BUILDING PERMITS!

[Makers_Mark]

Here's a teaser. 3d model of the framing. Still working out the design so it may change. Outside walls are not framed yet.

 

[brantley]

What software did you use to do the model?

 

[rancar]

Steve...

You serious???.....You really needed a permit to install a wood stove? /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif This is just like an appliance. It's a minor improvement in your house. If you follow the install instructions, I would think you'd be just fine. But, why bring a building inspector into all this? Are the building regs in Mass. that onerous that you need a permit to install a wood stove?

....Bob

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Billy,

I live in NJ and have an inspector background. You need a permit for ANYTHING in NJ. Give a call to the local Building Inspector, or call the NJ DCA at 609-984-7609 and ask your questions. It depends on what you are building but in general you will need a permit and inspections for the footings, framing, electrical, HVAC, etc. They work on a % of the total cost of the project. I put 2 dormers on my garage; the permit fees were $1500, for a $15K job. If you do not get a permit they can make you prove you went down 3 feet for the footings, that you put in the correct size wire and secured it per the code, etc etc, If you really tick them off they can start with $1000 a day fines to get your attention, you can see where I am going with this one. Also in NJ we have one code book for the entire state. Have cup of coffee with your building official and see what he says, he may cut you a little slack since you have a farm.

Good Luck

Tom

 

[Anonymous Poster]

In my town, you need a permit to install a replacement water heater. Of course, in order to apply for the permit, you need to be a licensed plumber.
They even have a deal with Sears, Home Depot & Chase Pitkin to report all warranty water heaters dispensed so Big Brother can come calling.
You WILL pay the permit fee! Seig Heil

 

[bgott]

$1500 for a $15k job? I bet you have to pay for a zoning variance for just about anything you build, too, don't you? Down here in Texas the counties don't have authority to enforce building codes and I don't think they can enforce zoning. They tried to give them the authority the last time the legislature met but it didn't pass. Here in Harris county we do have to buy a $75 "flood zone" permit. If your not on the flood plain you just pay the $75 and give them a drawing of where on the property the improvement will be. They aren't too sticky on it, the last time I got a permit I forgot the drawing so I drew one freehand on the back of a flier they had on the counter and they accepted it. If you are on the flood plain the price goes up, I don't know how much because none of my properties are on a flood plain, and the lowest part of the structure has to be 18 inches above the mean high water level. I have no idea how they come up with the mean high water level, our last flood was a bear so I imagine the water level mark is up there. You also don't need a permit if you use at least one wall of an existing structure when you build a new building. The trick is to build most of what you want, let them come around to piss and moan and snoop around and after a month or two tear down the old wall and finish your building. See, after a while them new walls are old walls and when you replace the old old wall you're just adding on to existing.

 

[CTyler]

I'm building a shop and a house....Building permits....aaarrrggggg. Permits permits permits permits and more frigging permits. Cripes I think I need a permit to wipe my...um...file my finger nails.

For a free country it sure is expensive.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Welcome to NJ, land of taxes! Lets see a 6% sales tax, an income tax of 2-5% of your income with no deductions like the feds let you have and oh yea property taxes. Our house is assessed at $250,000 ( that may sound like a lot, but I am 60 miles from New York City, if I was 10 miles closer I could not afford my house it would be $500K ++ )and I pay $12K a year in taxes, no public water or sewage, volunteer fire department. About $6000 of it goes to schools, about $4000 to run the county government, then you have open space tax, (yea all the farms are being sold to developers to build houses or big box stores) library tax and finally local tax.

Oh then you have car insurance, we have one 2000 mini van, no accidents in 19 years, no kids driving, we pay $1800 a year. Oh then you have road tolls, for the 2 main highways in the state, every 5 miles you have to stop and give then .35 cents and bridge tolls. They just raised the toll from .50 cents to $1.25 and for trucks from $2.00 to $16!, they are going nuts over that one.

Oh yes not to mention 8 million people in this small state and more people per sq. mile then anywhere in the US...... BUT its home have been here for 45 years, just must be stupid, but you go where the work and family is, I just try not to think about it too much, I will get off my soap box now, have a good day and enjoy your low taxes and no building permits required...LOL

Tom

 

[ejb]

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

>> I pay $12K a year in taxes,

Wow, on a $250K house that is a lot, almost 5% of the assessed value? Are you sure your assessment is $250K, or is that just what you paid for it?

I thought my taxes were high...I pay around $8,000 (which I still find obscene); no sewer, no water, volunteer fire dept etc etc...and my house is assesed close to $400K (I have 175 acres)

What is everyone else paying around the country?

