building permit questions

Kmac15 · #1 08/29/10, 08:09 PM

We have never built anything that needed a permit before so I am starting from ignorance

We are having a pole running shed built, just a pole barn with no walls. The company that is building it is new to our area, they have built plenty in the neighboring state.

There was nothing on the web site on what would be required, all it address was mobile home requirements and the need for a septic tank for any toilet.

I called the permit office and was told that with no walls, I needed a permit just for the cement slab. When I went to get the paper work I was told nope, I needed a permit for the building not the slab.
When I asked what the price would be she told me she couldn't tell me until the paperwork was reviewed? The paperwork needed includes a drawing of the building and a copy of the contract.

So, what do permits normally run?
Do they normally change what the requirements are with each person you talk with?
Why do they need a copy of my contract? Not happy with them knowing what kind of deal I cut with a private company.

Do I need some kind of inspection? Every thing will be open, it's not like anything will be behind walls.

We want to do everything required just not sure what that is going to involve.

coup · #2 08/29/10, 08:24 PM

i would ask a neighbor or to if they would get permit or not.......i would probably just build and say i was given the run around.

plowjockey · #3 08/29/10, 09:19 PM

Because you are forced to deal with bureaucrats, does not mean that they know what they are talking about. Speak to the head honcho and get the requirements in writing.

If you have any structure with a supporting roof, I could see no reason that it WOULD NOT need an inspection, to ensure it is propery built. More important than any slab, IMO. The walls have nothing to do with it.

If the permit process is required and you "skip" it, do so at your own peril. If you get caught, you could face huge fines, or even have the buildng town down at your expense. Playing "dumb', probably won't help.

If they want to see the contract, it may be to ensure thay have workmans comp, or to figure tax assessment, which goes hand-in-hand with building permits.

If you have to play the permit game, play it to win. It stinks otherwise.

silverbackMP · #4 08/29/10, 10:14 PM

Why you need any of that is beyond me--especially for a pole barn. Two chimpanzees armed with a circular saw and a couple of hammers can put up a pole barn especially if using purchased trusses. Thank god most of Missouri is (at least for now) inspection free.

mountainlaurel · #5 08/30/10, 05:25 AM

You personally go in to the permits office and show them a drawing, even if it's one you drew yourself. Have them decide what they want. This is if you want to avoid future problems.

If you don't care, build it but that's like playing Russian Roulette. I had a building on my farm in WV, that had already been passed by Allegheny Power. It stood on that farm seven years. I decided to move it to my place in Md when I sold that farm. The county in Md wanted me to strip the inside of the building so they could check the wiring. I decided to leave it on my other farm in WV. It wasn't worth the hassle. So I played their game and lost it. But I haven't been hassled by the inspectors for that building and I have for other ones and I've had to go to court because one building inspector told us we would never build a pole barn on our property and we did and he just happened to be out on leave when we got it inspected. He didn't like that and he caused us major problems. But we had done the right thing in the begining so it all worked out in the end.

swollen tongue · #6 08/30/10, 04:25 PM

don't get on the wrong side of a building inspector............usually they will work with you and it is really simple to do it the right way..........permit here for house and barn cost $280. in 2005............good luck!

Micheal · #7 08/30/10, 04:31 PM

May I ask - Why are you doing the permit chasing?
Any work that I've ever had "contracted" it was up to the "builder" to insure that all is legal and above board, not the purchaser....... Being new in the state shouldn't forgo their responsiblities to do things legally.......

Kmac15 · #8 08/30/10, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micheal

May I ask - Why are you doing the permit chasing?
Any work that I've ever had "contracted" it was up to the "builder" to insure that all is legal and above board, not the purchaser....... Being new in the state shouldn't forgo their responsiblities to do things legally.......

I told you I was new at this LOL, he told us the permits were up to us. Even said if we didn't want to go the permit route that, since we were the ones that would pay the fines, it was up to us.
The permit office asked if we were doing it ourselves or using a contractor, so people getting their own permits must not be out of the ordinary.

fransean · #9 08/30/10, 05:27 PM

We are pulling the permits here, and there seems to be a permit for everything!
It is ultimately your responsibility to make sure that permits are in place or it will be you paying the fines or cost to deconstruct.

plowjockey · #10 08/30/10, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverbackMP

Why you need any of that is beyond me--especially for a pole barn. Two chimpanzees armed with a circular saw and a couple of hammers can put up a pole barn especially if using purchased trusses. Thank god most of Missouri is (at least for now) inspection free.

Trusses spaced too far apart, or not fastened correctly. Poles not properly set. No cross bracing. They sure can, come tumbling down.

Not all chimps know how to properly construct.

rambler · #11 08/31/10, 07:27 AM

The county folks want to collect the taxes on the structure, so need to put a value on it, so need to know what it cost, how it's constructed.

They want it to conform to the local rules of xonstruction. Electrical, wind load, setbacks from neighbors, roads, etc.

_In general_ they like new buildings so if you walk in with the a smile and answer questions, they want to see you go ahead with a new project. It means more taxes for them.

Once in a while you run into the self-important jerk, but that actually is rare in the permit office.

Now, the inspections office, which may be closely related to, but is not always needed or a part of the permit office - there you run into people that have a lot of self-importance & can have a big ego.

Permits generally are not very difficult. 'Here' the landowner gets them, not the builder. If you build without one, the fee is automatically doubled to get one after the fact, and the inspections & making things conform will be very difficult on you. They decided they didn't like people ignoring the permit process, and you really really don't want ot build first, ask forgiveness later. That goes badly 'here'.

In govt, it is common to get 2 different aanswers to questions - like permiting the slab or the building. People in govt are given their little area to deal with, and rarely know the whole picture. You need to talk to someone who has been there a while, then you will get a real answer. Talking to the new people, or the dept one removed from who you actually needed to see because of a lunch break, sick day, etc. typically gets you a wrong answer.

That's just how govt is. Play the game, or fight it tooth & nail - you get to the same end, one way is less stressful.

--->Paul

Kmac15 · #12 08/31/10, 04:20 PM

Well, we got it

and it only cost us $80.

we were told by one person it would take 2 weeks, next person told us 2 days....We had a question the counter person couldn't answer, so she called the inspector over to answer for us, he and DH started talking about submarines they each had been on and WOW asked us if we wanted to wait a few minutes while he went in back to get the stamps....we walked out with the permit.