No Work Without Permit Is Allowed
Our newest client assumed there was no problem getting a building permit to put a sun deck on an existing home. To save time on the project, which included a new six-foot sliding glass door, the contractor installed the door before the work without permit was applied for. The problem is the building permit will […]
How to Know if Land is Buildable
Here is the place for some real due diligence. Local zoning ordinances, shoreline regulations and stormwater controls put in place by local jurisdictions to comply with state and federal requirements may make your project unbuildable on your particular piece of property. So before going ahead, it is necessary to have full knowledge of how to […]
Top Building Permit Tips for You
Another reason for getting building permits when considering real estate transactions! Questions from our users!I am selling a home in MA in which a garage was conveted into an in-law apartment. A permit was never pulled by my father in-law. We purchased the home from him, and he has since passed away. We are now […]
Simplify Your Building Permit Approval Process
The first few times through the building permit process approval is most often confusing and frustrating, leaving many people wrongfully upset at the permit technicians trying to help them understand the process. Usually, the unsuspecting applicant attempts to handle the process independently after they complete their plans and financing approved. This is the wrong way […]
Solving The Permit Issues
Most building permit issues and approvals are held up due to incomplete submittals. There are several steps you can take to ensure that your submittal package is complete. It is very challenging for the average architect, contractor, or homeowner to stay up-to-date with the requirements in each of the 28,000 jurisdictions across the United States. […]
How to Avoid Delays in Your Building Permit Application
Do not let your building permit application and it’s plans sit on a reviewer’s desk! If the reviewer has questions, which they usually do, ensure they have several ways to contact the person. Make sure your e-mail, cell phone, office phone and fax numbers can be easily found on the documents. Most review staff are […]
Environmental Permit Assistance Centers
Federal law requires each state to provide small business assistance centers to help businesses unscramble the confusing and frustrating environmental permits that are required. Permit Place provides electronic links and contact names and numbers to all 50 state environmental assistance offices on the City Links page. Just click on this link and select the individual […]
Which States Require Contractor Licensing
This question came in today from one of our users concerned about what states require contractor licensing. Laws governing contractor licensing differ among the states. Many states demand that contractors have a valid license to make a living legitimately. However, the requirements vary by state and what work is being done. Contractor Licensing Requirements of […]
Do I Need A Building Permit
“Do I Need A Building Permit?” This is our most frequently asked question. It is almost always asked in the vein of “Can I get away with not having a permit?” It will usually cause you a lot more trouble than you wanted if you try to get around the permit process. Hundreds of people […]
Building Department Responsibilities
Building departments adopt administrative rules from time to time for construction issues that are not covered by the currently adopted codes. These rules are called administrative guidelines and should always be reduced to writing by the local jurisdictions and placed in an administrative manual and easily accessible to the staff of the department. Understand what […]