Do I Need A Building Permit For That?

The answer in Anne Arundel County is usually yes. If you are doing any type of renovation or alteration to your home, you need to have a building permit filed with the county, and in most cases, you need to hire a licensed professional to perform the work.

This has been the topic among several customers recently, and I felt it was important to share this information because you may have a similar question.

The building permit process is set up to keep homeowners safe and to keep contractors registered so that customers can get their quote, hire a contractor that they choose and like, and have the home inspected by a third-party county official to make sure all of the work is done “to code.”

This is a great system for the most part. It’s important for contractors to communicate with their customers and let them know about the permit process and the additional time constraints and inconveniences that this will bring to a job along with additional costs. Here are two examples:

1. I’m a contractor licensed with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. I’m not allowed to change my gas water heater in my own home. I need to hire a licensed gas plumber, and the work requires a permit.
2. A typical kitchen remodel commonly requires building, electrical and plumbing permits, possibly a separate gas permit, and even a heating, ventilation and air conditioning permit, if something is being moved or relocated. While the costs and fees to the county are minimal, licensed tradesmen will have to file additional paperwork, and most items need to be inspected twice. An initial inspection happens once items are installed or built. A second inspection occurs when the work is completed. On the day of the inspection, a contractor should be onsite to meet with the inspector to go over plans, questions and details. If the inspector checks the plans and looks over the scope of work, they may give a “pass.”

The inspector may require something additional before moving to the next step. Once that work is completed, a reinspection will be done to see if it is satisfactory and then you can move to the next step.

It’s an inconvenience for everyone involved. However, how else would a homeowner, who may not be savvy in the home improvement industry, be able to check the work?

Sometimes that inconvenience goes too far. We were on a recent project and we were asked by an inspector to remove a 4-by-4-foot section of the subfloor that was already screwed down and glued down so they could see the top of the floor joists rather than looking from outside underneath. At that point, the inspection process somewhat jeopardized the final product. Thankfully, everything came together as planned.

Anne Arundel County has some of the strictest energy code laws in the state. This is to an extreme benefit for the customer. R-60 is now required in ceilings, and spray foam is required to go behind new outlet boxes to prevent any drafts coming in by the electrical outlets. Also, for major home renovations, fire sprinklers are being added. These regulations are designed to benefit the homeowner and customer.

For more information on county permits, visit www.aacounty.org. Remember, you can always hire a professional.