Building a roof without a permit can result in its removal, possible penalties and overdue property taxes. A building permit is required if the deck is attached to the house or is 30 inches above ground level. You will not be able to obtain a seal of compliance in your RPR. If you decide to sell your home, you will need to obtain a Real Estate Report with a seal of compliance from your local jurisdiction.
If you built a terrace without proper permits, the city will reject your application until it obtains proper approvals. Unless your cover is subject to the exemptions listed above, you will need to obtain a permit before any work on the project can begin. If you happen to build the deck without a permit, there will be some notable consequences of this action. In fact, there are six different consequences you could face.
The first is that your project could be closed immediately. If the city discovers that you are building a terrace without permission, a “Stop Work” sign could be placed on your doorstep. As a general rule, a permit is required for any cover that is more than 30 inches above the ground. This guide applies to most decks.
Anything less than 30 is often considered a patio or “porch deck”, and a permit is usually not required. The reason for this and the reason for many of the other permissions you'll have to go through is security. Any platform over 30 requires deck railings, and these railings must also comply with certain rules. Do I need a building permit? Each community has its own rules, but generally, if your deck is more than two feet off the ground and about 10 by 10, you'll need a building permit.
In some places, if the terrace is attached to your house, you will always need a building permit. In my opinion, by obtaining a proper permit, it is easier to answer any questions about your terrace when you sell your house later. This is because the City will make a proper inspection when your deck is finished to make sure everything has been built correctly. You can also cover parts of the cover if you want to use the cover regardless of the weather.
Platform builders can help you create your deck design, go through the hassle of applying for permits, and taking care of construction. If you do it yourself, or if your deck builder does not offer this service, applying for the deck permit is not difficult. Because they have experience, knowledge, and the right tools, an experienced rig contractor can get a safe and building code compliant platform in a fraction of the time a do-it-yourself hobbyist does. Most cities will review the building permit for a roof after the roof has been built, but a penalty is often applied and there is no guarantee that the permit will pass without improvement.
Other decking material options include cedar wood decking, vinyl decking, and railing options including wood, glass and composite railings. The composite deck in this example had the same dimensions and construction characteristics as the above-mentioned wooden platform. The surface of the platform is pressure-treated deck boards with an integrated pot and bench using the same type of wood.
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