Building Permit for Garage – Step-by-Step Guide

Obtaining a garage permit can sometimes be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be if you get familiar with the process. Whether you add an attached or detached garage, a building permit will be required and because of this, it’s crucial to know everything about building permits to ensure safety, compliance, and realize your vision.

In the following text, we’ll explore the steps of obtaining a building permit for a garage and why it’s so important.

Key Takeaways

1. Building permits for garages are necessary to ensure safety, code compliance, and protect property value.
2. Obtaining a building permit guarantees that your garage construction is meeting local building codes, regulations and zoning laws.
3. Average cost for a garage building permit is $200 – $550.

Do you need a permit to build a garage?

Yes, you will need a permit to build a garage. Building permits depend on your local municipality codes and regulations which can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The garage’s size, height, and use must comply with the zoning laws for your property.

You will need separate permits if you want to have electrical work and add outlets, lighting, or plumbing in your garage. This is typical for a garage conversion.

There are environmental concerns as well because if your property is near environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands, rivers, or forests, you will need additional permits to ensure that your new construction doesn’t harm the environment

Also, if your property is located close to or within a historic district, there will be additional requirements and restrictions on what you can build or modify on your property.

Now that we have established whether we need a permit for the garage, we move on to the process of obtaining the permit. In the rest of the text, discover how to get permission to build your garage.

How to get a permit to build a garage

Garage permitting process consists of these 4 simple steps:

1. Contact your local building department – They will provide you with the application form.
2. Gather all documents – Attach all the necessary documents such as property surveys, zoning codes, setback requirements, and any specific guidelines related to garage construction in your area.
3. Prepare a plot plan – To get a building permit for a garage, you will need a detailed site plan for your garage that will show the exact location and specifications of your project.
4. Pay fees – When you complete your permit application that you get at your local building department, you’ll have to pay permit fees. Building permit costs for a garage range from $200 to $550 because the price varies on factors like location, project size, and complexity.

After finishing the construction of your garage, you will need a final inspection that verifies that your garage has been built according to the approved plans and rules.

Now that we have established everything about the permitting process, let’s find out what is hidden in the building code for garages and why it is important to respect it.

Building code for garages

Building codes for garages are a set of regulations and standards that regulate the process of garage construction and safety. Common elements that are covered by codes for garages include:

• Structural integrity
• Electrical and plumbing systems
• Fire safety
• Ventilation
• Insulation
• Accessibility

Codes are different for each state. The City and State Codes, Administrative Rules, Code Guides, and Program Guides (link) have the codes, administrative rules, and code guides, where you can check out everything about the codes in the municipality of Portland.

These codes help us protect homeowners, occupants, and all neighboring properties by ensuring that garages are constructed in a way that minimizes risks and meets specific standards for their intended use.

What happens if you build a garage without a permit

One of the most common construction mistakes that owners make is starting the garage building process without obtaining a permit. You need to know that building a garage without a permit will lead to legal and practical consequences.

• If the local building department finds out that you’ve been constructing without a permit, they will make you stop working until you receive the proper permit. You can also be charged $500 or more per day, for violating building permit laws, which can cost you a lot more than the original budget you planned.
• Your county can also put a lien on your property if you don’t pay the fine. In some cases, they can make you tear down the garage.
• Potential buyers may be hesitant to purchase a property with unpermitted structures, and they can require you to obtain a retroactive permit, which can cause extra costs.
• Insurance companies can deny any claims related to the unpermitted structure and refuse coverage for any damages caused.
• Garages that are built without a permit are often built in the absence of inspections and oversight. This can lead to safety and quality issues and neighbors can file complaints if they think that your unpermitted garage construction is causing problems and violating local zoning regulations.

Building garage without a permit is not advisable, and it’s crucial to follow the permitting process and get all the necessary approvals from your local building department.

If you decide to knock it down you will also need a permit, so that will affect the final cost of garage demolition.

Garage permit FAQs

Site plans for garage permit

The best way to get building permits for a garage is by having a professionally done site plan for permits because it provides a detailed overview of the property, and helps authorities assess compliance with zoning regulations, setbacks, and environmental considerations.