The process of getting a building permit can be difficult and time-consuming. However, it is essential to obtain one if you plan on building either a residential or commercial building or addition. Thankfully there are professionals who specialize in this type of work! They can guide you through the entire process and help ensure all of your bases are covered, including obtaining required approvals from city officials and zoning boards and ensuring you are aware of the appropriate building codes.
What is a building permit?
A building permit is a document that allows you to construct, demolish, or make specific changes inside your property. Projects require one in almost every city and town across the country. If you are building an addition onto a home, making major changes to your property, or building a commercial space, a building permit is the only way to get permission to build your structure. Almost all building projects require permits, even if you are doing construction on an existing building.
What You Need to Know About Building Permits and Regulations
Most building permits are obtained by hiring a company to assist with the process. You will more than likely need to submit an application for several different types of permits to the city to finish your property, such as a plumbing permit, occupancy permit, etc.
A professional can lead you in the right direction for choosing a licensed contractor who can help with all aspects of building your structure, including the inspection process and the plan review process required to obtain a permit. A general contractor is great for connecting people throughout the process and ensuring you don’t miss any required steps during the zoning and permitting phase of your build.
How to Obtain a Building Permit
So, how do you obtain a permit before the building begins? Well, you can either do the work yourself, or you can hire a building permit company that will help guide you through this process, which can be time consuming and complicated when dealing with a city building department.
If you plan to tackle the permit process on your own, here are a few steps you’ll need to take to complete the process and ensure that your project is in compliance with local ordinances.
Contact Your Local Building Department
There is a wide range of permits that can be required for construction, and the requirements vary from city to city. Although there are some projects you can complete without a permit, most big projects require permits to complete. Make sure you check with your local permit office before starting any work to find out what’s available in the area and if there are any specific requirements or restrictions on post-construction applications.
Fill Out a Building Permit Application
Make sure to bring all the necessary paperwork and information when you fill out your permit application. You will need to provide the building department with project information, such as what you are doing and how much space is estimated (square footage). They also want details on construction methods used along with a plan review and blueprints. This helps them make sure everything matches up correctly before they issue an approved certificate.
Pay the Permit Fees
Unfortunately, building permits usually are not free. Depending on where you are building and what type of permits you need (residential permits may be different than commercial permits, and different structure types need different permits), the cost can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. In 2020, the national average cost for a building permit was roughly $1,305.
Pass Inspection
A post-construction permit inspection can be a tricky process. You may need to uncover in-progress construction because an inspector might require more extensive access than what’s open for public view. After all, they are looking out for potential hazards that could affect the safety of your project.
Most projects require both an in-progress inspection as well as a final inspection. The in-progress inspection occurs during the rough-in stage and allows the inspector to see what’s happening “behind the scenes” before walls go up and hide things like wiring and plumbing. The final inspection occurs once the project has been completed.
Once your project has all the appropriate permits and passes the required inspections, it’s time for the most exciting permit: the occupancy permit. You will obtain your occupancy permit when the project is near completion, and all inspections have been passed.
What are building permit companies?
Building permit companies have experience obtaining building permits on behalf of their customers and can help guide you through the entire process. We will ensure that your building plans are up to code before you submit them. We can also help with expediting the process if you find yourself in a time crunch.
Warehouse Solutions offers full-service building permit assistance. In addition to helping you navigate through the permit process, we’ll also provide the following, on your behalf:
- All fees required by the city (to be reimbursed by the customer)
- A detailed permit drawing package
- A total valuation of the project
- Contractor/installer information
- A high-piled stock form (or fire technical report depending on the city and situation) to be completed by the customer detailing what product is being stored, how it is being stored, whether it is encapsulated, and its hazardous group classification.
- A hazardous materials questionnaire to be completed by the customer regarding the business’ activities.
Advantages of Hiring Professionals
There are many benefits associated with hiring professionals when it comes to getting a building permit. First off, if you attempt this yourself, there is no guarantee that all necessary approvals will be received before construction begins on your project, which could lead to fines and other penalties. Professionals can help guide you through all steps involved, so nothing gets missed along the way, ensuring much less headache down the line should something come up unexpectedly.
Hiring building professionals can help you save money and provide peace of mind knowing that your project is being handled by someone with experience who knows all the ins and outs involved in getting a building permit.
So, what is the best way to obtain all your building permits? Hire a professional! Hiring professionals can make it much less stressful and time-consuming to go through this process, ensuring that all of your bases are covered along the way. At Warehouse Solutions, we can guide you through each step involved with getting approval, including any necessary inspections and ensuring that your building plans meet zoning requirements.
The professionals at Warehouse Solutions are here to help. For more information, read more or contact us today!