We all know that bathroom makeovers are fun and exciting. That’s why most homeowners start out with a vision board or an overflowing Pinterest board.
You might also be one of those people who makes weekend trips to the local tile shop to see what is new and you just can’t get enough of their fixture showroom.
This is all good and well but you should also keep in mind other aspects of the bathroom remodel project that aren’t as fun, such as any permits that you might require.
While you may not need a permit if your bathroom space or location doesn’t require it, it’s worth looking into. This is especially important if your bathroom remodel affects structural components such as electrical and plumbing projects.
For best results, you should take care of permits before you break ground on your project. Otherwise, you might end up having to upend all of that work if your local regulators find out that your work is not up to code after the fact.
That’s why it’s helpful to enlist the services of an experienced real estate expert to help you understand and comply with these permit laws. Read on to find out what these and other pros say about the subject.
Residential Permit Rules Depend on Your City
A residential permit is a written document from your local government, essentially allowing you to continue working on your renovation, whether it’s a small bathroom remodel or a tub to shower conversion.
These permits were created to protect your home and make sure that you don’t do anything during the course of the remodel that might damage the structure of your property in the future.
Each city or county has its own permit rules, in the same way that land-use laws and building codes are also determined at a local level.
The good news is that an experienced contractor will take care of this part of the process for you. However, you should always do your due diligence to make sure that they’ll be applying and paying for the permit. You don’t want to leave anything to chance.
However, if you’re doing the bathroom remodel yourself, here’s what you need to know about permits:
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Check the website of your local or regional government and see if there’s any information about permits. If you can’t see anything, give them a call and let them know what your plans are to find out if a permit is required.
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If a permit is required, make sure to provide enough information about your project as possible.
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Pay for the permit fee which will depend on the scope of your project as well as your location. Approval might take anything from a few days to several weeks, depending on the bathroom remodel cost and complexity.
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You’ll then get a notification that your permit has been approved. You should put this up on your window throughout the course of your remodel process.
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An inspector might be dispatched to check on your project every now and then.
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Your project must get approval from the inspector so that you can have peace of mind knowing that your project is now complete.
Conclusion
Just because your bathroom renovation cost is low and you’re doing the remodel yourself doesn’t mean that a permit won’t be required. What determines whether or not you’ll need a permit is the complexity of the project.
Some projects seem easy at first glance but there might be certain aspects of the remodel that you don’t realize are complex and require a permit. However, it’s important to get a permit just to be on the safe side.
Ready to start your bathroom remodeling project? Contact a local pro and request a free quote!
