What are City Permits and why do I need to have one?

Permits are a way that the City of Houston or a local municipality can control and regulate construction in its jurisdiction and to insure that the work is safe and done according to the construction codes for that area.  Safety is the primary reason for having construction codes.  If work is done without a required permit by a contractor, there is the possibility that the work completed could become unsafe or be dangerous because it never gets inspected by the city or municpality. 

If a particular type of work requires a permit, and you or your contractor did not "pull" a permit, you can be subject to fines and penalties.  A Houston homeowner should be sure to discuss with their contractor the permit issue.  A job in which a permit was issued will have to pass inspection by an inspector.  If an inspector drives by a home and sees work being performed, they can stop and ask for a permit.  It is very important that your contractor understand building and repair codes to insure that your work is done in a proper and safe manner.

A lot of older homes have heating and air conditioning equipment, or plumbing or electrical components that may not be up to current codes.  When a contractor goes to make a repair, you want to be sure your contractor makes the repairs according to the current codes.

A good example of this is an older home that has a water heater in the garage and the heater is sitting on the concrete floor.  If a plumber comes out to replace the water heater, the city code requires that the heater be placed on a stand to keep it up off the floor eighteen inches.