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Building Codes
Building codes are standards created to ensure the structural safety of
buildings. They are established and enforced by your local government,
usually through your city or county's building department. Every state,
county, and local municipality has adopted their codes from one of the
three nationally recognized building codes: UBC (Uniform Building Code),
BOCA (Building Officials and Code Administrators), and CABO (Council of
American Building Officials). The new IRC (International Residential Code)
is a combination of the other three. All are very similar in content.
However, many regions have additional, more stringent regulations because
of extreme weather or geographic conditions. If you live in the
earthquake-prone areas of the Pacific Coast or the hurricane risk areas of
the East Coast, Gulf Coast, or Nevada, the greater Chicago area, New
Jersey, or many parts of New York, be sure to inquire about the specifics
of these additional requirements.
Permits
Before you begin construction of your home, you'll need to obtain a
building permit by demonstrating with your house plan, and other
documents, that your new home will comply with all applicable building
codes. Depending on where you live, this can be a simple process of
filling out a form, or it may require additional steps if your area has
established patterns of hurricanes or earthquakes. Building departments in
these high-risk areas typically require you to hire a state-licensed
structural engineer to analyze your design and produce additional drawings
and calculations, which you include in your permit documentation. Many
areas have established energy codes. To comply with these regulations, you
usually fill out a short form. Also, many building departments require a
professional stamp from an engineer or architect who is licensed in the
state you plan to build your home. Most building departments can give you
a handout with a checklist of all the required documentation for your
permit.
To obtain building permit, you will need to submit a site plan to show the
house's placement on your property. For other local requirements, you may,
for example, if your lot is not served by a sewer system, you may need a
septic design. Builders can usually help you obtain these documents
because they are familiar with local codes and permit process. If you need
to modify your house plan, hire only qualified personnel that can make the
revisions according to your local codes. It will save you time and money
in the long term.
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