UH requires permits to keep residents safe

Painting the exterior of your house?  Adding exterior lights? Planting a Victory Garden? You can do all this without a permit from the building department.  But, if you want to put in a new driveway, replace the hot water tank, or upgrade the electrical service so you can run a hairdryer and the toaster at the same time, then you need a permit.

In order to understand about this permit stuff, I went to the UH Division of Building and asked Building Commissioner David S. Menn, “Why?”  

“We want to make sure you and your family are safe, we want to make sure the contractors do what they say.” said Menn.

Permits have gotten a bad rap.  So here is the lowdown. Bad stuff about permits

• you have to pay a fee to get one
• the inspector will not approve the job if it does not meet code
• major improvements increase the value of your home, and, taxes

Good stuff about permits

• the price you pay for a permit is low, considering…
• it’s like having an uncle who is an expert in all this stuff living right down the block
• your house will meet code
• you’ll be able to sell without hassle over code violations
• you’ll be sure your contractor is bonded

Who pulls a permit?  Anyone can get a residential permit, not just professionals. When you pull a permit, you are telling the city you know how to do the job and will be responsible for completing the job correctly.    

If your contractor says he is too busy to get the permit and asks you to get one, he is telling you he is not going to take responsibility for the job. If he walks away from the job or damages your property then you, the homeowner, may have recourse. But not if you get the permit yourself.

With about 4,800 houses, UH processed 2,884 permits in 2008. Commissioner Menn encourages all homeowners to contact the Building Department with concerns or questions.He said, “We are also going to start up our exterior maintenance program again, so on any correction notice, we can work with you. If we don’t know you have a problem we can’t help you. Let us know so we can figure out a way together.” 

Ruth Griswold, Sharon Chapman and Dee Dellas do everything possible to make the process easy for residents who walk into their office. Their 32 years of combined experience will help make your springtime projects candidates for award-winning homes.

Anita Kazarian is a freelance writer and University Heights resident.