Bookmark and Share    Report a Broken Link
Building Permits
Building permits are required whenever a structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or altered. 2007 California Building Code §108.4.1. Permits are normally not required for simple repairs.

Architectural Rules. As part of its Rules & Regulations and/or its Architectural Standards, every association should require members to pull permits from the local Department of Building and Safety. Building Inspectors review and approve plans prior to construction and then inspect the work as it progresses to make sure it meets minimum building standards for health and safety.

Unpermitted Work. Assuming an owner has already received proper approval from the association to make alterations and improvements, if the association learns that the owner is doing work without a permit, the association should immediately contact the owner and require that all work cease until proper permits have been pulled.

Cost of Permits. The owner doing the work, not the association, is responsible for the cost of the permit. The cost charged by the Building Department is based on the size of the project. Permit fees typically run from 1.5 to 3% of the estimated cost of the project.

Deposits. Associations can require that owners post a deposit with the association which can be returned (i) once all permits have been signed off by the Building Department, and (ii) no damage was done to the common areas, and (iii) there are no unpaid fines from rules violations during the construction.

Adams Kessler PLC

StatutesCase LawLegislation
ABCDEFGHI
JKLMNOPQR
STUVWXYZ