Better to ask for permission than forgiveness when adding onto your home
All permanent improvements to your land, including home additions, will require permits.
You may get fined or have to demolish your home addition if you fail to pull permits.
Permit requirements vary by location, so check with your contractor or local building department for specifics.
Permits for home additions cost between $500 and $2,000 and can climb higher in some areas.
Building a home addition will add square footage and value to your property, but before you break ground, you’ll need to get permission for your project. It’s crucial to understand what permits are needed to build a home addition before you get started to avoid surprise permit fees, violations, and illegal construction. Let’s discuss what permits you’ll need and how to get them.
No, you can’t legally add a room to your house without a permit. All building departments will require at least a general construction permit for a home addition, and most will require additional permits for things like plumbing, electrical, and HVAC work. Building without permission from your municipality could land you with violations and expensive fines, and you may even be forced to knock down the addition and return your property to its original condition if your building department finds out about the illegal construction.
Building a home addition is a complicated home improvement project, so depending on your plans for the construction, you'll need several different types of permits before you begin.
In almost all municipalities, you’ll at least need a general construction permit to build a home addition. This type of permit often comes with a fee equal to a certain percentage of your home addition cost. It usually covers the following work:
Foundation pouring
House framing
Window and door installation
Roofing
Interior and exterior finishes
You’ll need a general construction permit regardless of the type of home addition you’re planning, so it applies to everything from second-story dormers to adding a finished room on its own foundation.
You’ll need an electrical permit for any home addition involving electrical work, including wiring, electrical outlets, ceiling fans, lighting, and light switches. Some building departments will include permission for electrical work in the general construction permit, while others will require you to pull separate permits.
Similarly, an HVAC permit is required if you’re adding heating and cooling to your home addition. All fully finished living spaces and four-season sunrooms will need this permit. Your general construction permit may cover this work, as well.
If you’re adding any type of plumbing to your home addition, you’ll need a plumbing permit unless your general construction permit covers it. This includes everything from utility sinks and wet bars to full kitchens and bathrooms. Plumbing permits also often cover work with gas lines for gas furnaces, gas stoves, and natural gas barbecues.
Many municipalities will include foundation work in the general permit, but even so, you’ll need a separate inspection for the foundation after your contractor pours it. Foundation work could also require a separate building permit, depending on where you live.
Some states mandate specific energy efficiency home improvements, like California, which requires solar on all new construction. This will demand a separate solar permit in some areas, but in others, solar is covered under electrical permits.
The easiest way to find out what permits are needed to build an addition is to hire a reputable home addition contractor near you. Your pro will know what permits are required and will even pull them on your behalf.
You can also do your own research by going to your local building department, discussing your project, and asking which permits you’ll need.
Your contractor will pull all of the necessary permits for your home addition, as well as schedule any final inspections necessary to close them out after the work is done. Some municipalities will allow homeowners to pull permits, in which case you can go to your building department to file for them yourself. Most will only issue them to licensed contractors, though.
Permits can actually be quite expensive. Talk to your contractors before starting your project to understand how much the required permits will cost you.
Same day response, fast communication! Hector and his help spent 3 days painting the kitchen cabinets and 5 bathroom cabinets. Very professional and awesome work!
H.G. Drywall CompanyPasi & Charlie did an amazing job helping us update our kitchen and bathrooms. As first time homebuyers, we wanted to make some updates to our new home. From start to finish, every single person we worked with was extremely personal and professional. Special thanks to Pasi for being a guiding...
W&OD Design RemodelI highly recommend Virginia Kitchen & Bath. I hired them to do a complete remodel of our full bathroom in our basement. This was the first major remodel project that I had done, and I could not have been more pleased. The process from start to finish was easy and hassle free. Once the...
Virginia Kitchen & BathOur house was completely flooded. Mike remodeled our whole house and did an excellent job! He installed our drywall, remodeled our whole kitchen, installed our bathroom vanities and replaced our interior and exterior doors. He was very professional and did everything in a timely manner. ...
The Remodeling Connection LLCWe had great experience with Wellcraft kitchen and bath. Ali and Sarah were very helpful in design, material selection and during construction time. Jose did great job completing the our kitchen. Wellcraft was little expensive than the other quotes we received, but it was worth it. We love...
WellCraft Kitchens, Inc.We got 3 other estimates before we pick Top remodeling, their experiences and professionalism was the dealbreaker for our decision. Top remodeling worked with our budget and gave us a best quote with high quality materials. They finished our kitchen in 3 weeks without any delay. I will...
Top RemodelingStephen and Darryl were great to work with and I am glad I found them to do a complete bathroom remodel. At first we went to a Kitchen & Bathroom showroom which quoted us more than $5K what Handyman quoted us so it was an easy decision to go with Handyman Connection. The communication was...
Handyman Connection - Westchester CountyFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Shower pan replacement costs $530 to $2,700. Find out how material, shower size, labor, and more affect the final project budget.
Building a laundry room addition to your home adds value and functionality. Your laundry room addition cost will depend on size, materials, and other factors.
Building a guest house is one of the largest home projects and involves several different professionals. Learn about the cost to build a guest house and where you can save.
Before converting your attic to a living space, consider these 15 must-read tips to ensure your attic remodel goes smoothly.
Learn everything about brushed nickel versus stainless steel faucets so you can choose between the two for your next remodeling project.
Undermounted sinks are elegant upgrades to any kitchen and can add to your home’s resale value. But are they the best option? Here we’ll learn the pros and cons of having an undermount sink.
