Do I really need a permit?

11/30/2022

Something is amiss here

Yes, you really need a building permit.
If your project falls within the definition of "building" or "constructing" something, that says it all.

There are, however, projects where you don't need a building permit. Examples of those projects are replacing existing doors and windows, bathroom fixtures, flooring, cabinets, roofing, siding, repainting the interior and/or exterior of the home, installation of eavestroughs, digging a hole, etc..

However, there is another list of projects where you do need a building permit.

Why get a permit? The reason is, well, avoid litigation for non-disclosure when you sell your property.

If something built or constructed fails, then someone has to shoulder the blame, and that involves the designer, municipality, consulting engineers, constructor, etc..

Expert? Professional? Aren't they the same thing?

So, to prevent projects from failing and falling down, they are designed by professionals who have the educational credentials and certifications to apply the building code to the various assemblies of the building. These professionals take responsibility for the design for the lifetime of the building's existence.

Yep, you read that right - for the lifetime of the building. Hence the need to pay for a licensing fee to reuse a set of drawings (face-palm).

However, I digress.

Anyone can be an "expert" - there are no certifications for expertise or having opinions, but accreditation and credentials are required to be a professional. Oh, another difference, professionals warranty their work - for its life.

Contractors and renovators like to say they are experts, and they do possess a certain level of expertise - however, the difference between a professional and an expert needs to be made crystal clear.

What are the signs no permit was issued?

OK, so back to the lack of a building permit for this project.

So what are the signs indicating this project was built without reference to approved construction documents? Why is a building permit so important anyway?

Well, as was stated before, an unbiased third party is involved and inspects the work to ensure the work complies with the construction documents prepared by a professional to ensure the expert did what the drawing instructed them to do. This is the role of the municipal building official, or inspector.

With all this in mind, let's revisit the first photo taken when I went on this site visit do a site measure.

After briefly looking under the porch my first question to the home owner was "Did you get a building permit for this work?"

The answer received was "No. Did I need one?"

Yes, a building permit was needed because it supports a roof. Here are a couple of reasons and they are:

Safety: Building codes and regulations are in place to ensure the safety of the occupants of a building as well as the general public. A building permit ensures that the construction of a building meets these safety standards.
Zoning compliance: Every city and town has its own zoning regulations that dictate what can be built in certain areas. A building permit ensures that the proposed construction is in compliance with these regulations.
Professional review: A building permit requires that the plans for a building be reviewed by a professional, such as an architect or engineer. This review helps to ensure that the construction is feasible and meets all relevant building codes and regulations.
Legal protection: A building permit serves as a legal document that protects both the property owner and the contractors involved in the construction project. It ensures that the construction is done in accordance with the approved plans and permits, and can help to avoid disputes or legal issues down the road.

Knowing the work will be inspected and the constructor made accountable for deficiencies eliminates constructors/experts who do substandard work that consumers pay a premium for, and the permit also gets another set of eyes out there to review the work for compliance.

The constructor basically botched this build by figuring a horizontal piece of scrap 4x4 pegged to the side of a another piece of lumber with one screw will do the trick of supporting whatever load, static or dynamic, that beam will have to carry for as long as that structure remains in-place.

"Load tables are for dummies. Feels solid to me" must have been the thought of the day.

Yes, honestly, you really need a building permit to protect you and your investment.

To make sure the beam fails/breaks in the event the one screw actually works, the constructor cut the beam. See for yourself. I'm not even sure what's securing the sandwich beam to the post either. Incredible.