Building Permits

Do I Need a Permit?

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Building Permit
An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a residential building or erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system regulated by the Uniform Construction Code shall first apply to the building code official and obtain the required permit.  An emergency repair or replacement of equipment may be made without first applying for a permit if a permit application is submitted to the building code official within 3 business days of the repair or replacement.

• 403.62. Permit requirements and exemptions.

1. (a) An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a residential building or erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system regulated by the Uniform Construction Code shall first apply to the building code official and obtain the required permit under § 403.62a (relating to permit application).
2. (b) An emergency repair or replacement of equipment may be made without first applying for a permit if a permit application is submitted to the building code official within 3 business days of the repair or
3. (c) A permit is not required for the exceptions listed in § 403.1(b) (relating to scope) and the following construction if the work does not violate a law or ordinance:
   1. (1) The following building construction, replacement or repairs:
      1. (i) Fences that are no more than 6 feet high. No metal fencing allowed pursuant to local
      2. (ii) Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet in height measured from the lowest level of grade to the top of the wall unless the wall supports a
      3. (iii) Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to
      4. (iv) Sidewalks and driveways that are 30 inches or less above adjacent grade and not placed over a basement or story below
      5. (v) Exterior or interior painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, flooring, cabinets, counter tops and similar finishing
      6. (vi) Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches
      7. (vii) Swings and other playground equipment accessory to a one- or two-family
      8. (viii) Window awnings supported by an exterior wall which do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall and do not require additional
      9. (ix) Replacement of glass in any window or door. The replacement glass shall comply with the minimum requirements of the International Residential
      10. (x) Installation and replacement of a window, door, garage door, storm window and storm door in the same opening if the dimensions or framing of the original opening are not altered. The installation of means of egress and emergency escape windows may be made in the same opening, without altering the dimensions or framing of the original opening if the required height, width or net clear opening of the previous window or door assembly is not
      11. (xi) Replacement of existing roof material that does not exceed 25% of the total roof area performed within any 12-month
      12. (xiii) Replacement of existing
      13. (xiv) Repair or replacement of any part of a porch or stoop which does not structurally support a roof located above the porch or
      14. (xv) Installation of additional roll or batt
      15. (xvi) Replacement of exterior rain water gutters and
      16. (xvii) Installation of an uncovered deck where the floor of the deck is no more than 30 inches above grade.
   2. (2) Minor electrical work for the following:
      1. (i) Replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles
      2. (ii) Replacement of a receptacle, switch or lighting fixture rated at 20 amps or less and operating at less than 150 volts to ground with a like or similar item. This does not include replacement of receptacles in locations where ground-fault circuit interrupter protection is required.
      3. (iii) Replacement of installed electrically operated equipment such as doorbells, communication systems and any motor operated
      4. (iv) Installation, alteration or rearrangement of communications
      5. (v) Replacement of
      6. (vi) Replacement of kitchen range
      7. (vii) Installation of battery-powered smoke
   3. (3) The following gas work:
      1. (i) Portable heating, cooking or clothes drying

2. (ii) Replacement of a minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make this equipment unsafe.
3. (iii) A portable fuel cell appliance that is not connected to a fixed piping system and is not interconnected to a power
4. (4) The following mechanical work or equipment:
   1. (i) A portable heating
   2. (ii) Portable ventilation
   3. (iii) A portable cooling
   4. (iv) Steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling equipment governed under the Uniform Construction
   5. (v) Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make the equipment unsafe.
   6. (vi) Self-contained refrigeration systems containing 10 pounds or less of refrigerant or that are put into action by motors 1
   7. (vii) Portable evaporative
   8. (viii) A portable fuel cell appliance that is not connected to a fixed piping system and is not interconnected to a power
5. (5) The following plumbing work:
   1. (i) Replacement of bib valves if the replacement hose bib valves are provided with an approved atmospheric vacuum
   2. (ii) Refinishing of existing
   3. (iii) Replacement of ball
   4. (iv) Repair of
   5. (v) Clearance of
   6. (vi) Replacement of faucets or working parts of
   7. (vii) Replacement of valves other than shower or combination shower/bath
   8. (viii) Replacement of
   9. (ix) Replacement of a water closet, lavatory or kitchen
   10. (x) Replacement of domestic clothes washers and
6. (6) The following heating, ventilation and air conditioning work:
   1. (i) Replacement of motors, pumps and fans of the same
   2. (ii) Repair and replacement of heating, supply and return piping and radiation elements which do not require rearrangement of the piping
   3. (iii) Repair and replacement of duct
   4. (iv) Repair and replacement of air conditioning equipment and
   5. (v) Repair and replacement of control devices for heating and air conditioning
   6. (vi) Replacement of kitchen range
   7. (vii) Replacement of clothes dryers if there is no change in fuel type, location or electrical requirements.
   8. (viii) Replacement of stoves and ovens if there is no change in fuel type, location or electrical characteristics.
7. (d) An ordinary repair does not require a permit. The following are not ordinary repairs:
   1. (1) Cutting away a wall, partition or portion of a
   2. (2) The removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing
   3. (3) The removal or change of any required means of egress, or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the egress
   4. (4) The addition to, alteration of, replacement or relocation of any standpipe, water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping, electric wiring or
   5. (e) A permit is not required for the installation, alteration or repair of generation, transmission, distribution, metering or other related equipment that is, by established right, under the ownership and control of a public utility.