All of the All Pro Home Inspectors here at All Pro Home Inspectors Inc. get questioned by our Ponte Vedra Beach, FL home buyers every now and then if particular improvements or additions discovered (or disclosed by the sellers) should be or should have been permitted. The answer normally depends on precisely what was modified, changed or added to the house in question. Throughout the years and right after doing thousands of pre-purchase All Pro Home Inspection reports, we’ve discovered that nearly all home buyers, house sellers, and home owners have no idea of what exactly needs to be permitted vs what may not need to be permitted. This particular list will serve as a good way to start in identifying if the modification or addition should be permitted in accordance with the latest International Residential Code (IRC) manual.
As per the IRC, permits are not necessary for the following:
* Detached one-story accessory buildings (tool sheds) less than or equal to two hundred sq.ft.?* Fences less than or equal to 6 feet., sidewalks, driveways, swings and playground tools?* Retaining walls less than or of about four ft. from the base of the ground to the top of the wall & without any surcharge?* Water tanks in grade less than or of about 5,000 gallons & height/width ratio lower than or of about 2:1?* Painting, tiling, cabinets, carpeting, counter & similar finish work?* Canopy projecting lower than or of about fifty four inches from outside wall & supported from wall?* Decks under or of about two hundred sq. ft. & lower than or equal to 30 inches above grade and not attached with house or serving a required exit door
We wished to provide this list of what usually could be done to your home without having a permit based on the latest IRC to help you resolve some of the confusion for our house buyers, sellers, and owners. If perhaps what you’re planning to build falls outside of the list above it is safe to believe that a permit is required. Nevertheless, your local city/county building official has the final say regarding what should be permitted. Therefore before you build be sure to speak to your local building department to prevent troubles and big fines down the road.
For more information regarding building permits in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, contact All Pro Home Inspectors Inc. at 904-807-0939 today!