I don’t have any real statistical knowledge, but my educated guess is there have been a lot of building permits pulled since March. With COVID keeping us inside, it seems like the perfect time to finally start those home improvement projects we kept putting off. But what exactly do you need to do if you’re starting a project and what permits do you need?
According to the Manatee County website, “building permits are required for remodeling projects that involve changes to the building’s existing footprint, electrical system or plumbing. Adding new windows to existing walls usually requires a permit.”
Basically, you are likely to need a permit for any project that goes beyond a simple repair or aesthetic upgrade, including adding supporting walls or taking down load-bearing walls; adding an in-ground concrete pool; building a porch or deck and replacing the roof, backyard shed or concrete sidewalks, driveways or slabs. Get it, you just about need a permit for everything.
Most homeowners hire a professional contractor for major renovations and generally, the contractor pulls the permit. Florida law requires contractors to be licensed and hiring an unlicensed contractor is a violation of Florida Statutes. A contractor cannot obtain a license without possessing a minimum amount of experience and must pass a business management test. They are also subject to a criminal history background check and must not have any outstanding unresolved contracting complaints. Manatee County warns that unlicensed contractors can often underbid licensed professionals because they typically are not bonded or insured and frequently do not carry unemployment compensation insurance for their workers.
If you are planning on hiring a contractor, the first thing to do is ask for their license number and a list of references. Verify the license number to ensure their license is active and their insurance is up to date. There are county and state contact numbers available on the county website under Permitting Services. Obviously, references should also be verified, and, of course, the best way to hire a contractor is someone who has satisfactorily done work for a friend or neighbor.
Florida does have a provision where homeowners can act as their own contractors. The exemption specifies that as the owner of the property, you may act as your own contractor with certain restrictions even though you do not have a license.
For those of us who own condominiums, not only do you have to abide by state and county laws, you also have to have the permission of your homeowner’s association – a completely separate thing. Since condo owners have a legally binding agreement with their homeowner’s association, you do need approval for remodels, especially those projects that require municipal permitting.
Since condo associations are concerned with maintaining the property as a whole, the welfare of the entire building takes precedence over your individual rights, particularly when it involves the structural integrity of the building. In addition, condo associations are concerned about noise during the construction project as well as damage to common property involving plumbing and electrical.
Homeowner associations usually require approval for some of the following: Interior or exterior walls, structural floor, ceilings, columns, finish flooring, plumbing, electrical, aesthetic changes to the exterior, especially when window size is involved, and most will also require approval for window replacements.
The good news is that you can paint the interior of your condo and replace moldings, light fixtures and outlets and some other minor improvements without condo permission. But be careful – every condo association has its own set of rules, so better to err on the side of obtaining permission.
Before this pandemic is done, chances are every kitchen, bathroom and home extension in the county will have been touched by a hammer and nails at least once. Know the laws and stay safe.
