Do I Need Planning Permission to Extend My House?

Significance

• Rather than moving, some people choose to extend their homes by adding extra space onto the home. In some cases it is less expensive to add on rather than buy or rent a larger home. Home additions can be constructed by individual home owners who have the skills to do them or contractors can hire teams to put on the additions.

Considerations

• Anyone who wants to add onto their home needs to submit plans to the local jurisdiction for approval and to obtain a building permit. The plans must detail the placement of electrical outlets, any plumbing involved and all the dimensions of the room. The plans must be in an acceptable format, usually submitted as engineering drawings.

Inspections

• Local building authorities require inspections at various stages of construction to assure the safety of the addition. Framing, plumbing, electrical and occupancy inspections are typically required before the local building authority will sign off on the project, allowing you to use or occupy the addition. Without a permit, the addition cannot be inspected.