The fact is that the building industry does require a certain amount of office hours — it’s not all about beginning work on a residential unit or a commercial one, and it’s not all physical labor. There is some bureaucracy involved, as any experienced contractor will tell you. But at the same time, there’s a reason why this exists; you can’t just begin building without the right permits, and for that matter with all the proper papers signed and notarized as need be. This system prevents certain violations and illegalities from occurring, and keeps everyone involved happy. With that being said, building permits can be a bit difficult to understand at first. While the need for a residential building permit, for example, can be frustrating to some, having a permit can actually expedite the process rather than slowing it down — if you know what you’re doing. This is why many seek out professional permit help. Permit help can make the process much simpler, and let you focus on what you do best. It’s true that the permit process can get tedious, but it doesn’t have to if you use permit services.

What Types Of Projects Need Permits?

While many think that only commercial building projects require permits, this is hardly the case. Residential building permits are very real things, and they can definitely seem complicated — in other words, they aren’t something you can just look over and request, and would require permit help like any other permits. Renovation projects can certainly require permits, and this where it gets tricky for many contractors and homeowners alike. There is a pretty big demand for renovations and remodeling services — in fact, it’s estimated that 40% of homeowners over five major centers plan on renovating this year. At 31%, the most popular type of renovation simply involved remodeling a room. When a renovation seems this simple, it can be hard to understand why a permit is needed — but needed it may be. For both the contractor and the homeowner’s benefit, permit help should be sought to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible, and that a relatively quick renovation can stay quick.

What Is The ICC?

If you’re seeking permit help, you’ll probably become familiar with the ICC sooner or later. The International Code Council, founded in 1994, is essentially what is responsible for the I-Codes. The ICC was founded by three regionally-based model code organizations. These were the Building Officials and Code Administration, or BOCA, the International Conference of Building Officials or ICBO, and the Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc., or SBCCI. Every three years, the ICC’s editions are updated. They comprise a set of 15 integrated, topical, geographically specific model codes. This includes the International Building Code, the International Residence Code, and the International Existing Building Codes. All of these codes could very well be, at least in part, why you’re going to need the permit that you’re seeking. Certainly, they’re things that you’ll want to acquaint yourself with when seeking a permit.

What Do These Codes Require?

Why you’re seeking a permit will depend on where you’re working and what you want to do. Let’s look at what Chicago requires. If a building has three or fewer dwelling units in Chicago, does not exceed three stories in height, and is not a mixed occupancy building, a permit will not be required for any minor repairs. Otherwise, a permit is necessary. In the same city, it’s also illegal to construct a fence more than five feet in height, or for that matter a solid fence of any height that is visible from a public street on a property containing a Chicago landmark without first obtaining a permit from the building commissioner. This isn’t some issue that is only found in Chicago, however. It’s believed that over 98% of residential homes are constructed in permit-issuing places. Therefore, if you aren’t familiar with how the permit process works — seek help as soon as possible.