If you ever spent the time to figure out how much you are paying in federal, state, local and property taxes; sales taxes, permit fees, toll roads, gas taxes etc...you would never say we live in a free country...we don't....not anymore.


Once I finally realize that of the 80 hours per week I was working in order to "get ahead", about 40-45 hours per week was spent just to pay my taxes, I dropped out and stopped making it...they can't tax what I don't make(sort of). Now I try to get by at such a low income level that I pay no federal and state taxes (with a family of 6 that threshold is pretty high).

Next step is to challenge my assessment and then convert the land into Chapter 61A (mass code for farmland).

Right now, property taxes is my biggest expense.

 

[hazmat]

<font color=blue>You serious???.....You really needed a permit to install a wood stove? This is just like an appliance. It's a minor improvement in your house. If you follow the install instructions, I would think you'd be just fine. But, why bring a building inspector into all this? Are the building regs in Mass. that onerous that you need a permit to install a wood stove?</font color=blue>

Bob,

yup, they pretty much want you to pull a permit to do anything. We thought they might have to move the electric service to fit the chimney, inpsector said that would require a permit too. I think anytime you add something to the house a permit is required. On the plus side, the fee for the stove was only $40. Which I figure was fair considering the time required for them to process the paperwork & have the guy come out and take a looksy,

EJB,

I pay about $4K in property taxes on a $370K assesment. We paid more than that for the house. We have public water, but no sewer.

 

[ejb]

>>Are the building regs in Mass. that onerous that you need a permit to install a wood stove?



In some parts of mass you need to pull a building permit to REPLACE a dishwasher.

 

[Makers_Mark]

Brantley...

I use AutodeskVIZ 4, formely 3d viz, formerly 3d max, formerly 3d studio. Name changes every release.

 

[rancar]

<font color=blue>"Yup, they pretty much want you to pull a permit to do anything.</font color=blue>

Thanks Steve. I've heard stories like this before but never from anyone who has to experience it. Permits for stoves, water heaters....I've even heard replacing a single window requires a permit in some locations. This is amazing. I guess I must consider myself fortunate for living in a community that doesn't have these onerous regs. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

....Bob

 

[Makers_Mark]

<font color=blue>Have cup of coffee with your building official and see what he says, he may cut you a little slack since you have a farm.</font color=blue>

Maybe I'll head over there with a bottle of Scotch if ya know what I mean...wink wink.

Hey Tom, sounds like we're from the same area - North Jersey. Can you believe how these developers are eating up all the farm land? There must be a boatload of former Jersey tomato farmers hanging out in Aruba.

My taxes right now are ok - but that's because I haven't been re-assessed in years. I think my taxes have the potential of more than doubling. Don't know how I'll pull that one off. I am farm assessed, so that helps. The last permit I pulled showed a $30,000 improvement to the house. My taxes went up $1000 annually. I'm not against paying taxes, but they hit you for anything. White fences - hit. Blacktop driveway - hit. Pool - hit. Stainless steel appliances - hit. Hot wife - hit...oh no, I got a tax break for that/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I know where you live. As long as you are a member of my society, you will abide by the construction laws of this great nation of ours. You will file drawings, you will pay for your permit, you will build according to code, you will be inspected, and you will attend church on a regular basis. Don't under estimate me, I am the InspectorMan.

 

[JTD]

We paid $200 for a septic permit and $10 for each power permit on our new house and shop construction (both in progress) plus $1167 for the total building permits from the county. Our fees are pretty low compared to what others are listing. So far the inspectors have been very reasonable. The farm property taxes are low now, $233, but when the house and shop are complete we'll be assessed for them.

 

[Wingnut]

Pemit? Yes, unless you want trouble with the inspector. And get it before you even think of starting ... heck, I was out staking my site and suddenly was visited by the building inspector. I guess he was "tipped off" by the local contractor who bid so high that he didn't have a hope of getting the job.

Taxes? Oh, you bet ... and the value that they add will have absolutely no relation to the value of the building. I added a shop which cost me about $4.5k and they jacked my taxable value up over $25k ...

Our country is hurting for tax revenue to keep the employee pension fund going ...

(no disrespect intended, Inspector 507, my only experience is in Bay County, MI)

 

[Inspector507]

Just wanted everyone to be aware.........I am NOT InspectorMan

 

[Makers_Mark]

InspectorMan...

You scare me.

 

[Wingnut]

<font color=blue>You serious???.....You really needed a permit to install a wood stove?</font color=blue>
I understand you need a permit in Mass. to change your mind?