Do you know whether you need a city permit for any of these projects? Just what type of permit do you need? And is it really worth the price when chances are, no one will notice anyway?

While you don’t need a permit for simple, cosmetic changes to your home (such as painting), you do need a building permit, and maybe even a development permit, for any work that changes the structure of your home.

As chief building inspector for the City of Calgary, Kevin Griffiths says the benefits of obtaining the proper permit go beyond avoiding a fine. Though the fine is a fairly effective motivator, at double the cost of the permit you should have obtained, your building and/or development permit (or plumbing and gas, heating or electrical permit) give you and future owners of your home the reassurance that the work has been done properly.

“When you buy a home, you should be asking for permits for work that has been done,” says Griffiths. In turn, sellers should be able to provide permits to buyers.

Through the city’s approval process, you can also be sure that the work you’re planning will be safe, meet by-law standards and not pose a danger to the structural integrity of your home.

“Especially now with the new open-concept plans, people who live in old homes sometimes knock down walls without understanding that they may be structural walls, and then don’t understand why their ceiling is sagging,” says Griffiths. “That’s one of the dangers of not getting a permit.”

There are other details that the unsuspecting homeowner may overlook. For instance, an outdoor hot tub may pose a danger to neighbourhood children, and there are specific safety issues to examine when finishing living space in a basement.

“The home handyman and weekend warrior types often get themselves into trouble,” says Griffiths. “It’s in their best interest to get a permit.”

The fee for a building permit is composed of a base charge plus additional charges per $1000 of construction value. Some permits are dependent upon the rules within your community.  NL

For more information on how to obtain a permit of any type, or whether or not you need a permit, visit http://www.calgary.ca, call the City of Calgary information line at 311 or the permit information line at 403-268-5311.