your home

Home improvement projects that don’t need a construction permit

• Painting
• Installing floor covers
• Adding a new set of kitchen cabinets
• Countertops installation
• Replacing fixtures such as faucets or lighting