Why Get a Building Permit?
Many people get into building without even thinking of the legal ramifications that may ensue. They might hire and pay upfront fees for the services of an Architect, Interior designer, Landscape Architect, Structural Engineer before even going to the Department of Building and Safety first to verify the feasibility of their proposal.
An uninformed owner may cause significant structural issues if the work does not meet building code requirements. Some jobs may cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair.
Sometimes you will discover that the project you propose is not allowed under the Building Code and you will have to apply for an entitlement. These are not cheap, are time consuming, and require many different forms of documentation to be filed such as Radius Maps, Ownership lists, Occupant lists, Findings, Topographic Surveys, Photographic Surveys, Soils Reports, Neighborhood Letters of Project Support and Plan Sets.
Even with unlimited budget you might not get it done. If you are going to put money into construction, permits solidify your efforts and are recorded as law. If you get cited for unapproved construction, there is a chance you will have to tear down the remodel or demolish the addition! Permits also increase the value of your property.
As a free service to our clients and subscribers, we have set up a webpage to deal with these important subjects. Visit our dedicated page at www.ortnerdesign.com/permits for revealing articles and useful information
