Information Page -

Do you need a building permit? 

 In most cases, yes.  Especially if you are planning to build in the city limits.  First, you have to establish that your general plans comply with the local zoning ordinances, then you can finally apply for a building permit. During this process, your local governing agency will want to review your certified building blueprints. They will be evaluating multiple factors such as: height, width, square footage, building materials, wind loads, snow loads (if appropriate), electrical wiring, and resistance to natural disasters, etc. The bigger the building you are constructing, and the more people working inside it, the stricter the building regulations will be to ensure everyone's safety.  

When do I need a building permit?

Project Walls - Changing or demolishing a load bearing wall. 

Roof changing house's roofline Layout Whenever you expand the house in any way or alter the house's envelope, you will need a permit.

Electrical installing any new electrical wiring or adding circuits

Fences - installing a fence over a certain height, such as 6 feet, triggers a permit. Most municipalities will consider an add-on such as shrubbery to be part of the fence.

Demolition parking your roll-off dumpster on a public street will require a permit. This is one of the rare permitting in stances where your own property is not involved.

Decks building decks over a certain height, such as 30 inches above grade.

Sewer doing anything with a sewer line typically requires a permit. This permit action concerns not just your personal safety, but the health of those serviced by the main sewer line down from your house.

Addition building will always require a permit. 

Driveway or Garage building or even a carport over 200 sq ft

Windows and Doors - Exterior doors, windows, and skylights that require a new opening. 

Fireplace and Chimney Fireplaces, wood burning stove and inserts nearly always require a permit because of the potential for fires. Chimney cleaning will be an exception, though.

Garages - Garage conversions HVAC Installing a new furnace or air conditioner.

Water Heaters installation of a new water heater.  Plumbing New hose bibs for the outside of your house

Roofing / Re-roofing involving structural elements, including but not limited to sheathing, skylights, change of roof pitch and change of roof material where the total weight exceeds 10 pounds per square foot.

Swimming Pool - Installing either an in-ground or an above-ground pool requires multiple permits.

The larger municipalities are, the more likely you will need a building permit with rules and regulations to what type of canopy structure that may or may not be built on your property. If you live out in a rule area, not so much but International building codes and standards for insurance purposes. you always want to build to meet standard 

Actual building design may need to be reviewed by a licensed engineer, City or Town code enforcement official for meeting their own local code requirements. Each and every municipality has their own set of rules and regulations known as building codes requirements and of them, all code requirements are subject to change without notice. Building code requirements are updated and the change all the time.  

All canopy type of structures must be anchored into an approved cement piers that is at least 2 foot deep into the ground. Those mobile home type of screw into the ground anchors is a recipe for failure.  In other parts of the country, they might see 40 - 50 winds.  We might see twice those wind loads around here.

Different municipalities have different rules to follow. Building Codes were established to help ensure quality and safety.  Check with your local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ ) for their own building requirements and property setback rules.  Note: Most of our local municipality will not allow any structure to be built within 5-ft of one's property lines. Most cities have rules and regulations that should be followed, and, in some cases, there are building inspections and building permits that need to obtain before building any structure.  Only in Moore, OK has a 1-ft of a side property line only in some cases but not all.  Also most have a setback back rules from any sidewalks.

 
Some developments and districts might have their own unique set of building rules and regulations that may restrict the building of a carport canopy or how they want then to look like. Most historical district require a local board approval before building any type of structure.  We are not in the business of changing any local politics and the customer to do their own leg work and research before we get involved in the building process. We can apply for local building permits on the customer behalf. We do charge a service fee for our time and efforts in our efforts in obtain a local building permit or the customer is welcome to provide that when and if it is required.    

Most code enforcement people want a permanent type of canopy structure that has its approved engineering documents that shows that the structure is safe if built correctly with an approved cement concrete piers that are installed into the ground that the carport structure it can handle local minimum wind and snow load requirements. The larger the canopy structure the heavier or larger sizes of beams and poles may use to increase wind and snow loads. Any of the under structure and its framing members is what does all of the heavy lifting within any type of structure. 

