Why get a building permit?

Many people think that going without a building permit will save them money. But will it really? A building permit is priced according to the scope of work, but it usually doesn't cost more than a few hundred dollars. For example, here in North Bay, a building permit for a carport or a fence is only $190 plus HST. Minimal cost in our opinion.

If fact, going without a permit may end up costing you thousands of dollars in the end. Inspectors will require the job to be torn down and started over if a permit was not obtained. So, not only are you out the original money you paid, but you now must pay to have it torn down and rebuilt. No permit may also lead to angry neighbours as you may wrongly encroach on their property. That being said, having a permit may resolve issues as you are able to prove that you have the city's approval for your project.

Having a building permit gives peace of mind that the job is done correctly with the proper materials. For example, a deck must be built with screws and not nails. If your contractor doesn't know this and uses nails, when inspected, he will be required to redo it with screws (this should be at the contractor's expense since they should have known - it's in the building code). Make sure that your contractor has a building permit before the work is started (yes, make sure you actually see it - it should be hanging in your window while the work is being done).

If your contractor or handyman doesn't want to get, or provide you proof of a permit, then red flags should be raised. What quality of work will they do? Will it be safe? Will it cause liability issues in the future or have to be redone? Are they insured (ask for proof of insurance as well)?

At Ehren Homes Construction, we work closely with city inspectors to make sure the job is done right the first time. We ask questions ahead of time to prevent redoing projects and believe inspectors should be respected as they are just doing their job, which is keeping the public safe. If you want quality work, built to code, at reasonable prices, contact us for a free quote today!