Residential projects requiring a build permit: What you need to know

by Sandy Malbrue 11/29/2022

Before you make any major changes to your property, investigate what type of build permit you need. Even if you’re just remodeling your home, construction permits are required for most projects. Here is a basic guide to the types of major home remodeling projects requiring a permit:

Demolition

If you’re demolishing any outdoor or indoor structure, you’ll need a residential building permit. Any significant remodel involving demolition requires an interior remodeling permit and an inspection to ensure proper debris removal.

Interior remodeling

Major changes to the interior of your home require a remodeling permit. You don’t need a permit to paint, wallpaper or replace furniture. However, for projects like full bathroom or kitchen renovations involving plumbing and electrical systems, you will require a permit.

Additions

Are you thinking about adding space or extra rooms to your home? If so, a construction permit is required to make sure the work is done correctly and safely. Some common examples of such projects include building a guest suite or expanding the garage.

Decks without a roof

Building a deck requires a permit, especially if it’s off the ground. This type of permit ensures proper quality for safety reasons. Having a permit prevents you from being liable if a guest happens to injure themselves due to poor deck building practices.

Roofing for decks or patios

If you already have a deck or patio and want to build a roof over it, make sure to obtain a construction permit. This also includes any trellises or large pergolas.

Permanent water features

Adding a permanent pool, hot tub, spa or pond requires a specific building permit. These permits are required to prevent accidental issues with local water systems and the property itself.

While the construction permit process might seem tedious, it’s important to obtain the necessary permissions before making significant changes to your home or property. Keep these projects in mind if you’re planning any major renovations.

About the Author
Author

Sandy Malbrue

Hi, I'm Sandy Malbrue and I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search for representation or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my 14 years real estate experience to work for you. Be it to gain wide exposure for your home with my marketing plan, negotiate offers or manage the transaction once you've accepted an offer, in a way that will get you the best price and cause the least amount of disruption to you life as possible.  

If you are a buyer, allow me put those skills to work for you to help with the pre-approval process, work with you to locate and arrange for you to view homes of interest to you , and negotiate your offer. Once you have an accepted offer, I will help you arrange inspections, I will manage the transaction for you, from helping to arrange for inspections to keeping you up to date on contingency removals and walking you through the process to a new set of keys.

Let's do this!