All of the All Pro Home Inspectors here at All Pro Home Inspectors Inc. get asked by our Ponte Vedra Beach, FL house buyers from time to time if particular improvements or additions discovered (or exposed by the sellers) need to be or should have been permitted. Our answer generally depends on precisely what was modified, improved or added into the house in question. Through the years and right after performing several thousands of pre-purchase home All Pro Home Inspections, we’ve discovered that most home buyers, house sellers, and homeowners do not know what exactly must be permitted vs what might not have to be permitted. This particular list will serve as a good way to start in determining if the modification or addition should be permitted in accordance with the latest International Residential Code (IRC) manual.
Based on the IRC, permits aren’t required for the following:
* Unattached one-story accessory structures (tool sheds) lower than or of about 200 sq.ft.?* Fences lower than or of about 6 feet., driveways, sidewalks, swings and playground equipment?* Retaining walls less than or equal to four feet. coming from the base of the ground to the top of the wall & without any surcharge?* Water tanks in grade lower than or equal to 5,000 gallons & height/width ratio less than or of about 2:1?* Painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter & similar finish work?* Canopy showing less than or equal to fifty four inches coming from exterior wall & supported from wall?* Decks less than or equal to two hundred sq. ft. & less than or equal to 30 inches above grade and not attached to home or serving a required exit door
We wanted to give this particular list of what usually can be done to your home without a permit based on the latest IRC to help you clear up a number of the confusion for our home buyers, sellers, and owners. If perhaps what you are intending to build falls outside of the list mentioned above it’s safe to believe that a permit is needed. Nevertheless, your local city/county building official has got the final say regarding what must be permitted. Thus prior to deciding to build make sure to speak to your local building department to prevent issues and hefty fines down the road.
To find out more about building permits on Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, make contact with All Pro Home Inspectors Inc. at 904-807-0939 right now!