Basement permits is government-issued permission that authorises you or a hired contractor to build anything new or remodel an existing structure on your property.

What Happens If You Don’t Get Permission to Build?

However, building without a basement permit is still risky because you could face one or more of the following:

  • Shocking fines can go into the hundreds of dollars, depending on the job and where you live. You could face a daily fine if the structure is still in breach.
  • Your local government could require the project to be demolished.
  • You could face a lawsuit if you mistakenly cause harm to your neighbour’s or publicly-owned property.
  • If a significant injury occurs during a project and you didn’t secure the required permissions, you could be held accountable for the damages.

Types:

Here are considered the different types of building permits one needs:

  1. This includes all building permitsrequired to construct a new single-family home (building permit, driveway permit, grading permit, and septic (OWTS) permit).

  1. This covers all of the permits required to construct a new prefabricated home (building permit, driveway permit, grading permit, and septic (OWTS) permit).

  1. This covers all permits required to construct a new commercial or multifamily housing (building permit, driveway permit, grading permit, and septic (OWTS) permit). At the end of the design development phase and before submitting the construction documents, the application and architect should meet with a Building Plans Examiner.

  1. This covers all of the permits required for the construction of an auxiliary housing unit. Please keep in mind: The maximum floor space of an ADU is 1,000 square feet. Per property, a maximum of one (1) ADU is permitted. Verify that the ADU complies with the standards, regulations, and requirements by consulting the ADU regulations.

  1. These are basic building permitapplications for any small construction projects (decks, fences, etc.) as well as expansions (room additions, detached/attached garages, etc.) and alterations (turning an unfinished basement into a finished basement) for any residential or commercial building.

Is it Necessary to Get a Building Permit?

Yes, to put it briefly. When it comes to building your home, you’ll have to follow local rules, and the repercussions can be far more severe than the permission procedure – including fines and the possibility of having to demolish your unpermitted structure and start over. This can add time and costs that you don’t want to spend while making the initial permit process appear to be a snap. You won’t have to apply for permits yourself if you’re working with a licenced contractor.

Who needs:

A building permit is necessary by law before any form of construction work can begin, whether to erect a structure or make repairs. Those planning to construct a system on a plot of land must first obtain a building permit. It makes no difference who owns the piece of property.

Conclusion: To get a building permit, fill out a Building Permit Application and attach two sets of construction documents to it. A foundation plan (engineered design may be necessary) and a site grading plan (if any resolutions and land use permit(s) are linked with this property, you will need to submit those as well) should be included in the construction papers.