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1. Why do you need a building permit?

A building permit allows the code official to ensure public health, safety, and welfare by reducing the potential hazards of unsafe construction. By following code guidelines, your completed project will meet minimum standards of life safety and will be less likely to cause injury to you and others. Building permits increase the value of your property by showing potential buyers construction work was completed and checked in a legal and proper manner. In addition, building permits produce historical records of maintenance and remodeling work for each property. Insurance companies may not cover claims from policyholders / homeowners that do not have a permit or do not have their work inspected.

2. What sort of work do I need a permit for?

Any new construction, additions, and/or alterations to existing buildings, both residential and commercial.

Accessory buildings and garages that have a floor area of 120 square feet or greater.

Covered porches that are constructed with a solid roof (i.e., plywood and shingles or metal sheeting); shade porches covered with lattice generally are not required to be permitted.

Concrete patio slabs, concrete driveways, and wood decks generally do not require a building permit; however, if any deck or patio structure is 30 inches above grade, it will require a building permit and plan review.

Repair or replacement of a roof or roof covering.

Any new construction or repair of an individual residential septic system.

Placement of any pre-fab storage shed, carport, or cargo container.

Your safest recourse when planning a building project is to contact the Building Department for information regarding the requirements for building permits. Please remember that a properly permitted project will ensure your hard work becomes an enhancement to your property value.

3. How long is a permit valid?

Every building permit is valid for 180 days from the date of issuance or from the date of the last inspection.
The septic construction permit is valid for one year from date of issuance.

4. How many copies of my building plans will I need to turn into the Building Department?

Only 1 set of structural drawings (plans) are required with a site plan if hard copies are provided. If electronic structural drawings (plans) and site plans are available or may be obtained, they may be emailed. 

5. How long will it take for my plans to be reviewed by the Building Department?

Plan review usually takes 10 to 15 working days to complete. More complex plans and commercial projects have a 6-8 week processing time. These are approximate timeframes and are subject to vary depending on current workload and the completeness of the plans submitted. 

6. Do I need a permit to build a shed?

If the detached accessory building is smaller than 120 square feet, no permit is required.
Any detached accessory building must be placed no closer than 5 feet from the side and rear property lines, 60 feet back from center of road in the front, and no closer than 6 feet to any other structure.