Permits
When planning any sort of home improvement project, eventually the difficult permitting questions start to arise: what is a building permit, and do I actually need one? To put it simply, a building permit is an approval from the local government that allows you, the client (or your contractor), to move forward with a renovation. Most home renovation projects that involve high difficulty changes to the structure, electrical, or plumbing require a building permit. Touching these highly complex and potentially dangerous systems could compromise the safety of your home or even your neighbors. An approved permit means building inspectors validated that your project was designed and built to meet safety requirements. Receiving a permit prior to beginning construction is important because it means the local government has ensured your renovation is following all safety requirements of the local building code. So next time you find yourself with the question, do you need a permit to remodel a bathroom, Ultimately, obtaining a permit is the most certain way to ensure the work you do is safe (not to mention legal).
History of permitting
But of course, building permits and codes didn’t always exist! Over the years, building codes were established in response to natural and manmade disasters. In 1666, for example, a fire in London led to the London Building Act which ensured extra measures were in place to prevent fire in certain classes of buildings. In New York, building codes were put in place in 1938 as a result of fires and poor sanitation concerns. In the early 1900s many municipalities had building codes in place, however, none had seismic building codes. This changed when San Francisco was hit with a high volume 7.9 magnitude earthquake in 1906, and not long after structural engineers became strong advocates for building codes that enforced earthquake-resistant construction. Building codes and permits are constantly evolving and being updated to reflect the latest knowledge in the industry. Codes and regulations may differ from city to city and state to state, based on local building practices and climate, but they all exist to protect us.
How to Acquire a Permit
There are a few ways to go about obtaining permits for your renovation. First, if you are working with a professional contractor, he or she will handle and manage all permits with the city and decide which permit fits your renovation best. Without the use of a contractor, you as the homeowner are legally responsible for obtaining the permits. Start by talking with your local district or city to find out the costs involved and requirements. When applying for permits, be sure to provide a clear renovation plan for a smooth permit approval process. Luckily, Made Renovation makes it easy to get your permit in order.
Different types of bathroom renovations explained
Depending on the level of difficulty of your renovation project, there are different documents necessary in order to obtain a permit. For example, an in-kind permit (also known as rip and replace) scope means you are keeping the same number of fixtures and finishes and are completing the renovation without moving any walls or making significant structural changes. Since there are usually little to no significant changes occurring during construction, these permits typically take less time to review.
The other type of renovation Made specializes in is known as an “alteration” scope. This means that the number of plumbing or electrical fixtures are changing, or we are adjusting the existing square footage of the space. These types of permits are typically for more high complexity renovations as permit technicians spend more time reviewing architectural plans.
Let Us Help
While it can be exciting contemplating the idea of a dramatic change to your home, it is important to consider not only cost but acquiring the right permits. Permits can save your renovation not only structurally but legally. Think you are ready to tackle your next home renovation? Let Made Renovation help, get an estimate.
For more information regarding building codes and regulations in California, click here here, and for Washington, click here! If you have any questions for our Permitting Team, reach out directly to our team here if you have more questions (415) 687-5445.