Permits made plain
What the building department may ask for
Not every job needs a permit, and every office differs. This is the usual list when one is needed.
A site plan
A simple drawing of the house, the property line, the washer or downspouts and where the water will go.
A sketch of the system
Pipe, valves, basins or tank, labeled and drawn to a scale the reviewer can read.
Details of what feeds it
Which drains connect, the washer model, and the roof area for a rain system.
Soil and slope notes
How fast water soaks in, and how far the basins sit from the house and the lot line.
Our contractor license
Our license number goes on the application, and you can look it up on the state board’s site.
The fee
Set by the office. We list it on your estimate and pay it when we file.
Who does what
What we handle and what stays with you
| You do | We do | |
|---|---|---|
| Finding out the rules | You doTell us your address and what you want to do | We doSinead contacts your building department |
| Drawings | You doCheck that the house and yard are drawn right | We doKenyatta draws the site plan and the system |
| Application | You doSign where we flag it | We doWe prepare and file it |
| Reviewer questions | You doApprove any change to the price in writing | We doWe answer them and tell you what changed |
| Inspection | You doBe home or leave access | We doJoshua meets the inspector on site |
Questions
Permit questions
How long does a permit take?
It depends on the office and how busy it is. We tell you the current wait when we file, and we do not start digging before the permit issues.
What if the office says no permit is needed?
Then we write that into your estimate, with the name of the person who told us, and carry on.
Can I file it myself?
In many places an owner can. We are happy to hand you the drawings and let you, and we will say so in the estimate.
What if the inspector wants a change?
We make it and tell you the cost in writing before we go on.
Does a rain barrel need a permit?
Often not. It depends on your office, so we ask.
Let Sinead check your address
Send us the address and the project, and we will find out what your office wants.