What type of things have you got a permit for?

[hereonceagain]

I just got a permit for our roof. Then the inspector came to sign off on it and we failed . They saw we had a new solatube put in without a permit (from a different contractor). I had no idea that would require a permit. Boo. Now I wonder what else I did illegally. I fear they will fail my solatube inspection because they will see we got new pavers without a permit. I've now lived and learned but this could be one big domino effect of a disaster. Ugh.

[hereonceagain]

Nov 13, 2012 20:03:29 GMT -5 @crackhabit said:

Driving

Haha.... I knew that was coming

[pitterwoo]

Oh what a bummer. Will they just come back to reinspect or do you have to do something? We will get one for our kitchen reno, but we haven't gotten one for any of our other work, including the roof we got this summer. I don't think our community is very strict about enforcement though.

[hereonceagain]

Nov 13, 2012 22:54:04 GMT -5 pitterwoo said:

Oh what a bummer. Will they just come back to reinspect or do you have to do something? We will get one for our kitchen reno, but we haven't gotten one for any of our other work, including the roof we got this summer. I don't think our community is very strict about enforcement though.

We have to pay $100 bucks for another permit, then they will come back and if all is well, they will sign off on both. However they made our roof crew halt work for almost the whole day while we sorted it out.

[hereonceagain]

I must add though that I am happy with the overall idea of permits. The guy that came out basically served as my advocate to make sure all our work was done properly, which I know nothing about. Well worth the $$. I just wish contractors would properly advise when permits are needed. In my area, they avoid them at all costs because they don't like people double checking their work.

[kaylie]

I think it varies by municipality. I took a look at our township's website and it gave me some clue, but I'm still not totally clear. They are very helpful if you call them on the phone and ask. For us I know they want them for additions, roofs, fences (new and replacement), finishing a basement and new electrical panels. I also like the idea of permits, but here they use them to raise your property taxes based on the value of the improvements so it's not much of an incentive to get them.

[auntie]

It really depends on the municipality locally. I am the Eagle Scout Liaison in DS's old scout troop and often work with boys on permitting issues. The last two years, we did 9 projects (out of 22) that required some form of permitting. Some kids specifically chose sponsoring organizations to avoid the process though I haven't had a scout charged for a permit in a couple years.

Anything that involves water lines (sprinkler and irrigation systems) or electrical work gets a permit. Schools, churches, synagogues and township parks require permits for functional improvements but county, state and federal properties don't seem to require it. The temporary stage built for the front of Borough hall that is used for 45 minutes each Memorial Day required both permits and HARB approval but the 20 x 20' stage in the playground at the Nature Center didn't. The shed at the Lutheran Church needed a permit but the one at the Little League field didn't. The irrigation system at Veggieville Organic Garden at DS's old school needed a permit, but the raised beds didn't. The bridge in the HOA woods needed permits and EPA approval but the ones in the National Cemetery and State Park didn't.

Since my house is directly across the street from the township offices and is visible from the L&I office window, I pull permits on any improvements on the outside rear of my home- the deck and roof for instance. I do not for interior work. They're very helpful, especially compared to the HOA.

[SusanBAnthony]

We got a fence permit. The inspector came out finally the week after it was installed. Thanks dude, so glad I paid you 100$ to do nothing!

After that we stopped getting permits. Our town didn't seem to care.

[april37]

The biggest thing around here is people not getting permits to finish their basement. They do this mostly to avoid higher property taxes once the new square footage is added. I think it's just plan silly not to pull the permits for something like that. I have a friend who argues "it's all up to code" but how do you really know that? You are putting a lot of faith in your contractor. Plus, if you ever want to sell your house, you have to pull permits anyways (with penalty fees) and they can reqire you to remove walls, etc to check wiring or pluming.

On a similar note.... where I used to live we had to have a permit for our cars. I'm not talking about street parking, I'm talking about every car you own and drive. Even if you park it in your garage. One year DH was fed up and decided he wasn't going to get a permit. One day he was parked at the mall and he got a ticket for not having a permit on his car!!! He had to pay the ticket, the permit fee, and a late fee.

[bunnymendelbaum]

::backs slowly out of post as to not incriminate myself::

[wawa]

Nov 14, 2012 10:04:53 GMT -5 bunnymendelbaum said:

::backs slowly out of post as to not incriminate myself::

LOL.

We pulled permits for our current reno. Contractors pulled well, HVAC and electrical permits for the new geothermal sytem. Roofing contractor pulled permit for changes to roof structure (I don't think just general reshingling requires a permit here though? don't quote me on that.)

We pulled the general building permit and electrical permit for the inside work (MH had to take a test to pull the electrical permit) and then our plumber pulled the plumbing permit. (why homeowners can pull an electrical permit but not a plumbing permit is beyond me)

we're planning on a bunch of work in the backyard eventually - including some regrading that would probably require a permit, but we aren't going to pull one. The retaining wall we're putting in is under the permit limit, and that's all they REALLY care about. I'm not sure if the drainage system we put in the front yard technically required a permit. We did not pull one.

We'll probably get the final sign-off on the plumbing permit while the laundry room sink is still just a rough-in. Technically this means that we should pull a new permit to actually install the sink, but we won't.