Homeowners often wonder what kinds of building projects require permits and while every city can be a little different, below is a general list. Remember, it is always best to contact your city directly to get up to date code requirements.

• Adding a room
• Building, tearing down, or moving a garage, shed, or car port
• Cutting new windows, or door openings, or widening existing openings
• Adding, moving, or taking out walls
• Building retaining walls
• Remodeling that involves moving existing plumbing
• Re roofing when a complete tear off or resheathing is required
• Adding stairways
• Building raised decks
• Installing fans, exhausts, vents, or appliances that must be vented
• Installing or changing permanent electrical devices or wiring, including conversion from fuse box to circuit breakers
• New plumbing installations

Always make sure that your General Contractor is aware of the local codes and that he or she obtains the necessary permits and inspections that are required.  Building without permits is not only a safety hazard, it can greatly compromise your home's resale value.