Pulling Building Permits
ByYesterday I went to the Madison County Inspection Department and pulled a building permit for my rehab job. Since I own the home and I am serving as the contractor, I am allowed to pull the permit. I did not pull the permit for the electrical, HVAC, or the plumbing as I will let the contractors who do that pull their own.
Wonder if you need to pull a permit? Below is an excerpt from the inspection website (www.co.madison.al.us/inspection).
“If you construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or other residential structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done whenever the reasonable cost of the material and labor for such work is in excess of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), you shall first make application to the Inspection Department and obtain the required permits. Whenever the work being performed includes any construction, alteration, addition, or modification to the plumbing drainage system, or requires disconnection of the electrical system in any way whatsoever, any owner or authorized agent shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit regardless of the reasonable cost of the material and labor for such work. Other work requiring permits and inspections include: roofing, re-roofing, window replacement, siding, swimming pools and spas, and all commercial work regardless of cost.” from www.co.madison.al.us/inspection
Be smart – pull permits – whether it is you or your contractor – pull the permits. If you get caught doing work without permits, they WILL shut your job down and fine you. Be extremely wary of contractors who want you to pull your own permits! I am pulling my own BECAUSE I am acting as my own contractor.
Here are the things you will need to pull your own permit:
1. Itemized list of repairs to be done along with the cost.
2. Letter from insurance company – since it was a fire damaged house.
3. Proof of ownership – he asked for it and I said you can get it online and that seemed to satisfy him.
4. A Check – they do not accept cash.
5. Floor plan/blueprints – if you are building new or doing major renovation
Your permit is null and void if work or construction authorized is not commenced within 6 months or if construction or work is suspended or abandoned for a period of 6 months at any time after the work is started.
On my list of repairs, I had to include everything – paint, flooring, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, lighting, kitchen cabinets, appliances, etc. Even the 3 things I was not pulling permits for – HVAC, electrical, and plumbing- were added into the cost. The total cost of my permit was 1% of the valuation of repairs – OUCH!
On my particular project, I have 3 required inspections:
First rough-in inspection – conducted once rough framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas are complete prior to any insulation or drywall.
Second rough-in inspection – conducted after corrections have been made from previous inspections and prior to installation of drywall (after my insulation is installed).
Final Inspection – structure and landscaping completed. This gives me my coveted CO (certificate of occupancy) which allows full power to be turned on!
Pulling permits is an extremely important item. You do not want to be on the bad side of the inspection department.
