Navigating the messy world of building codes and permits can be an overwhelming and daunting experience for many of our Modern-Shed clients.
Thankfully, Modern-Shed works closely with our clients to determine when and if a building permit is needed in their jurisdiction and for their structure, and if so, what is needed to make the process as smooth, speedy and efficient as possible.
The International Building Code has been adopted in most areas, but other factors, such as climate, seismic concerns, local zoning, property setback regulations, homeowners’ association covenants and more also play into the maze that is building code regulations.
All of this varies from location to location, and Modern-Shed provides a handy flyer clients can acquire from our sales department to take to their local building department to help everyone understand whether a permit is needed and what size and location restrictions a Modern-Shed might be under.
Even if a building permit is not required, there still may be certain regulations the structure may need to adhere to, such as setback laws and homeowners’ association restrictions.
When a building permit is necessary, many building departments require some or all of the following items:
Modern-Shed can provide most of this for you for a fee.
Sometimes, depending on your location and the desired location for the shed, a geotech or soil sample study may also need to be done.
Modern-Shed can also provide the structural engineering for some western states, otherwise you will need to find a structural engineer to provide the engineering calculations and stamp.
While Modern-Shed hired a structural engineer to help create the design of the sheds and ensure they adhered to standard engineering practices during our initial business start-up years ago, each jurisdiction has its own code regulations and every building department requires an engineer to calculate the strength of the structure and verify its structural integrity.
This makes no difference if the building is 120 square feet or 2100 square feet or whether it has been built in 100 different locations. Most of our sheds are custom-designed to each customer so no design is exactly the same.
So, here’s a step-by-step guide to the permitting process: