{"id":24301,"date":"2021-03-11T16:00:37","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T16:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/?p=24301"},"modified":"2021-03-11T16:02:30","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T16:02:30","slug":"a-guide-to-seeking-legal-approval-on-big-home-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/a-guide-to-seeking-legal-approval-on-big-home-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"A guide to seeking legal approval on big home changes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- SEO Ultimate Plus (https:\/\/seoultimateplus.com) - Code Inserter module -->\n<script async>(function(s,u,m,o,j,v){j=u.createElement(m);v=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0];j.async=1;j.src=o;j.dataset.sumoSiteId='b68b392479b5981b8acf46565e9fe32a0734fc21a1f7c1e60121eaa6ca1a1c64';v.parentNode.insertBefore(j,v)})(window,document,'script','\/\/load.sumo.com\/');<\/script>\n<!-- \/SEO Ultimate Plus -->\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you looking to make some big changes to your home? Before you get contractors in, you will need to check if there is any red tape that could stop you from carrying out the work. Skip this stage and you could be in serious trouble. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/business\/2018\/07\/31\/if-you-think-getting-building-permit-home-renovation-is-hassle-heres-what-can-happen-if-you-dont-have-one\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Illegal construction<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a known problem &#8211; and something the authorities are keen to clamp down on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s not to say you should be worried. These steps aren\u2019t intentional barriers that are put in place to stop you from completing your dream project. Getting the right approval from the right people at the right time just means that you are doing things properly and that you can rest assured that your work is safe, legal and long-lasting. See these as necessary checks and balances and approach them positively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This quick guide to seeking legal approval goes through the steps you need to take before you start knocking down walls and building them elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Home renovation permit<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The document you need in your sights when considering a major home renovation project is a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespruce.com\/permit-for-your-renovation-project-1822428\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">building permit<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which can be obtained from the local building department.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you apply, a building inspector will review your plans to ensure they meet local guidance and building codes. They\u2019ll want to see some serious detail here too. That means detailed measurements as well as details of materials being used.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In effect, the permit is your assurance that the building adheres to the codes and regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are carrying out the work yourself, you will need to apply for it. If you are hiring contractors, you should ask them to apply. Whoever is named on the permit is responsible for the work meeting the rules, so it should be the person you\u2019re paying.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Permits are often broken into categories:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electrical<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mechanical<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Structural changes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New construction work.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to recognize that these permits are common. There are regularly <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ycharts.com\/indicators\/us_building_permits\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more than 1.5 million<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of these issued a month in the US.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not all projects need one<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s right, not all projects need a permit to be completed. The rules vary for each city but, if you\u2019re unsure, it\u2019s always best to contact your local inspector and seek advice to be on the safe side. If you get caught without a permit when you need one, you could face a fine and risk the project being shut down. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few projects which don\u2019t require a permit, with two of the most common projects people carry out at home being exempt:\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fences (up to a certain height which varies for each city)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Replacing existing windows (but making a hole to add a new one does)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What does require a permit?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you plan on changing the footprint of your home, this will almost certainly need a permit. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should get in touch with the building department if you plan to add:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More bedrooms<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Room additions such as an ensuite bathroom<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Garages\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some sheds.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You&#8217;ll also need to contact the building department if you have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tumbleweedhouses.com\/when-is-a-building-permit-not-required\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a remote area<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and want to build a large <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.steelmasterusa.com\/resources\/building-guide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">steel building<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for storage.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other things which require a permit include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Replacing the plumbing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Replacing the electrical<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Replacing the water heater.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll also need to pay a fee. This can vary from about $50 for a small project, such as a fence, right up to several hundreds of dollars for bigger extensions to your property.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get it seen<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you have your permit, you\u2019ll need to put it on display so that an inspector can easily see the details when they drop by. As <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.housebeautiful.com\/home-remodeling\/a25588387\/home-renovation-building-permits-guide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">House Beautiful notes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, taping it in a window is a smart idea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also pays to understand when your inspections are needed. Footings, for example, might need an inspection before you\u2019re able to pour concrete. Make sure you know what needs to be seen and when&#8230;and that your permit is definitely on show for the right moments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seeking legal approval for big home improvements can seem like a daunting task, but it\u2019s essential. See it as a vital stage of checks and balances that give you peace of mind that your or your contractor has got a good plan in place and you\u2019ll approach it in the right frame of mind to ensure your big home project runs smoothly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h6>Ref number:\u00a0THSI-2203<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you looking to make some big changes to your home? Before you get contractors in, you will need to check if there is any red tape that could stop you from carrying out the work. Skip this stage and<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/a-guide-to-seeking-legal-approval-on-big-home-changes\/\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":24302,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wl_entities_gutenberg":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","spay_email":""},"categories":[1,700,16],"tags":[],"wl_entity_type":[602],"modified_by":"THS","_wl_alt_label":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Pic4.jpg","wl:entity_url":"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/post\/a_guide_to_seeking_legal_approval_on_big_home_changes","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24301"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24301"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24305,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24301\/revisions\/24305"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24301"},{"taxonomy":"wl_entity_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wl_entity_type?post=24301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}