Common Permits for Demolition/ Remodel Projects

Once you’ve found the best contractor for your demolition or remodeling project, it’s imperative to find out all you can about the permits you need before you begin. You don’t want to be in the middle of a project only to be held up by permits. This will slow down your project, cause a delay in the contractor’s next project and may even wind up costing you more money down the line.

If you start a project without obtaining the proper codes and permits, as well as certificates of occupancy, you might just find yourself in trouble. Chances are you will have to rethink, re-evaluate, and spend more money on your project. Make sure you do it right from the beginning and you won’t be sorry.

Structural changes

Any structural change, for example, adding another bedroom or putting on an extension would require a permit. Even the addition of another bathroom requires the use of a permit.

If you are going to move a room to another side of your home, that would require a permit as well. Believe it or not, many towns require you to obtain a permit for knocking down a wall and making an existing room larger by combining two rooms into one big room.

Even some exterior changes such as putting up a pool, or building a shed along with a deck can be considered a structural change. If you want to put up a sunroom, make sure to check with your town before doing so. This might require specialized permits as well.

Technicalities

If you want to put in new doors and windows, that’s great because there shouldn’t be any permit involved; however, if you change the shape and size of the cutout, you need a permit. Skylights can also require a permit because you are cutting a hole into the exterior of your home that was not there before. Leaks and damages to your roof could occur and you have to be covered. 

You might wonder why you would need a permit to do any upgrades to the guts of your home such as the plumbing and electrical. If you upgrade, move, or remove plumbing or electrical items, it needs to be documented and you will need a permit. It's that simple.

Obtaining a permit

Contact your local town or government office to find out how to apply for a permit and what paperwork you will need. In addition, you will need to ask how much the estimated cost will be and what is involved. 

Depending upon the scope of work, the inspector may or may not come to visit and a sign may be posted on your front lawn to let your neighbors know that you are doing some work.