There are cases where your home already requires renovations and repairs due to the wear it has caused over time. You may also want to upgrade your home to ensure that its value still matches the other properties on the market. You can use the services of professionals to do your home project, or you can try doing everything yourself.
With regard to the latter, however, you need to take additional precautions as approval is required for certain renovation projects. Some of them are listed below.
Plumbing
Before starting a plumbing project for your home, make sure to look for local buildings or plumbing codes to determine if your project requires approval or not. As a rule, diversions, drain pipes and replacement of sewers as well as the relocation of existing pipelines to a different location require a permit, since these are considered to be major tasks that can affect not only your home but also other houses that share the same pipes as. In this case, it is best to let the professionals handle these types of projects.
Electrical improvements
No approval is required for simple electrical work such as replacing a broken socket or installing a new device. However, approval is likely to be required for larger tasks that are better done by experienced electricians. For example, if you expand your space by adding a new space, new electrical installations are required. This is a significant project that requires not only approval but also an inspector to ensure that wires and sockets do not pose unnecessary hazards.
Water heater installations
Some homes do not have a water heater if they are for sale in the market. If you ask yourself the question, "Can a homeowner install a water heater without getting a permit?" Then you can find that the answer is NO. This is because a water heater installation includes both plumbing and electrical work that requires approval to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Set up fences
Not all fence work requires approval. Under certain conditions, you can determine whether one is required for the fence project you are performing. For example, you don't need permission to install a privacy fence in your garden, but you may need one if the fence you want to install is more than two meters high.
Siding projects
A siding or wall covering serves as the first line of defense for your home against harmful external elements such as extreme weather conditions. However, if you install or replace a siding, you may need to get approval beforehand. Official approval ensures that your project comes out as structurally sound and inhabitable.
New window placement
Permission is not required for all window work. For example, if you only replace the window sash or the moving parts, you do not need approval. However, if you intend to install a larger window that will require you to cut a larger hole in the wall of your house, you will most likely need a permit. The reason for this is that you are making a structural change in your walls.
Total project costs
Some states or municipalities require approval for renovation or construction work that costs more than a certain amount. Typically, the bar is around $ 5,000. If your renovation project reaches or exceeds this value, you will need to obtain approval. You may be able to apply for one from your local administrative unit.
Installation, electrical improvements, and water heater installation may require approval before proceeding with the project. In the same way, it is a good idea to check your jurisdiction to determine if approval is required if you plan to erect a fence or implement a siding project, and to place new windows in your home. There are also cases when you need approval if your home renovation project exceeds a certain amount. So make sure that you make additional efforts to research the permits you may need before starting a home improvement project.
