Basic Building Department Guidelines for Everyone:

The role of local building departments is to protect the public by enforcing minimum standards on most construction-related projects, and that work is performed by licensed and/or bonded contractors. These minimum standards are often referred to as the "building code." The building department issues permits, primarily to contractors, and sends municipal inspectors to ensure that hired contractors are performing work that complies with the building code.

Different building departments have different procedures and/or processes, but they all have similar enforcement policies. Each individual property most likely resides in a single building department's jurisdiction. Your BuildFax Property History Report will identify the appropriate building department for a particular property.

When you are unsure if a permit is required for a particular job, a safe rule of thumb when is: when in doubt, contact your local building department. Generally speaking, however, a few good tips to keep in mind are as follows:

  • Permits from the local building department are required any time a project has structural implications, including most foundation work. Examples include:
    • Modifying, altering, or repairing a roofline
    • Additions
    • Decks
    • Moving or altering walls, doorways, windows, etc.
  • Most municipalities have a threshold for which any work that exceeds a set price requires oversight from the building department in the form of a permit. A common threshold that applies in many places is $5000.
  • In regards to standard and high-voltage electrical work, everything short of replacing light bulbs requires a permit. This includes, but is not limited to:
    • Fixture replacement
    • Projects involving any re-wiring
    • Projects involving new wiring (for example: new additions, new appliance installations, etc.)
    • Service upgrades
  • Mechanical work, which generally refers to heating, cooling, and gas, requires permits for any job that installs, alters, or removes piping and duct work associated with: furnaces, air conditioners, gas fireplace logs, clothes dryers, water heaters, etc.
  • Plumbing permits are required any time water or drain piping is moved, installed, altered, etc. General repairs typically do not require permits unless pipes are moved within the walls, foundation, floors, ceiling, roof vents, sewer tap, or septic system.

Again, if in doubt, contact your local building department. Their job is to protect you by enforcing minimum requirements as set forth in your local building codes.