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Permit Requirements
Projects Requiring Permits
You must obtain a building permit from the Building Department before making the following changes to your house:
- Adding an addition
- Adding a bedroom or bathroom
- Installing a swimming pool
- Central air conditioning
- Chimney repairs
- Commercial roofing
- Constructing a deck
- Creating additional off-street parking
- Demolition of any building
- Enclosing a porch
- Erecting a fence or replacing an existing fence
- Erection of utility buildings/sheds
- Finishing a basement
- Increasing power service to a building
- Installing a dishwasher
- Installing electrical outlets
- Installing hard-surface driveways
- Installing or replacing a sidewalk
- Interior alterations
- New furnace, boiler, or water heater
- New kitchen
- New retaining walls
- New sidewalks along public streets
- New wiring
- porch and stair repairs
- Replacing an electric stove with a gas stove
- Seepage pits
- Water heaters
- Water softeners
Projects Without Permits
You don't need a permit for ordinary repairs on a one or two-family dwelling. These changes include:
- Covering walls, plastering, or placing drywall on an existing wall (if the area does not exceed 25% in one year)
- Installation of carpet
- Installation of storm windows or doors
- Installation of tile or linoleum floors
- Installing floor material, including carpeting
- Interior or exterior painting
- Landscape work
- New gutters and leaders (excluding built-up gutters)
- Repair of existing driveways or sidewalks
- Repairing and replacing duct work
- Replacing any faucet or valve, if the piping system doesn't have to be rearranged
- Replacing any window or door, if no change in the dimensions or framing of the opening is involved
- Replacing glass in any window or door, if the replacement glass conforms to minimum requirements
- Window boxes and trellises
- Window glazing or puttying
- Window shutters