Glendale General Contractor - Plan and Permits

Plans & Permits

ROOM ADDITIONS

Architectural plans will be required when adding square footage to any building with the city in which you may reside. These plans are submitted by the architect to the Department of Building and Safety, and are reviewed prior to the issuance of the building permits. After the plans are approved, the original set of plans are stamped by the city and returned to the homeowner. Upon receiving the approved plans, an accurate estimate of the project costs may be provided by the general contractor.

However, before going to the expense of hiring an architect, it would be prudent to get the advice of a general contractor concerning the approximate cost of building the addition to your home. If you are planning a room addition, please contact us to schedule a meeting to discuss the details of your project, which is one of the most important investments a homeowner will make.


REMODELS

Usually, architectural plans are not needed when remodeling any part of your home; however, the Department of Building and Safety will require permits for any remodeling. Ascertaining whether an architect is needed, and what kind of permits will be required, should be determined prior to spending a great deal of time planning the project. The general contractor should make a jobsite visit to discuss your project, and during this visit, he should be able to make a knowledgeable decision by general observations if an architect or plans will be required.
If you are planning a remodel, please contact us to make an appointment and schedule a meeting to discuss the details of your remodel. At this initial meeting, we will be able to provide you with the structural information mentioned above, along with a general overview of your project.


STRUCTURAL

Structural design is the engineering and calculations that determine if the structure complies with the local building codes. Structural design includes numerous categories, from the foundation on which your home is built, to a ridge beam that supports the roof over your home, and includes the interior bearing walls and all of the exterior walls. An architect or an engineer is required to provide plans and calculations to the Department of Building and Safety if altering any existing structural members. Architectural plans and engineering are also required when building a retaining wall or a deck that will exceed height limitations set by the local building codes.

Free standing block walls that are 6’ high do not need plans; however, since the 1995 earthquake, the city has certain guidelines to follow and permits are required. If a decking project does not exceed the height limitations set by the building codes, neither plans nor permits are required. If you have any question please contact us.


ARCHITECT

When working with architects and engineers the home owner needs to participate in the designing process to assure themselves that the end product or the design is what they are expecting. The Department of Building and Safety that governs the issuance of the permits, may require structural observation during the construction process of any room addition, or structural changes to any project within the city. It is the sole responsibility of the homeowner to determine who will be performing these duties, and predetermine the rate or charges incurred by the professional providing these services. If you need an architect for your next construction project, please contact Tom Avila, Architect.