The Porch: Applying for a Building Permit (just because you submit a document doesn’t mean they’ll take it)

A popular bumper sticker seen here (and, I am sure elsewhere):  “Make welfare as hard to get as a building permit.” While this sums up popular opinion, it was not our experience but it is the first thought many of our neighbors have.  Some go so far as to remodel, or in at least one case, build entire houses with no permit. In a neighboring town building inspection was not done until a “fly by night” builder constructed a whole addition in the winter with the snow pack as the foundation.  He sold the property before the snow (foundation) melted. Still, the building permit process is approached by many as worse than a root canal.

We began with no understanding of what was really under the deteriorating porch decking.  The ceiling of the porch was even more of a mystery.  We knew from discussions with some who had worked in this area in the 1970’s that some of the porch had been rebuilt before. We hoped that they had included an acceptable foundation.  Our task was to merge the most recent building code with the need to have an accurate historic restoration.

We had a plan drawn (a copy of which is in the resources section along with the building permit) but we realized that it might have to be modified after we uncovered parts of the deck and ceiling.  The building permit is based on more and more (and some say more, more, more) requirements.  A lot of these requirements make sense.  A deck over thirty inches high requires a hand rail; a hand rail requires protection so that a child cannot get his or her head stuck in between the uprights; all of that would really change the look.  Fortunately, the deck is about 29 inches above the street thus no rail.  A building that is open to the public is subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act.  That would have required a ramp which would have changed the look.  Fortunately there is an appropriate side door at street level with an appropriate 36 inch width that provides the required access; thus no ramp. Windows in bed rooms need to be large enough to provide egress.  Fortunately, the windows met that requirement. In the end the front of the Hotel built over a hundred years ago met today’s code.  That won’t always be the case but it was for us.

The building permit also triggers a number of other reviews.  Is the building served by approved water and septic? Is the roof material that which meets wildfire codes? There is a whole list.  Success again, at least after we had that vacated street added to the historic designation. But then, you begin to uncover the hidden. Our county building inspector was instrumental in helping us make appropriate field modifications.  I will describe that outcome later.

Building permits also cost a fair amount in fees and taxes.  A wonderful benefit of the County grant program is that all of these fees are waived.