All of the All Pro Home Inspectors at All Pro Home Inspectors Inc. get asked by our Ponte Vedra Beach, FL home buyers every now and then if particular modifications or additions discovered (or exposed by the sellers) have to be or should have been permitted. Our answer usually depends upon exactly what was altered, improved or added into the house involved. Through the years and right after doing thousands of pre-purchase All Pro Home Inspection reports, we have found out that the majority of house buyers, house sellers, and home owners do not know what exactly needs to be permitted vs what may not have to be permitted. The following list will serve as a good way to start in identifying if the modification or addition should be permitted according to the latest International Residential Code (IRC) manual.
As per the IRC, permits are not needed for the following:
* Unattached one-story accessory buildings (tool sheds) lower than or of about two hundred sq.ft.?* Fences lower than or of about 6 feet., driveways, sidewalks, swings and playground tools?* Retaining walls lower than or equal to four ft. coming from the bottom of the footing to the very top of the wall & with no surcharge?* Water tanks in grade lower than or equal to 5,000 gallons & height/width ratio less than or equal to 2:1?* Tiling, painting, cabinets, carpeting, counter & equivalent finish work?* Canopy showing lower than or equal to 54 inches coming from outside wall & supported from wall?* Decks less than or equal to 200 sq. ft. & under or of about 30 inches above grade and not attached with home or serving a mandatory exit door
We wished to provide this particular list of what typically could be done to your house without a permit according to the latest IRC to help you clear up some of the confusion for our house buyers, sellers, and owners. In case what you’re intending to build falls outside the list mentioned above it is safe to assume that a permit is required. Nevertheless, the local city/county building official has got the final say concerning what needs to be permitted. Therefore prior to deciding to build make sure to contact your local building department to avoid problems and large penalties in the future.
For more information regarding building permits on Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, speak to All Pro Home Inspectors Inc. at 904-807-0939 right now!