Permitting

Do I Need a Permit?

Determining if you need a permit is a major step in the process.* Some local governments may have different rules depending on what the property is zoned as. It’s very important to give them as much detail about your use and property as you have. Every city and county has different requirements; however, your permit office can give you some preliminary information to determine if you need a permit.

What should I ask my permit office?

• Is a permit required for a prefabricated metal building? • What is the required ground snow load for my address? • What is the required wind load for my address? • Are there any square footage constraints due to my parcel size? • Are there any zoning issues that determine where I can put the building? • How far from my property line can I build? • What type of drawings are required? • Are there any utility lines that could cause issues with placement of the building?

*Permitting is the customer’s responsibility and Big Buildings Direct does not handle building permits.

How to Prepare a Site Plan

• A site plan will be the customer’s responsibility.

A lot of permitting offices will accept an aerial view of your property with an area marked for the building. … A lot of customers have successfully completed their site plan by using Google Earth to take a picture of their property.

• If the building department requires a more detailed site map, a surveyor may have to get involved to complete this step. The permitting office will be able to tell you what is required.

“After a quick phone call with my permit office, I had quite a few questions answered. They told me the size and placement limits, so I know that there won’t be issues down the line. After talking with them, the permit process seems pretty straight foward.”

What to Bring to Get a Permit?

 Property information (address, property tax #, parcel #, etc.)  The order form stating the exact size and cost of your building  Structural plans stamped for your state  Renderings of your building  Site plan  Time and patience

“I walked into the permit office with everything I could think of that would help. I walked out with a permit about an hour later.”

How to Pull a Permit?

1. The first step is to make sure you have asked your permit office the correct questions. a. See the “questions to ask” section for more information. 2. The second step is to make sure you have all the necessary paperwork.* a. See “What to Bring?” for specific examples. 3. Some building departments will require you to submit everything online, while others will allow you to come in. It is ideal to schedule an appointment with the building department, so you can ask questions or answer questions easier. 4. Before you submit your permit, most local governments will require that you pay a fee. Make sure to have this done when appropriate, so as to not cause delays for the process. 5. Once you have submitted your paperwork, it is a waiting game until they give you an update. Some permit offices can take a while to give you an update. This varies depending on multiple factors. 6. Success, you’re approved! a. If you are not approved, see “common permitting issues” for more help.

Common Permitting Issues

• Drawings ◊ There are a few main types of engineered drawings. Some permit offices require less common types of drawings, so be sure to talk with the Building Success Team if you have any questions or concerns. • Easements ◊ Every county and city will have different requirements on how far away from the property line you need to build. To find these out, it is usually best to give the permit office a call. The requirements can also vary depending on the size of your property. Be sure to let the building department know your address, so they can give you more specific information regarding easements. Sometimes you can also file for a variance, but that can be a lengthy process. If necessary, we can also change the size of the building to accommodate easements.

• Contractor License Number ◊ Some counties will require a contractor license number from the installers. If you need help getting this information, you can reach out to our Building Success Team. • Square footage ◊ Most permit departments have strict rules regarding the size of the building. There are many factors that can go into this; such as, size of property, square footage of existing house, etc. It is always important to check with the permitting officials to get the exact specifications. This is another time that you can file for a variance or decrease the size of your building if necessary.

“The local governemnt definitely were sticklers on turning everything in according to their process. After talking with them about the order to do things, it was a pretty simple process. Had a few hiccups through the process, but they gave me the permit about two weeks after I initally applied.”

Common HOA Problems

• Color ◊ Many HOA’s will require that the building matches the colors of your existing house. This can be done either by picking a color from our color chart that matches well, or getting a light colored building. You can then have a local painter come out afterward to make the building the exact color of the house. Be sure to leave our paint on the building, because it will help protect the building and keep it from rusting. Applying extra layers of paint will only enhance the protection of your new building. • Material ◊ Some HOA’s require that the accessory building needs to be the same materials as the house. We have worked with clients in the past who ordered the building without the siding on the walls. The customer then has a local contractor come out who can install stucco, faux brick, or even traditional siding. This is not a complex process, but be sure to talk with a contractor to ensure that the work can be completed.

• Size ◊ Some HOA’s may have different size restrictions when compared to the local permitting officials. It is best to check with both the permit office and your HOA to ensure there will be no problems down the line.