I did my research on what permits do we need for any home improvement projects we do in our home. Here is a great homeowner's guide, tbits and pieces that I have compiled, that we can all use for the safety of our home and our family,as we tackle major and minor home improvements.
Excerpt From: A HOMEOWNER’S GUIDE
City Of Las Vegas Building Dept.
Your home is typically the largest personal financial investment you will make. Building permits and inspections help you to protect that investment by providing a reasonable assurance that a home is safe from structural failure, fire hazards, electrical hazards, and health risks.
1. Permits provide a permanent record of the work performed and inspections conducted on the home for insurance needs, resale value, and general knowledge of the history of the home. If you improve or add-on to your home without permits and it fails, your insurance company may not help you with the liability.
2. Permits and inspections help to assure a level of work that is “code compliant” on your home resulting in a confidence level of safety and lasting construction avoiding big problems in the future during the life of your home.
3. Work performed without permits can become frustrating and extremely costly, and in some cases even deadly. Work that has been completed without a permit and discovered at a later date can require an engineering evaluation and report, possible destructive testing, removal of wall coverings, and replacement plumbing, electrical or other various elements of the un-permitted construction at great cost and irritation to the homeowner or subsequent homeowner. There are documented cases of occupant deaths in fires involving un-permitted projects such as garage conversions because codes were not complied with and required proper ventilation and emergency egress were not provided. Simply put, protect yourself, your family and your investment in your home by obtaining permits and inspections on home improvements, additions, and/or any other work requiring a permit.
A simple general rule for when a permit is required is:
(1) If you add to the structure or add a new structure; (2) If you affect the “envelope” of the structure or plainly, if you open up the interior or exterior walls of the structure; (3) For other than routine maintenance and service, if you work on or add to the building’s mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems. (4) If you reconfigure any existing room, garage, patio, balcony, etc. into something new. For example, add a loft or enclose an existing loft, convert a garage into habitable space, etc.
A simple general rule for when a permit is required is:
(1) If you add to the structure or add a new structure; (2) If you affect the “envelope” of the structure or plainly, if you open up the interior or exterior walls of the structure; (3) For other than routine maintenance and service, if you work on or add to the building’s mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems. (4) If you reconfigure any existing room, garage, patio, balcony, etc. into something new. For example, add a loft or enclose an existing loft, convert a garage into habitable space, etc.
Permits are required for building improvements, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical improvements.
WHAT CAN I DO WITHOUT A PERMIT? There are numerous things you can do to your house that do not require permits.
Generally speaking, it is always best to contact your local building department. Always check with you local building department before proceeding.
You may contact the City of Las Vegas Building and Safety Department at a 702-229-6251 or online at www.lasvegasnevada.gov.