A Complete Guide to Obtaining Remodeling Permit in Tacoma

The majority of homeowners usually stay blissfully unaware of the processes and intricacies behind getting building permits.

However, the need for a permit becomes quite glaring when you start to consider remodeling in or around your residential property. In such a case, you will more than likely need to obtain approval for your project through a permit from the appropriate municipality.

Providing you with your home renovation permit is usually the job of your local Development Officer or building department. To put their job simply, they will ensure to review your home renovation plans through a building inspector’s guidance.

The review is to ensure that your plans are in line with local building codes and ordinances and ensure it is properly built.

With the absence of state or federal standards, the requirements and need for permits differ per location/city, and as such, not all home improvement projects would require one.

For basic renovations such as flooring or counter tops replacement, faucet replacement, painting, you wouldn’t need a permit.

As it concerns location, our concern now, however, is within and about Tacoma, WA. If you’re a resident in Tacoma, WA, and you have some home renovation plans, then it’ll be favorable to note that you’ll most likely need a permit.

Except you would prefer to pay an unnecessarily higher cost to obtain a permit, have to demolish whatever you have built already, and, of course, pay a fine. We’d suggest you don’t get into a home renovation without getting a permit or asking the right questions.

Now, for someone who probably has never gotten to deal with building permits and the likes, it can be challenging to understand and go about the whole process. We’d imagine there are many questions you have, so here are answers to the more common ones.

Why and when do I need a permit?

Aside from the disadvantages of not getting one, as mentioned earlier, permits might as well be for the public’s good.

One of the fundamental reasons building codes exist is to effectively protect the populace from having their properties built with subpar building materials or unlicensed contractors.

To that end, the municipal offices will give permits to homeowners or contractors who meet the applicable codes.

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the topic of home renovation permits. But as a rule of thumb, you’ll need a permit if your home renovation plan will alter the footmark of your home.

Specifically, this includes additions, decks, siding projects, electrical projects, specific fencing, plumbing jobs, alteration to flammable liquid piping, and the likes.

The best practice for determining if your project will need a permit is contacting the Tacoma local building authorities on even as much as a hunch that you may need a license.

As for when would be best to get a permit, your permit should ideally be ready prior to beginning work.

This is obviously to avoid incurring fines or worse as your project continues. But perhaps you hadn’t pulled a permit before remodeling began, quickly request to obtain a “retrospective permit” no matter how far the project has gone.

Why does it take so much time to issue my permit?

What is most responsible for the usually extended length of time required before getting permits is the type of permit and the location of your property.

Some areas require several discretionary planning permits like Coastal Development and Design Review, which ultimately increases the processing time for obtaining permits.

One other factor that determines the amount of time the permitting process may take is your planned project’s complexity.

What documents do I need to submit for a permit?

The different requirements you would have to provide will depend on the specific building project you’re embarking on.

Take, for instance, building a single-family home; the municipalities in charge will perform a more thorough inspection, and you will have to provide significantly more detailed plans than you will have for re-roofing a single-family home.

In any case, the easiest way to figure out the documents you’ll be needing to get a permit is to go through the informational pamphlet provided in  

How do I get a permit?

Getting a permit is usually quite the tiring process to go through alone. Many municipalities choose to charge around a percent of the total cost for the construction in question to obtain a permit.

While this might seem satisfactory for some homeowners, individuals with really expensive projects especially sidestep the permit getting process because of this and occasionally because of the long period it takes to complete the required inspections. That is a bad idea, and you might even stall your renovation for longer as a result.

For residents in Tacoma, WA, you can apply for permits online from https://aca.accela.com/tacoma/. However, you must prepare yourself for many technicalities and requirements if you choose to go ahead of yourself. Of course, if you know where the appropriate physical municipal offices are, you can get your permits from there.

The task of obtaining building permits, as earlier stated, can be daunting and complicated, and this is especially true for someone new to the scene.

Thankfully, there is a significantly easier way for you, a resident in Tacoma, WA, and environs, to go about getting renovation permits – professional help. This is where we come in.

How can we help you?

We are a group of dedicated experts with the sole aim of easing you off the intricacies and stress of obtaining permits.

As you must now realize, several rules, requirements, regulations, and paperwork comprise the whole process.

Without substantial experience, passing state codes and ultimately getting your permit can be difficult. That is why we are here.

We help navigate residents of Tacoma, WA, through all the needed structural engineering processes while simultaneously aiding with any requirements to speed up the process considerably.

And supposing you are experiencing some form of difficulty in obtaining permits for your property or project, we are confident we can help as well.

We do this by first analyzing the current project or property status, identifying the apparent drawbacks and issues causing delays or complications in obtaining your permit, and finally coming up with a functional and time-efficient plan to help get your permits.

Furthermore, we go the extra mile for our clients since we understand that you may wish to build something that is not yet permissible in the current building codes. To that end, we are ready to present your preference convincingly to the Board of Variance.

We have but one major role in the whole permit process; ensuring your home remodeling or new build comes out exactly as you wish, without infringing the set codes, regulations, and ordinances.

We understand that simply completing projects such as these can be tasking. As such, the hassle and workload involved in obtaining permits can derail your focus, ultimately taking your time and potentially money unnecessarily.

With us on your side, you can rest assured that with our extensive knowledge of all the necessary codes, regulations, and professional relationships with the municipalities, you’ll be getting your permit in no time.

Send us a message and schedule a visit today for a structural engineer inspection in Tacoma.