After selecting a builder for your home, he or she will start by ordering materials and securing all the required permits to include the building permit. The way it works is that local governments provide these permits to builders. If your new home will be built within the city limits, the city would do the issuing whereas if your new home will be in the county, the permit would come from the county.
In addition to building permits, your builder will be required to obtain permits for plumbing, electrical, and other factors of the new home. The nice thing about using a builder is that they know exactly the documentation needed to obtain these permits. However, if you were building your own home, then you would be responsible for finding out the requirements. As you can imagine, the builder does a tremendous amount of work for you.
As a part of the building code, the builder will have strict guidelines to follow when putting your home together. These permits are designed to protect you both. Then after the home is complete, the builder’s work will be inspected against these codes. If things are done right, you get the keys at closing and are on your way to being a happy homeowner. However, if the builder’s workmanship were not up to code, he or she would have to redo what is wrong until it is.
Typically, the amount of time required to get a building permit varies. For instance, things that would the time would include the location of the building, the size of the home, the price of the home, and the level of complexity involved in building. Keep in mind that while some processes can be difficult, many cities and counties are trying to streamline things to make them easier.
Remember, if a building permit is not secured when one is required, the law is actually being broken. In fact, if building officials were to find a permit were not in place, a stop work order could be issued. This means if the work continues then you could find yourself fined, as well as sitting with a half-finished home. You can see why building codes and the understanding of them is so critical.