MORRIS AND JAMES CAREY \ On the House Seeking out help is a good method for getting permit

One of the ways we are able to keep our hands on the heartbeat of the remodeling industry is through ownership of our own honest-to-goodness remodeling company. In that capacity we get to experience -- firsthand -- changes in trends, new laws and what it all costs.
Recently, we spent the entire day standing in line at our county building department. We had applied for approval to do a bath remodel for one client and we were trying to finalize the details on a small room addition for another.
Getting the official OK to build a couple of projects is no easy task even when you know what you are doing. For a novice, it can be threatening, confusing and an unbearably scary experience.
Here's some advice to prepare you for that time when you will be applying for your own remodel or room addition permit.
First, we want to make it very clear that we strongly believe in the building permit process and we always have. All of the rules, laws and ordinances that must be complied with are there for everyone's health and welfare. Too many homeowners are motivated by money rather their own safety and welfare, let alone that of their neighbors.
The biggest problem you will have to overcome is being an outsider. Building departments are most often frequented by architects, designers, builders, engineers, remodelers and a whole host of other building professionals. These folks are all very familiar with the permit application process, which can "spoil" the people who work behind the counters.
First and foremost, you must let everyone there know that you "don't know" what you are doing and that you need their help. Keep in mind that the folks who work in the building department cannot act as consultants, but they can be helpful in providing you with copies of the standard application forms and can outline what you must provide in order for your project to comply.
There are three major divisions within most community development departments: planning, engineering and building. Each of these departments performs a unique and important function.
Departments' purposes
The planning department manages zoning: minimum lot size, how much of the lot can be covered by a building, whether dwellings can be single or multi-family, clearances between the building and the street, side yards and rear yard, how the finished product must look and in some instances, what exterior colors can be used. In some zones, the planning department can require you to landscape the property in a certain way -- front yard and rear. Even the type of garage door can be controlled by the planning department.
The engineering department takes care of things like streets and roads, street signs and stop lights, sidewalk and curb and gutter, storm drainage, street landscaping, lot drainage and other lot and street issues.
The building department controls actual construction issues such as framing, electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation. Where the planning department may ask you to place a window in a wall to improve the exterior appearance of a building, the building department is concerned about whether you will be able to get out of it in the event of a fire.
By the same token, the building department may require that you provide underground drainage for your downspouts and the engineering department will require you to pipe the drainage to the gutter by traveling under the sidewalk rather than running drain water over the sidewalk. Not conflicts, just different areas of responsibility.
Again, here's how you make it through. Admit you are a novice and ask for help. You may get a tiny bit of resistance at first, but remain open-minded and continue to express your desire to build a good project within the community. Maintain that this is your first time and that you will probably only do this once and that you want to do it correctly -- you and your family and all of your neighbors will benefit from the good that can be done via a proper building permit.
The folks at community development are there for the good of the community. When they realize that you respect that fact, you will make a friend and your task will be halved.
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