Permitting

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 map  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.

Land Prep

Understanding Your Building

When looking at the diagrams on the following pages, it is important to remember that our dimensions go width by length. The width end of the building would be the side with the gable end. Saying the “front” of the building can be tricky. Some buildings have the “front” as the width end and other’s have the “front” as the length side. When deciding where to put the slab, it is important to take into account what way you want the building to face.

The base rail is arguably the most important component of your building. It is the piece that will sit on and be anchored to the concrete. As you can see below, the base rail will go around the perimeter of your building, except where there are garage doors. Understanding how our buildings are constructed will surely lead to a smooth and successful project.

Gable End

Width

Gable End

End Entry

Side Entry

Length

Width Length

When pouring the concrete pad, it is imperitave to make sure the building will be facing the correct way. This will help make sure that the install process goes smootly, and you will have a buidling that looks great on your property.