Realty.com » Resources and Services

Login • Register

Resources and Services

Consumer Guides

Planning for Building Department Approval

There is more to building than sweat and sawdust. Whether building a custom home, adding a bonus room over the garage or remodeling the kitchen, your friendly local building department must be taken into account. You must anticipate their input, and add to your schedule the necessary time for approvals, processing, re-drawing of plans and re-working the changes required to meet code. Codes for each step of construction , including framing, electrical, plumbing, etc., vary from city to county, and individual inspectors within a single department can interpret the codes differently. Understanding the time and steps required to take a project from plans through approval can help you decide how to proceed.

Q: I want to add separate mother-in law quarters onto my property. What is the first step I should take?

A: You have two choices. You can hire an experienced general contractor familiar with the process, or you go it alone. In either case, the first step is to go to the building department, discuss the project, and ask for which approvals will be needed. It is important to have a list of specific questions to ask, write down the answers to each question, and have the person answering the questions sign the list off. I recommend going through these steps before having plans drawn by the builder or an independent residential designer to save time, money and frustration.

Q: What kinds of questions should I ask?

A: The most commonly overlooked step which can cause delays is not finding out which other departments must approve the project before the building department will even consider looking at it. These other departments can include Redevelopment Agencies, Environmental Planning, Fire Districts, Transportation , Water and Sewer, etc. You must be prepared for the time it will take for your plans to pass through all the different departments.

Also, be sure to ask a lot of questions about fees. Most building departments have lists explaining every city or county fee required. Don’t forget to consider school district fees, which you may need to research and pay separately before a building permit is issued. You may discover that a 1,100 square foot structure will cost thousands of dollars more in fees than a 990-square-foot building, due to sizing breaks in the fee schedules.

Q: I want to totally remodel a 22-year-old kitchen, but I don’t plan to move any outside walls. Do I still need to go through such a complicated process for this project?

A: Though the approval process for this kind of job is much quicker, the building department should still be consulted, as well as a contractor. For instance, if you find that moving the kitchen sink to another part of the room and adding a second sink in a new island in the middle of the kitchen will add thousands of dollars to the cost of the project, you may change your mind about the design. Making this change before plans are drawn will obviously save a lot of time and money.

The planning process determines each subsequent step of the entire project. Take the time to do a good job from the start, and you’ll save time and money and get what you want.

More Popular Entries

Additions & Remodels

More Return on Your Home Improvement Investment
Easy Financing Options for Remodeling
Basement Remodeling Basics

Agents (Real Estate), Appraisers & Home Inspectors

Renting or Buying: Advantages and Disadvantages
Single Family Homes
The Art of Negotiation

Appliances

Installing Appliances
Selecting Major Appliances
Repair Dishwasher and Water Damage

Builders (New Homes), Architects & Designers

Taking the Mystery Out of Kitchen Design
Workout Room
Appraisals

Carpentry & Cabinets

Maintaining Your Wood Deck
Install a Front Door
Comparing Timber Framing with Construction

Cleaning Services

Carpet Care Tips
Ways to Clean Your Carpet
Choosing a Carpet Cleaning Service

Concrete, Brick & Stone

Taking Care of Your Chimney and Fireplace
Wunderbar Rebar!
Repair Cinderblock Foundation

Consumer Guides

Wall and Ceiling Cleaning
How to Hire a Plumber
Upgrade for the Future

Design Ideas

Skylights
Add a Hot Tub to Your Deck
Stylish Entry

Electrical, Telephone & Data

Upgrading Your Electrical System
Alarm Companies
Air Conditioners

Expert Advice

Exterior Painting
Leaking From the Shower Into the Basement
Repair Small Hole

Flooring

Carpet Care In Depth
Steam Cleaning Grout
Choosing the Best Carpet for Your Home

Handyman Services

Avoiding Home Repair Rip-offs
Some Assembly Required
The Benefits of Weatherstripping

Heating & Cooling

Tip: Programmable Thermostats Can Save Money
Environmentally Friendly Solar Heat
Checklist: Cleaning the Air in Your Home

Home Construction

Understanding Pre-manufactured and Kit Homes
Modular Home Assembler
Avoiding Fraudulent Contractors

Landscape, Decks & Fences

Different Styles of Landscaping
The Right Barn or Shed For You
Picket Fences Add Charm

Moving & Storage

Some Assembly Required
Preparing a House for Sale
Stowing it Away: Where to Put It

Other Services

Customized Hot Tubs
Pool Heaters
Organize Your Garage for Approaching Messy Weather

Painting & Staining

Electrostatic Painting is the Way to Go
The Importance of Paint Removal
Peeling Paint

Plumbing

Tip: Drain Clearing Service
Tip: Repair a Septic System
Water Damage

Quick Tips

Tip: Repair Window Hardware
Murals and Trompe L’oeil
Checklist: Essential Yard Tools

Roofing, Siding & Gutters

Time for a New Roof?
Modern Roofing Options
General Roofing Information

SP Feature Article

The Internet Will Change the Buying of Services

Walls & Ceilings

Tip: Prepping Before Wallpapering
Acoustic Ceiling Cleaning
Wall and Ceiling Cleaning

Windows & Doors

Thermal Replacement Windows
Choosing Between Blinds or Shades
Know the Kind of Custom Window You Want

copyright 2008 Realty.com