Schools, hospitals and most insurance companies and some of the local permit's offices want to see these engineering documents to see how and what your about to build on your property.  It is up to the owners of the property to know what the requirements might be before building anything.    In most parts of Oklahoma, for example, Carports and Patio structures must be located at least five feet from real–or assumed–property lines. Every state has its own set of regulations for building outdoor structures, so if you are uncertain, reach out to your municipality for more information.  Moore, OK has a rule that if your original house was built with a 1-car garage you can build to 1-foot of the side property line. Always make sure by making contact with the local AHJ (authority having jurisdiction)

 I get asked about those prefabricated kits that are often sold by a Club type of retailer or big box store. Most of those type of structure is classified as a temporary type of structure.  They are not a perinate type of structure. They should be only used on a temporary bases like for a show or an event then taken down. They do meet national standard building codes and if something was to happen, and it becomes flying UFO and lands on someone property your homeowner's insurance may not cover those damages for a temporary or portable structure.  THEY ONLY GET BY WITH SELLING THOSE TYPES OF STUCTURE BECAUSE THE OF BUYER ARE NOT EDUCATED TO ITS INTENDED USE. Most of the people who work at these stores have no clue to any of the local rules and regulations. They also don't sell a bolt to the concrete slab kit as they weren't engineered nor designed or was never supposed to used as a perinate type of structure. 

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Newer and updated building code requirements are updated and changed all the time.  As of 10/25/2019 OKLAHOMA CITY now requires us to meet the newer codes international building codes 2015. The International Code Council (ICC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing model building codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process. The International Codes (I-Codes) are the widely accepted, comprehensive set of model codes used in the US and abroad to help ensure the engineering of safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. International Building Codes 2015 (IBC 2015) The International Building Code 2015 (IBC 2015) is a model code produced by the International Code Council (ICC) each municipality may amend or adopt their own set of rules. OKC now requires that all residential carports structures are to build to the 2015 IBC standards. If in the front of the house are to be attached to the front of the house for added support as opposed to being a stand-a-lone type of carport structure that is not attached.  The OKC permit center is located 420 W. Main St. on the 1st floor since the Covid pandemic started. 

 In most parts of Oklahoma, for example, Carports and Patio structures must be located at least five feet from real–or assumed–property lines. Every state has its own set of regulations for building outdoor structures, so if you are uncertain, reach out to your municipality for more information.  Moore, OK has a rule that if your original house was built with a 1-car garage you can build to 1-foot of the side property line. Always make sure by making contact with the local AHJ (authority having jurisdiction)

Local community or deed restrictions - Within some communities like a historical district they might have their own added by-laws or a "community restriction" on building any type of canopy structure It is up to customer to do their own leg work and research and find out about any community by-laws or deed restrictions that may not show up when an authority having jurisdiction issues any carport building permits. Just because AHJ issues a local building permit the local community may have your own building restrictions which can restricts any type of structure.  

Also, keep in mind that permit requirements vary from state to state and from county to county. There are several things you can do to facilitate the permitting process for your upcoming metal building project.

• Understand the zoning. Make sure you understand the zoning limitations of the site in question. Is it zoned commercial or residential? What are the requirements for each of these areas? Are they dependent on building height, square footage, facade, etc.? All of these questions can be answered by officials at the local building department.
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• Leave yourself enough time. The permit application process takes time. A conversation with local building officials will prepare you for the average wait time for various permit requirements, which will help you create a more accurate construction calendar. And, of course, you will want to factor in extra time if any special permits or variances need to be made for your project.
• Certified building plans. You will also need sets of certified building plans. The building permits required by your particular city and/or county will be dependent on a variety of factors, including the building's height, width, square footage, electrical wiring, snow and/or wind loads, etc. Most building officials will want multiple copies submitted so each of the reviewing entities can have their own copy. Also, keep in mind that the larger your building is and/or the more people that will be working inside of it, the more stringent the building regulations will be.

Sick to the plans. Your local building inspector(s) will be inspecting and signing off on each of your permits as that phase of construction is complete. The certified blueprints you submitted for approval will be the ones the inspector will reference throughout the project's build-out. If the design changes mid-stream, or modifications have to be made, it is your responsibility to check in with the building department, submit official, certified copies of the new plans and - if necessary - apply for new permits. Failure to do so can seriously impede your construction process and may result in hefty fines.