Guest column: Why do I need a permit?

Published 1:00 pm Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Many thanks for the outreach of the community from the previous column. I am very thankful for everyone that reached out with congratulations and asked what was next. Some have given remarks to the negative also, and I am thankful for those too. It is how we start a dialogue, gaining in understanding and mutual respect.

Most processes start with a permit at the Department of Community Development. It is also one of the primary points of contention, often overlooked and misunderstood. It is probably best to start here. This will be broken up into two parts; “Why do I need a permit?” and “When do I need a permit?”

So, why do we even have permits? What’s the point? “It’s my property, why can’t I just do what needs to be done?”

Permitting is all about safety. It is not our way of tracking you.

Let’s start with the basics. A permit is a written record of your investment. It can and should show how much you have invested during your stay. It should also accurately answer all of the major questions about any work that has been done. Who? What? When? Where? How? Why? This is important for many reasons, but here are the top five.

First, it is used by the tax office. It shows the building is being maintained, repaired and in generally good condition with the codes. This in turn, along with other information, is used to determine a value for your investment. If you ever decide to sell, this will be invaluable.

Georgia is a buyer beware state. This means it is up to the buyer to find out if any work has been done to the building. If you are a buyer, ask if anything has been done and get it in writing. Contact your tax office and building department to see what they have on file. It may be things that are not in the file that are the most useful. This can save you real money for costly repairs in the future and can protect you if someone gets sued.

Second, it is used by insurance companies to see if your investment is being constructed correctly and what the risk is to you and the insurance company. This can be used to dictate rates for a particular building (higher or lower), or to approve or deny a claim. A quick search on the net will give you plenty of horror stories for insurance claims.

Third, permits are used to keep contractors honest. Usually work being done is sold to the lower bidder. Do you know if your contractor has done or would do something that could jeopardize you, a family member, or your investment? I am not implying contractors are out trying to get you. There are many good contractors in our community. Let’s just be honest, a dollar saved is a dollar earned. I will be doing a column on contractors at a later time. There are laws to protect you and you should be familiar with what they mean for your investment.

Fourth, we are a guide for your DIY projects. Modern building practices are complex. No matter how handy or knowledgeable you may be, if you go ahead without a permit, you may be doing work that is dangerous or unsound. We can help make sure your project will meet all of the codes and stand the test of time.

Finally, it is used by us to establish communication. Many times this is our first time getting to meet people of the community. The permit opens up dialogue for discussion of the laws. The laws that affect construction are complex. We are here to help you navigate those laws and get your project done. This reduces your liability (chance of being sued), creates a safe building, and helps promote a long standing community, even in the event of a disaster.

The bottom line is that we are a service and are interested in the community’s safety and wellbeing. If you have any questions or comments, call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you. A knowledgeable community is a powerful community. Until next time.