A construction permit is required for everything that is not considered an ordinary repair or maintenance. Permits are required for:

• Finishing Basements
• Decks
• Raised Patios
• Swimming Pools
• Renovating Bathrooms & Kitchens
• Water heaters
• Sheds
• Gazebos
• New Electrical Wiring, Service, water heater, boiler, air conditioning or fireplace
• New Plumbing installations  
• Siding
• Roofing
• Rearrange plumbing system
• Install or removal of a fuel tank

NOTE  : This list is not all inclusive. Please contact us with any questions.

What projects do not require a permit?

Ordinary Repairs

No permit, notification or inspection is required for ordinary repair work. The following list is ordinary maintenance and does not require a permit.

Ordinary Building maintenance includes:

• Paint: Exterior and interior painting.

• Interior Finishes: Installation, repair or replacement of any interior finishes of less than 25 percent of the wall area in any given room in a one- or two-family dwelling. This shall include plastering and drywall installation.

• Wall Covering: Vinyl wall covering of any amount is ordinary maintenance. Wall papering at any location.

• Window & Doors: The replacement of glass in any window or door. However, the replacement glass shall be of a type and quality that complies with the minimum requirements of the code;

The installation and replacement of any window or door, including garage doors, in the same opening without altering the dimensions or framing of the original opening. This shall include storm windows and storm doors. The installation and replacement of means of egress and emergency escape windows and doors may be made in the same opening without altering the dimensions or framing of the original opening, and shall not reduce the required height, width or net clear opening of the previous window or door assembly.

• The repair or replacement of any non-structural member such as a partition railing or kitchen cabinet;

• Kitchen & Other Cabinetry: The repair or replacement of any kitchen cabinet.

• Moldings & Trim Work: The repair or replacement of any interior or exterior trim, decoration or moldings;

• Floor Coverings: The replacement or installation of any flooring material with a new material.

• Roofing: The repair of existing roofing material not exceeding 25 percent of the total roof area within any 12 month period.

1. Siding: The repair of existing siding with like material not exceeding 25 percent of the total building exterior wall area within any 12 month period;
2. Screens: The replacement or installation of screens;
3. Insulation: The installation of any roll or batt insulation when installed adjacent to or not more than one and a half inches from an interior finish.
4. Gutters & Leaders: Replacement of exterior rain water gutters and leaders.

Ordinary plumbing maintenance includes:

Hose Bib: Replacement of hose bib valves in single family dwellings. Replacement hose bib valves shall be provided with an approved atmospheric vacuum breaker;

Replacement of ball cocks. Replacement ball cocks must be an approved anti-siphon type;

Repair of leaks involving the replacement of piping between two adjacent joints only.

Clearance of stoppages

Faucets: Replacements of faucets or working parts of faucets;

Valves: Replacement of valves (including shower or combination bath/shower valves in a single family dwelling); Replacements of working parts of valves, including, but not limited to, shower or combination bath/shower valves;

Traps: Replacement of traps except for traps on culinary sinks in food handling establishments;

Fixtures: Replacement of a water closet, and/or lavatory, and/or bathtub or shower unit and/or kitchen sink in a single family dwelling with an approved similar fixture provided that no change in the piping arrangement is made. Replacement water closets bearing a date stamp of July 1, 1991 or later must use an average of 1.6 gallons or less of water per flushing cycle

Appliances: Replacement of domestic clothes washers and dishwashers.

Ordinary electrical maintenance includes:

Fixtures, Switches & Receptacles: The replacement of any receptacle, switch, or lighting fixture rated at 20 amps or less and operating at less than 150 volts to ground with a like or similar item, including receptacles in locations where ground-fault circuit interrupter protection is required.

Equipment: Repairs to any installed electrically operated equipment such as doorbells, communication systems, and any motor operated device. Provided, however, that if fire protection systems are interrupted for repairs the fire official shall be notified in accordance with the building subcode.

1. Communication wiring: Installation of communications wiring for communications wiring in a class 3 structure, provided that the rearrangement does not involve penetration of a fire-rated assembly and is not in a hazardous location as defined in Chapter 5 of the electrical subcode; For the purposes of applying these provisions, communications wiring shall mean any wiring covered by Chapter 8 of the electrical subcode, such as telephone, radio antenna, or coaxial cable TV wiring. Communications wiring shall also include data circuits between computers/information technology equipment, which may be classified as "communications circuits," in accordance with Article 725 of the electrical subcode.
2. Appliances: Replacement of domestic dishwashers
3. Kitchen Range Hoods: Replacement of kitchen range hoods in single family dwellings.

Ordinary fire protection maintenance includes:

Equipment Devices: The replacement of any sprinkler or smoke detector or heat detector head with a like device.

The repair or replacement of any component of a fire alarm or smoke and heat detection equipment (other than the replacement of a fire alarm control panel);

The installation of battery-powered smoke detectors and the installation of battery-powered or plug-in type carbon monoxide alarms.

Ordinary heating, ventilation and air conditioning maintenance includes:

Equipment: Replacement of motors, pumps and fans of the same capacity.

Distribution: Repair and replacement of heating, supply and return piping and radiation elements, which does not require rearrangement of the piping system.

Duct Work: Repair and replacement of duct work

Air Conditioning: Repair of air conditioning equipment and systems

Thermostats: Repair or replacement of control devices for heating and air conditioning equipment; and

Replacement of kitchen range hoods in single family dwellings.

Replacement of clothes dryers serving and located within dwelling units, provided that no change in fuel type or location or electrical characteristics is required.

Replacement of stoves and ovens in dwelling units, provided no change in fuel type or location or electrical characteristics is required.

Back to top