Most people know that a building permit is required before building a new residential or commercial building, but many are surprised to learn that a lot of small jobs also require a building permit.
If you are planning to do more than just paint the side of your residential or commercial building with a new coat of paint, it is wise to determine if the changes or additions you are considering have a visit from the city or building inspector of the district.
Adding a room or garage, installing or building a storage shed or outbuilding, installing or repairing a roof; The installation of fences, swimming pools, panels and sprinkler systems (yes, sprinkler systems!) Is subject to approval. Permits are also required for demolition and excavation; for changes to electrical, sanitary and heating systems as well as for mobile home installations.
Obtaining approval is important for a number of reasons, with health and safety at the top of the list. Inspections carried out during the various construction or remodeling phases help ensure structural integrity is maintained and all mechanical systems meet or exceed minimum operational and safety standards.
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While it is not illegal to buy or sell a property that does not comply with applicable regulations (if it were, brokers would not be able to sell fixer-upper), it is important that all known defects are fully disclosed . In legal circles, full disclosure involves informing the buyer of the possible consequences of purchasing a property without proper authorization.
One of the more serious consequences of purchasing an “approved” property, or failing to obtain approval when one is required, could be to adapt the addition or change to the code. However, doing this can be tedious when items to be tested are hidden in walls or buried under a concrete slab. In the worst case, building authorities can even demand that an illegal construction or renovation be removed or demolished. Ironically, you need a demolition permit before you can start work.
How many permits are issued in our region each month? In the first eight months of this year, the city of Las Cruces issued 6,466 individual permits. 668 of these were for the construction of single-family houses and 75 for the construction of new commercial buildings. The remaining number of permits related to conversions or extensions of residential and commercial buildings, rock walls, roof renewals, repairs of electrical and plumbing systems and many other extensions or changes. The total value of the approved works was $ 234,338,330, according to Las Cruces City records.
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When planning your project, keep in mind that obtaining approval does not automatically make the addition or change lawful. Before this can happen, all applicable inspections must be completed and “logged off” before the work is officially approved.
If you have any questions about whether your project requires permits, contact the Las Cruces Community Development Department at 575-528-3222 (www.las-cruces.org/departments/community-develoment) or Dona County Ana Building Services Division at 575-647-7350 (www.donaanacounty.org/development).
By the way, making friends with your neighbors can be a good idea. According to the city’s building permit, 56 of them had installed new swimming pools by August 31 of this year.
See you when you close!
Gary Sandler is a full-time real estate agent and President of Gary Sandler Inc., Realtors in Las Cruces. He is happy to answer questions and can be reached at 575-642-2292 or [email protected].
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