It’s Saturday morning, you just made a run to your favorite place to get building materials and it’s time to get going on that next great home improvement project that you hope to have done by the end of the weekend.
But before you do anything, we have a simple question for you: Did you check in the city’s code administration office to see if you needed a permit?
For many homeowners, the idea of a building permit is for those big construction companies who build new houses, do major renovations or add on to an existing home – not for a project that you’re going to do yourself. But its not about who’s going to do the project, rather more about the nature of it.
There are things that don’t require a permit – like changing your siding, replacing your roofing materials or fixing a leaky faucet.
If a planned fence to keep your pooch in the backyard won’t exceed six feet, you don’t need one for that either. And if you want to paint (either outside or inside), replace your flooring or update your windows, you should be just fine to do that, too.
But if that leaky faucet turns into a major overhaul of your plumbing, the roof shingles replacement turns into a structural change or you want to build a new shed to join that fence, then you’ll want to contact the city before you get going.
“We get a lot of calls and people coming to the counter to ask questions, and we encourage that,” said Mike Santa, code administrator for the city. And no, he’s not related to the big guy up north.
The whole point is to get things done right while abiding by the city code.
Depending on the scope of the project, it can be a fairly easy process.
What can get you started is simply filling out the building permit form that wants to know the basic info (where you live, contact info, zoning district, lot size). There’s also a section about proposed costs, a description of the work to be done and a sketch of what it will entail.
“Sometimes we can turn it around right at the counter,” Santa said.
Other bigger projects will take time to review. If necessary, a trip to the property might be required, while multiple inspections could be necessary. It really all comes down to the scope of the project and how many systems (i.e. electrical, plumbing) will be affected and changed. You could need multiple permits, but you’re better off asking the city about that – they’re the experts.
“It’s just generally good to call the building department when you’re anticipating remodeling your house,” Santa said.
And the cost of the building permit will be dependent on a number of factors.
“It’s really based on the cost of the project and the square footage of the project,” Santa said.
Now some of you might be reading this and getting a little nervous about that previously completed project that you now realize you probably should have gotten a permit for, but don’t fret.
“Homeowners, if they’re doing their own work and they don’t do this type of work every day, might not know how it works,” Santa said.
While it’s ideal to have things figured out before the project is completed, it’s not the end of the world if you didn’t get a permit.
“We do work with folks and will try to get the necessary approval after the fact,” Santa said. “But generally it’s good to have that conversation before hand.”
For more info, visit concordnh.gov, go to Your Government, Department and Code Administration. You can also call 225-8580 with any questions.
“It’s the time of year everyone is thinking about things they want to do to improve their home,” Santa said. “And we have a number of people who are well versed in answering these kinds of questions.”
