A building permit is a formal approval issued by a local governmental agency allowing you or your contractor to progress with a remodeling or construction project on your property. It is designed to guarantee that the project intends to adhere with local regulations for zoning, land use, and construction. These regulations are intended to guarantee the safety of present and future owners and inhabitants and to offer enforcement of zoning and land-use guidelines. Let’s take a look at how long you should expect a building permit to last.
When Is A Building Permit Required?
Not every home construction and renovation project needs a building permit. In a lot of cases, straightforward repairs and replacements can be carried out by professional contractors or homeowners without applying for one.
Nevertheless, any job that involves additions or significant modifications to your home’s structure or its automated systems typically requires you to apply for the correct permit from the local building division. Should you be hiring a contractor to carry out the work, they usually are going to handle the permit process on your behalf, factoring in the expenses of the permit for their bid.
If you are doing the work on your own, it is your responsibility for applying for the correct permit. Be aware that your building division might require that some types of work be carried out only by licensed contractors. Work on gas lines, for instance, may be restricted to homeowners in some communities.
The requirements for permits differ widely from location to location, though, and the only way you can know for sure if a permit is needed is to get a hold of your local building division and describe the work you wish to accomplish. Some locations might require permits for just about every type of work, even constructing a landscape fence. The decision to require a permit or not, is usually subject to an evaluation of the relative endangerment the work poses to present and future residents of the home.
How Does The Building Permit Process Work?
If you are planning to do the work yourself, the process of getting a building permit usually goes like this:
- Contact your local building division and describe the type of project you are wanting to do. If a permit is required, an application document is going to be provided to you that describes the requirements for applying for a building permit. Some projects may require more than one permit. A significant remodeling project, for instance, might necessitate a carpentry/construction one, an electrical one, and a plumbing one.
- Fill out the permit application, including any additional materials that might be required. Construction projects might require blueprints of the work you are planning.
- Present the building permit application and pay any fees that are required. The licensing office is going to then issue you an official building permit.
- When you start work, post the permit as required. This might mean taping the building permit to a window or door close to where work is going to being done.
- At the approved points throughout the work, get ahold of the inspection office to schedule for an inspector to come to the worksite and review the projects quality. Should the inspector order any changes to the work, finish any changes, and have the inspector come back out to review the work once more.
- After the inspector accepts the work, you are no longer required to display the building permit.
How Long Are Building Permits Good For?
On average, a building permit is valid for about 6 months. This timeline begins once you have obtained the permit and if you have yet to start working on the project.
In the event you have already started the construction process, the permit is typically good for 1-2 years.
Factors Impacting How Long A Permit Lasts
There are a few specific factors that can alter the length of a building permit. These factors are outlined below.
Jurisdiction
Each and every state/municipality will come with their own timelines for permit validity.
Starting Work On The Project
If you haven’t started construction, the permit is more likely to expire sooner. Your permit will likely last longer when the construction project is already underway.
Building Permit Type
Depending on the jurisdiction, residential and commercial building permits may feature differing expiration dates. In some cases, there may be different types of construction permits needed, as well.
What Happens If A Building Permit Expires?
If your building permit ultimately expires, there is no need to panic. However, it is advised to stop working on the project for the time being. Continuing to work following the permit’s expiration could result in penalties and fines.
When the permit expires, you can either apply for a new one, renew the permit, or request an extension. You can expect to pay nearly 50% of the initial permit fee if work has not been paused for more than one year. If work has been paused longer than one year, you’ll likely pay the full permit fee once more.
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