Confused About Building Permits? Newton Home Improvement Contractors Have the Answers
Home improvement contractors can help you get the permits you need.
Building permits can be confusing for a lot of people. After all, building permits aren’t something the average person typically has to deal with, unlike professional contractors. Regulations governing these permits aren’t uniform. They can differ from state to state and, because counties and cities can add to state requirements, rules and regulations can vary from town to town. In some places like Newton even something as seemingly innocuous as putting up kitchen cabinets requires you to fill out a permit application and pay a fee to the city.
When you are working with a reputable eastern MA home improvement contractor, you don’t usually have to deal with obtaining building permits. A good contractor usually handles that sort of thing for you or gives you close guidance on the right way to get it done if, for some reason, you prefer to do it yourself. In fact, it should raise your suspicions when a contractor won’t handle the permits. It can mean there is a license or insurance problem since license information is required on the building permit application and workers’ compensation insurance information must be filed with electrical permit applications.
A Building Permit Offers Confirmation
The regulations governing building permits are based on a locality’s building codes, zoning laws and other restrictions that may be at play, such as land covenants and home owner association rules. This group of regulations governs construction and structural safety standards, land use restrictions, community standards, fire safety code and regulations, restrictions and standards governing sewage, water, sanitation and electrical work. Building permits offer confirmation the plans for the work have been reviewed by local officials and judged to be in compliance with all applicable regulations and standards.
Custom built home plans require the proper permits.
Types of Permits
Depending on the project, there may be multiple permits required. The specifics of a construction or remodeling project will determine the types of permits required. That’s one of the reasons its often easier for Newton home improvement contractors to handle the permit process. They know what the work entails and what permits they need so there’s less of a chance of delays due to error or missing paperwork. Simple remodeling projects with no electrical or plumbing work often require only the basic building permit.
When building a home using custom built home plans in Newton, expect to need a handful of permits, including one allowing a generator at the site during building, if it’s needed. Local contractors deal with permit officials frequently, building professional relationships over time. They know exactly who is in charge of what and are up-to-date on permit requirements. Contractors working regularly in an area are often extended a little professional courtesy, allowing them to get permit applications through the approval process a bit quicker than the average non-professional person.
Contact us to learn more about what types of home repairs require local building permits. What may be fine to do without a permit in one city may cause trouble in another. Always use reputable contractors to avoid the costly problems that can arise from improper permits.