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Approval: Before a building permit can be issued it must be approved by zoning and the plans examiner.
Approved Lot: A building site which has already gone through the development
process, including dedication of roads, installation of improvements such as
curb, gutter and sidewalk and utilities, payment of impact fees, recording
of plats, etc. Such a lot can usually obtain zoning approval over the counter.
Building Codes: A voluminous code regulating the construction of buildings
to assure their safety for the intended purpose. These codes include the International
Building Code (IBC), the International Mechanical Code, the International Plumbing
Code with amendments, the National Electrical Code (NEC), and the Model Energy
Code. These codes are adopted by the state, and apply in all jurisdictions.
Building Permit: A document that gives you permission to construct whatever
is shown on your approved plans. A permit expires if you don't start work within
6 months of issuance, or if you don't call for inspections for a period of
over 6 months to verify that you are working on it.
Clearview: Refers to prohibiting visual barriers on corner lots that would
restrict the vision for motorists on the intersecting streets.
Code Conformance: The plans examiner reviews plans for conformance to the
building code. This will include smoke detectors, egress windows, location
on the property, stairs structural adequacy both for vertical loads (such as
wind or earthquake), and much more. If code deficiencies are found on the plan,
our plans examiner will be happy to help you understand the requirement and
how it can be met.
Inspections: Once you begin work, you are required to call for inspections
so that the inspector can verify that the work you are doing complies with
the approved plans and code requirements. Rule 1: Don't cover any work before
you have approval of the inspector; Rule 2: Don't deviate from the approved
plan. Usually you will call for inspections of: Footings, before you pour concrete;
foundations, before you pour concrete; underground plumbing; rough plumbing,
electrical, and mechanical; rough framing; insulation; and a final inspection.
Not all apply to every permit, and some construction may require other inspections;
ask to be sure.
Permit Fees: There are several fees related to building permits that are intended
generally to cover the cost of plan review and inspection services. They are:
Plan review fee, which is 40% for residential and 65% for commercial of the building permit fee; permit
fee, which is usually about one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) of the total value of the work being done;
and a state surcharge, 1% of the permit fee.
Plan Check: The process of reviewing plans for compliance with all codes. For complicated plans, such as a new home, or adding a second story,
etc., the process can take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks,
depending on the backlog.
Plans: Each building permit requires the submittal of two identical sets of
plans-one to be kept at the job site for use by the builder and the field inspector,
the other to be kept in the county office. While these plans don’t always need
to be professionally prepared, they should be "drawn to scale, on substantial
paper and shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature,
and extent of the proposed work." The plans should be clear enough that any
builder could build what you desire without further information from you.
Plans Examiner: A county employee trained to review plans for, and answer
questions regarding, compliance with the building codes.
Sideyards and Setbacks: The land use ordinance requires that buildings be
placed a certain minimum distance from the street, or from the side or rear
property lines. These vary from zone to zone, and it even depends on the building.
You will need to inquire for your particular case. In some rare instances,
the building code may have a more restrictive requirement than the zoning ordinance.
The plans examiners can make that determination.
Site Plan: A drawing that depicts an aerial view of a piece of property, showing
property lines, existing buildings, topography, and proposed buildings. On
steep lots a certified topography prepared by a licensed land surveyor may
be required. A site plan is required anytime you are constructing something
that will change the amount of land that is covered by structures.
Time to Obtain Permit: Simple permits can usually be obtained over the counter-about
30 minutes or so, not including any lines you might have to wait in. If the
plans must be logged in*, the time might be a few days to a couple of weeks,
plus the time you take to make corrections.
Unimproved Land: This is land which has never gone through the development
process, and requires planning commission approval, payment of impact and other
fees, installation of required improvements, engineering and recording of plats,
etc. This process involves anywhere from 2 months to a year in order to obtain
approval to issue a building permit.
Zoning Ordinance: The county ordinances regulating land use, including location
on property, height, use of building, etc.
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