When you buy a home, did you know that you might have inherited some building code violations with it? Building permits are necessary when you are doing major changes to your home, but some homeowners might not have bothered with this, and when you purchase the home, they are now your responsibility.
If you are about to make a major remodel or addition to your home, a good first step is to check whether or not you need a permit to complete it. Your contractor is a good resource when it comes to this since they most likely have experience with this. In fact, they could even apply for the permits for you. That could save you a lot of headaches.
You obtain building permits by visiting your local building department. Usually, you will be able to get the information on when permits are needed and when they are not at that location, so that can help you find out the facts before you start your build.