Whether you are
planning to sell your home or not, or have recently purchased a new one, or if
you have plans to make any changes to your property, you may need to acquire a building permit. There are different parameters
and requirements to follow when it comes to making changes to your home. If you
are planning to sell in the near future and you have work to be done, you will
want to make sure all permits are on file to provide at the time of disclosure.
So how do you know what you need a permit for? A great place to begin is with
the county website, such as in Monroe County
for the Keys. Often building guidelines are handled at the county level, but
there are some special situations to take note of here in the Keys.
If you plan some renovations
which are not considered structural,
such as installing new flooring or painting, you may not need a permit at all.
If you live in Islamorada or Marathon
for example, if the work planned is less
than $2,500 no permit is needed, but if you go over that threshold you do
need to get a permit regardless of the work you have done. In Key West the maximum is $1,000. If you live in the Historical District of Key West, there
is an additional step you are required to take before you make any exterior
changes. Homeowners are required to get approval for exterior improvements and
repairs from the Historical Architecture Review Commission (HARC).
If your home
renovations include alterations to the electrical,
mechanical aspects, plumbing, roof, or any project which impacts the structural
make of your home, a permit is required. No matter where you live in the Keys, if you
plan to build a fence on your
property, a permit is also required. There are specific limitations to keep in
mind, such as height maximums. A recent survey of your property needs to be
included also to ensure you are building on your property, not your neighbor’s.
These types of projects require permits
regardless of the cost. Whatever project you have in mind, be sure to
consider the time it will take to obtain your permits. Larger remodeling
projects, such as building an addition to your home, will need to be approved
by state or federal agencies also.
It is recommended that you work with a city
planner or architect in this process. You want to be sure you have all the
required permits before the work gets underway to avoid any fines or bigger
issues later.
When you do apply for a
permit, if you are doing the work on
your own, you can get the permit directly. But take note, if you will have
others helping you with the work you must attest that they will be doing so, directly supervising any laborers you
bring in to assist, and that it is for personal
use. If you hire a contractor, they must
be licensed and it is your right to ask to see proof of licensing. When you
work with a contractor, permits are issued to them directly on your behalf. If you are getting work
done in preparation to sell your home, all work must be completed and permits filed as closed. A transfer of property
cannot be done if there are open permits which indicate a project is not done.
If there is non-permitted work done
on your home, as the homeowner, you may be required to return the property back
to the condition it was in previously and you can also lose your insurance. It
is far better to seek the proper permits and get work done through the proper channels
else you could see a lot more money out of your pocket.
No matter the reason for home improvements, your
project will go much better if you take some time to determine what, if any,
permits are required. Improvements often add value to a home, having them done
correctly will give you greater peace of mind and help you reap all the rewards
in the future. If you’re ready to sell or buy a home in the Key West
area, please contact me, JimmyLane, for all of your real estate needs.
Labels: Building Permits, HARC, jimmy lane, Monroe County
