Do You Need a Permit for a Gazebo in California?
A building permit is a legal permission to start or renew a building in accordance with signed drawings. In California, there are two factors that determine if a gazebo needs a building permit or not. These factors are; if the gazebo has walls and the size of the gazebo. You should note that these factors depend on each other.
If your gazebo does not have walls, it is considered it is not a building hence a building permit is not required. On the other hand, when your gazebo has walls it will be considered a building, but if it is smaller than 10ft by 10ft then a building permit is not required.
From the above, the conclusion is that a gazebo in California will require a building permit if it has walls and it is larger than 10ft by 10ft.
What Requires a Building Permit in California?
- New residential buildings
- New commercial buildings
- Renovations and commercial additions
- Residential renovations; structural alterations, underground development etc….
- Residential work; decks, patios, garage etc…..
- Gas and plumbing systems
- Electrical systems
- Heating systems, ventilation systems and air conditioning
- Demolitions
- Wood burning places and fireplaces
The Procedure of Getting a Building Permit in California.
Obtaining a building permit in California is a simple process. Just follow the few steps I am going to give you and you will have it in a few weeks.
Step 1: Get the right information
Check in the website of your local town in California and read all of the detailed information about the type of work that requires a permit. You will also check the documents required and the amount to be paid for you to get a valid building permit.
The best way to get information is by calling a person in the construction department to take you through the process.
Step 2: Fill all application document
Prepare your applications by completely filing all the required forms. The first thing they will check in the building department is the completeness of all application documents. Make sure you get all documents that are required to avoid delays of your project.
Step 3: Submit application documents and payment of legal fees
Submit the application documents and pay any required fees. The money you pay is remuneration for the project inspectors and the people reviewing your documents. The amount will depend on the size of the project.
This is a stage that consumes a lot of time, because it takes the inspectors a few weeks before they come to review your property.
They will check the application forms to determine if they comply with local standards and if they do not; they will give you correct instructions. The inspectors give you solid plans on this stage so that when you start your project it is a smooth process.
Step 4: Issue of permit certificate
When the inspectors see that all application documents are in order, they will give you a legal permission (building permit) to start your construction project.
You should note that the building permit has a time frame that is calculated using the cost and size of the project. It is good to start your project immediately when you receive the permit to avoid renewal costs. You should display your permit certificate.
Step 5: Inspections
You must have regular inspections according to your construction steps. Inspections help to prevent mistakes that will cost you in future.
Your contractor is the one responsible for these inspections including the final inspection when the project is completed. If you do not do so, you might have to get a new permit or rebuild some structures to comply with the city’s codes.
Construction Safety Codes in California
A building inspector in California will check to confirm if your plan comply with the following codes;
- California building code
- California plumbing code
- California residential house code
- California electrical code
- California energy code
- California mechanical code
- California green construction
Approval Needed in California
Apart from building permits there are some other approvals from local and state agencies that are required before construction starts. These include;
- Planning department
- Police department
- Health department
- Fire department
- Public works department
- Department of water & power
- Environmental protection agency
Is a Building Permit Worth It?
- Safety
This is the main purpose of having a building permit. It ensures proper standards are followed to the latter so that you and any other occupants of the building are safe from any future accidents or problems during construction.
- Guides you through simple projects
Some simple works like repairs do not require permits but a permit can give you guidance on the best methods of repairing. Using a permit will also give you preventions of similar problems in future.
- Maintains the honesty of your contractor
A building permit will force a contractor to follow all safety measures and finally present a quality project. A permit will also make the contractor have self-control and follow all construction codes even if they are costly.
- It validates your insurance
Your insurance company will not cover or compensate for any injury or mistake during construction if you do not have a building permit. If you have a permit means that you know all of the risks involved during construction.
- It helps to convince a buyer if you are selling your home
It will be easy to sell a home that was renovated with a valid permit. This will tell the buyer that the home is safe to stay in and no repairs are expected in the near future.
Conclusion
Generally, gazebos in California do not require a building permit to construct, but if it has walls it will be deemed to be a building and here a building permit is needed. However, if the gazebo has walls but is smaller than 10 feet by 10 feet a building permit is not required.
