One of the most important steps in a home remodel is the acquisition of appropriate building permits. Contractors call this procedure “pulling the permits.” It is important for homeowners to understand why those permits are necessary, and how the whole permitting process works.
HOME REMODEL PERMITS & YOUR SAFETY
The reason that permits for a remodel are required by jurisdictions like Sarasota and Manatee counties is to ensure that there are no health and safety issues with your home. The home remodeling permit process helps to guarantee that your remodel is done with attention to detail and in a way that protects everyone who lives in the home. In that way, permits are an official checks and balances system. Plus, without inspection permits you may be ineligible for a Certificate of Occupancy, which is required by most municipalities. That’s why a quality contractor like Markley Construction will always strictly adhere to the permit process and cooperate fully with official permit inspections.
THE COST OF NOT PULLING PERMITS
If work is done without proper building permits, the results are sometimes extraordinarily expensive. You can even be sued if someone is injured or killed on your property due to an unsafe remodeling job that did not have the right permits. An electrical fire, a collapsed balcony, or something as simple as unsafe steps or walkways can leave you liable for this kind of lawsuit.
You can also be fined for violating local building ordinances. Your dwelling could even be condemned if the violations are serious enough. If you skip the permits and later try to sell your home, the sale could be blocked due to the home not being up to the standards of local building codes. Not only will you lose that sale, but you’ll also have to go back and do the work correctly…and may be subject to stiff fines.
THE STEPS IN THE REMODELING PERMIT PROCESS
Permitting is not a one-time event. It occurs in phases tied to milestones reached as the remodeling job progresses toward completion. First, your contractor will make an appointment for the inspector to visit the site of the remodel and review your project plans. Once the initial phase of the work is completed, the contractor will arrange for the inspector to return and approve the work up to that point. Then the next phase will begin and subsequently be approved.
That process continues until the date of the final inspection, when the inspector will issue a clean bill of health for the entire remodel. That official record will be kept on file with the local building permit department. Also, if you ever file a homeowner’s insurance claim or sell or rent your home, evidence of permit inspections may be helpful. Retain a copy yourself, and keep it with your other home ownership documents.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PERMITTING PROCESS…
Markley Construction will ensure smooth sailing throughout the permitting process, because we understand exactly how it works in Sarasota and Manatee counties. We will ensure your home remodel is in full compliance with the permitting department from start to finish. Call or email us today to learn more.
