State Permits: California
Building licenses and permits are put into place for the safety and well-being of the people that are eventually going to inhabit them. California is no exception to the permit process. No building can be constructed, altered, demolished or repaired without obtaining the proper permits before the project begins. When it comes to the California State building permits, the requirements to obtain the necessary forms can be extremely complicated. Plumbing, electric and mechanical codes are all found in different places and the state has its own code of regulations known as Title 24. Title 24, or the California Building Standards Code, “is a compilation of three types of building standards from three different origins,”
- Building standards that have been adopted by state agencies without change from building standards contained in national model codes
- Building standards that have been adopted and adapted from the national model code standards to meet California conditions
- Building standards, authorized by the California legislature, that constitute extensive additions not covered by the model codes that have been adopted to address particular California concerns
When it comes to California, it may be best to use a permit expediter since the rules and regulations of California building law can be quite complex. Title 24 alone has an 11-part book that explains when, where and why certain permits and licenses need to be obtained. Furthermore, California is always updating and revising their codes. Every three years there is a change to the codes that contractors need to follow.
There is a new area in California construction that is on the rise: green building. While most areas have yet to adapt a state code for green building initiatives, California is ahead of the pack. On January 1, 2011, the state put into effect the California Green Building Standards Code. The CALGreen initiative is important to all builders because there are both optional and mandatory measures that were put in place when the bill was enacted. Buildings now have to reduce their water consumption, increase system efficiencies and install low pollutant-emitting materials. If you are looking to incorporate the optional measures as well, permit expediters may be of use. They know which permit must be obtained, and if you need to fix your building to make it green, they know where to go and what to apply for.
California can be a confusing state to get permits and licenses from. With all the codes and regulations and the constant change, a permit expediter may be the best bet. So, as always, do your research ahead of time to save time, money and other resources.
