All of the All Pro Home Inspectors here at All Pro Home Inspectors Inc. get asked by our Ponte Vedra Beach, FL home buyers every so often if particular improvements or additions discovered (or disclosed by the home sellers) need to be or should have been permitted. The answer usually depends upon precisely what was modified, changed or added to the home involved. Throughout the years and right after doing thousands of pre-purchase home All Pro Home Inspections, we have found out that most home buyers, home sellers, and homeowners have no idea of what exactly should be permitted vs what may not need to be permitted. The following list will help as a good way to begin in determining if your modification or addition should be permitted in accordance with the latest International Residential Code (IRC) manual.
According to the IRC, permits aren’t needed for the following:
* Unattached one-story accessory structures (tool sheds) less than or equal to two hundred sq.ft.?* Fences lower than or of about 6 feet., sidewalks, driveways, swings as well as playground tools?* Maintaining walls less than or equal to 4 ft. coming from the bottom of the ground to the top of the wall & with no surcharge?* Water tanks in grade below or equal to 5,000 gallons & height/width ratio lower than or equal to 2:1?* Tiling, painting, cabinets, carpeting, counter & similar finish work?* Canopy projecting under or equal to fifty four inches from exterior wall & supported from wall?* Decks lower than or equal to 200 sq. ft. & lower than or equal to 30 inches above grade and not attached to house or serving a required exit door
We wished to give this list of what commonly could be done to your home without having a permit in accordance with the latest IRC to help resolve some of the confusion for our house buyers, owners, and sellers. If what you are intending to build drops outside of the list above it is safe to assume that a permit is required. Nonetheless, your local city/county building official has the final say concerning what should be permitted. Therefore before you build make sure to call your local building department to avoid troubles and big fines down the road.
To learn more about building permits on Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, make contact with All Pro Home Inspectors Inc. at 904-807-0939 today!