Permits

What is a building permit?

A building permit gives you legal permission to begin construction of a building project in accordance with the approved drawings and specifications you submitted to your town. It ensures that your building project meets minimum construction, safety, fire, and zoning requirements established by the town and State building code. Generally, building permits are reviewed by your building, zoning and health departments.

 Is a permit necessary?

In most towns, a building permit will be necessary for any type of permanent building structure. In addition, property insurers may not cover work done without proper permits and inspections.

 When should I apply for a permit?

It is best to contact your town building department as early in the process as possible to find out exactly what you’ll need to obtain a permit for your specific project.

 What will I need to obtain a permit?

The town building, zoning and health departments will want a full set of engineered blueprints for the project. Also, you will be asked to fill out paperwork asking about the description of the project and its use, building size and height, an existing plot plan with required data (e.g., well location, septic tank and leach field location, existing structures), among other important data that needs to be taken into consideration..

 What does a permit cost?

Each town may have a different fee schedule for permits. You should call your town building department or visit their web site to find out what your specific fee will be.

 What happens once I am approved for a building permit?

Once a building permit is approved, you are given a “permit card” and a signed building permit. This permit card needs to be displayed at the construction site.
 Whose responsibility is it to see that the building code is followed?
The contractor you hire to complete your project is responsible for compliance with the state building code. They should be licensed by the state to perform the work for your project.

 How long does it take to be approved for a building permit?

Average turn around time for a permit for a project like a garage or horse barn is about 2-3 weeks. It is generally wise to apply for a building permit as soon as possible to give the town sufficient time to review the plans.

Does a permit expire?

Typically permits expire if work authorized by the permit is not commenced within 6 months of final approval.

 What do you mean by engineered plans?

By having engineered plans, you are assured that your plan is structurally sound and will meet all local requirements. An engineer only signs off on a plan if this is indeed the case. At The Barn Yard & Great Country Garages our plans have been reviewed by our licensed engineer and have been analyzed for structural soundness and code compliance.

Can I make changes to my project once a permit has been issued?

It really depends on the significance of the change and whether the building department agrees or not. If the change is minor the building department might just accept the change without any further questions. If changes are more significant, however, they may require further review by the engineer. In most cases, there are costs associated with additional work. Generally, the most cost effective approach is to modify the plans upfront and have no changes in the field. Field changes generally add time and extra cost to your construction project. The Barn Yard & Great Country Garages will provide you with 2 sets of fully engineered plans.

When you choose us to build your project you can rest assured that we have over 2 decades of experience and are familiar with the building codes in the Northeast We are here to work with you and make sure your project runs smoothly from beginning to end.

Questions? Feel free to contact us today for a complimentary consultation or visit one of their 3 convenient Connecticut locations in Ellington, Windsor Locks and Brookfield.
 

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