Types of Building Permits

There are several building permits needed when completing a large construction project. Whether it is commercial or residential construction, the amount of paper work for the needed building permits can cause a builder a lot of aggravation and stress. This is why builders and construction companies are turning to permit expeditors to handle this part of the project for them. This is a list of some of the areas building permit expeditors provide assistance with:

Residential Construction – required for all residential construction

Commercial Construction – required for all commercial construction

Demolition – required for demolition of part/or whole buildings

Electrical – required for all electric work

Elevator Installation – required for all elevator installations

Excavation – required prior to excavation (states you must notify owners of adjacent properties 30 days in advance)

Plumbing – required to do any plumbing work

Ventilation & Heating – required to move or remove ventilation and heating units

Sign – required to move or remove building signs

Scaffolding – required to use any scaffolding during construction

This is by no means a comprehensive list of all building permits. Other types of projects that require permits are: attic and basement renovations, replacing of chimneys, conversion of a single family home into multiple units, deck construction, driveway installations, garage attachments and detachments, masonry projects, skylight construction, roofing projects, swimming pool construction, as well as security alarm installation.

Because there are so many different types of permits, just knowing what you will need for a given construction project can be a hassle on its own. When an expeditor is hired they handle all the time-consuming paper work and research, freeing up time and energy for the builder to focus on the project at hand. Permits usually taken between twenty and sixty businesses days to review so having an expeditor work with you from the beginning is extremely important to make sure your project is completed on schedule.

Why are Building Permits Necessary?
Forcing companies and builders to apply and adhere to building permits is important for many reasons. Not only is it a great way for the city to make money, but it also ensures the safe and ethical completion of construction projects. This is not only to make sure the building itself doesn’t collapse, but also provide rules to safeguard public health by regulating waste water as well as other health hazards. Insurance companies place a heavy reliance on these as key indicators of a project’s safety and reliability. Different insurance policies are instituted depending on when building permits were updated.