The (Not So) Secret Code of Home Improvement

The quick-and-dirty on why you need a building permit

By Eric Knight 

The time has finally come! Remember that deck you were planning to build this past spring? You know, the one you painstakingly planned all winter long, spending countless hours researching designs, materials and the perfect location to mount that antique bottle opener? Or perhaps it’s an outdoor kitchen, a pergola or a new workshop/shed/greenhouse/man cave/princess palace? Well, spring is now a distant memory, summer is almost over, fall is near and you are finally headed to the lumber yard to pick up the materials. It’s time to GRIP-AND-RIP!

Creative Commons - Benjamin Chun

Not so fast! Holster that hammer, sequester that circular saw, and take a deep breath partner… there’s something you’re forgetting and I’m not talking about extra nails, your tape measure, safety glasses, or cold beverages (although these are most definitely necessities for tackling any home improvement project). I’m talking about the necessary permits from your local Building and Zoning Department. “But why!?!?” you ask. All you’re doing is building something on your own property, right? Well honestly, there are myriad reasons and hundreds of thousands of pages written on this subject that we could discuss. But you don’t have that kind of time on your hands, after all you’ve got something to build! So, here’s the quick-and-dirty on why you need a building permit.

Will Scullin

Safety
Building codes, at their base, exist to create the safest environment possible for you, your family, and the general public. In most cases they are essentially an outline of best practices for construction. In terms of that deck you’re building, the code makes sure the final product will hold up to the crowd of people standing on it during that awesome cookout you’ll be throwing to celebrate its completion. I surely want that thing to be build to code because I’ll be standing on it… because you’re inviting me, right? Or, if it’s the shed you’re building, the code will help make sure it doesn’t wind up on your neighbor’s roof in the next big storm that blows through.

Insurance
What on earth am I talking about here? Insurance, seriously? Yes, insurance…seriously. Homeowner’s policies are awesome to have—they make sure you and your home will be made whole in the event of catastrophic damage or if someone has an accident on your property. That said, as great as insurance companies can be at fixing things, they certainly don’t want to spend any additional money on your repairs. What does this have to do with permitting your project? EVERYTHING! Let’s get back to that awesome cookout you’re throwing—your deck is full of people having a great time dancing, moving, shaking, and all of a sudden everyone’s favorite song comes over the speakers. Things go into full party mode and all of a sudden the bottom falls out—literally. Luckily no one is hurt, but your deck on the other hand—it’s more like a patio now. So, you give your trusty insurance company a call in hopes of having it rebuilt at their expense. The very first thing the insurer will do once you file your claim is check to see if the necessary permits were pulled when the deck was built. Needless to say, they aren’t going to cover your deck if it wasn’t permitted.

Resale
This is really where the rubber meets the road in the Real Estate industry. In North Carolina it is considered a material fact if any work on a house requiring permits has been performed without proper approval. There’s even a line item in our Residential Property Disclosure Statement requiring a seller to disclose any knowledge of work done without the proper permits. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have permits on any work done on your home that would require them if you plan on selling your home in the future. Don’t fool yourself into thinking no one is going to find out. I can tell you I (as any prudent and savvy agent should) always check for proper permits on any house a buyer client of mine is interested in.

Simopala

In fact, I was representing a buyer in the purchase of a house with a non-permitted addition earlier this year. The seller had to pull permits after the fact and address any issues that arose. It was very stressful for my buyer, even more stressful for the seller, and almost ruined the deal. Lucky for us everything was taken care of and my client has the house of her dreams now—and it’s all legal! BUT, it could have easily gone a different direction. There have been plenty cases in the past where structures were ordered to be partially or completely torn down due to being built inappropriately and without the proper permits.

Ok, I know you get the point I’m trying to make here. Moral to the story, obtain all the necessary permits before you start your next project. If you’re unsure whether something you’re about to do requires permitting, make a quick call to your local permit department and ask. If they’re anything like my local permit office, then the folks are extremely nice and willing to help in any way they can.

Happy building, I’m looking forward to the cookout!

Eric Knight is a native Wilmingtonian whose family of builders, developers and real estate professionals has called Wilmington home for many generations. He is a graduate of New Hanover High School and North Carolina State University. 

To learn more about the building codes in your area, contact your Nest Broker.

Photo credits from top: RedagainPatti, Benjamin Chun, Will Scullin, and Simopala, Creative Commons
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