All of the All Pro Home Inspectors here at All Pro Home Inspectors Inc. get questioned by our Ponte Vedra Beach, FL house buyers from time to time if particular improvements or additions identified (or disclosed by the home sellers) have to be or should have been permitted. Our answer normally depends on precisely what was altered, changed or added to the home in question. Through the years and right after doing thousands of pre-purchase All Pro Home Inspection reports, we’ve found out that most house buyers, home sellers, and home owners have no idea of what exactly needs to be permitted vs what may not have to be permitted. The following list will help as a good place to begin in identifying if the modification or addition needs to be permitted in accordance with the latest International Residential Code (IRC) manual.
Based on the IRC, permits are not needed for the following:
* Detached one-story accessory structures (tool sheds) lower than or equal to 200 sq.ft.?* Fences less than or equal to six ft., sidewalks, driveways, swings and playground equipment?* Maintaining walls less than or equal to 4 ft. coming from the base of the ground to the very top of the wall & with no surcharge?* Water tanks in grade less than or of about 5,000 gallons & height/width ratio less than or equal to 2:1?* Tiling, painting, cabinets, carpeting, counter & equivalent finish work?* Canopy projecting under or equal to 54 inches from outside wall & supported from wall?* Decks less than or equal to 200 sq. ft. & under or equal to thirty inches above grade and not attached to house or serving a required exit door
We wished to give this particular list of what typically can be done to your house without a permit according to the current IRC to help you clear up some of the confusion for our home buyers, sellers, and owners. If perhaps what you’re intending to build drops outside of the list above it’s safe to believe that a permit is necessary. However, the local city/county building official has the final say regarding what needs to be permitted. So before you build be sure to contact your local building department to avoid issues and large fines down the road.
For more information regarding building permits in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, make contact with All Pro Home Inspectors Inc. at 904-807-0939 today!