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 exposed by the sellers) should be or should have been permitted. Our answer usually depends on exactly what was modified, improved or added to the home involved. Throughout the years and after doing thousands of pre-purchase home All Pro Home Inspections, we’ve discovered that almost all home buyers, house sellers, and homeowners have no idea of what must be permitted vs what may not need to be permitted. The following list will serve as a great place to begin in identifying if your modification or addition needs to be permitted according to the latest International Residential Code (IRC) manual.
Based on the IRC, permits aren’t needed for the following:
* Detached one-story accessory structures (tool sheds) less than or equal to 200 sq.ft.?* Fences less than or equal to 6 ft., sidewalks, driveways, swings as well as play ground tools?* Retaining walls less than or of about four ft. coming from the base of the footing 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 equal to 2:1?* Tiling, painting, carpeting, cabinets, counter & similar finish work?* Awnings projecting under or of about 54 inches from outside wall & supported from wall?* Decks lower than or of about 200 sq. ft. & less than or equal to thirty inches above grade and not attached to dwelling or serving a mandatory exit door
We wished to provide this particular list of what usually can be done to your home without having a permit according to the latest IRC to help clear up some of the confusion for our house buyers, owners, and sellers. If perhaps what you’re intending to build falls outside the list above it is safe to assume that a permit is needed. However, the local city/county building official has the final say regarding what should be permitted. Thus prior to deciding to build be sure to contact your local building department to prevent issues 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!