Porch Requirements

Submitting a Plan

• A written plan of your porch project must be submitted to your city or township in order to get a building permit. This plan will include three main components: a site plan, a floor plan, and a section plan. You may even be required to include an elevation plan, although this is usually part of the section plan. These plan sections must include all aspects of your proposed construction project.

Site Plan

• A site plan is basically a survey of your property. The information you provide in the site plan includes the size of the lot. The size and location of both the proposed porch and all existing structures -- such as the house, the garage and storage sheds -- must be included in the site plan. The distance -- or setback -- of all existing structures, as well as the proposed porch, from your property lines is required as well.

Floor and Section Plans

• The floor and section plans will contain the "nuts and bolts" of your porch project. Detailed information you need to meet the porch requirements in these sections includes the type and size of the structural elements such as floor joists, door headers and roofing materials including rafters, trusses, and sheathing. The size, type, and location of windows and doors must be included, as well as any stairways and railings attached to the porch. In addition, the support system of the porch must be identified and detailed including the elevation of the floor from grade, whether it is a slab or raised foundation and the materials used to support the entire structure.

Final Porch Requirements

• One of the most important of the porch requirements you will have to meet is the stamp of approval from your city officials. There are many steps involved here, and most of these steps will require a fee. The construction of the porch project requires a two-step inspection process in all phases including the site itself, the foundation and footings, and the electrical and framing work. The site will be inspected before work starts and then afterward, and the actual construction steps will be inspected when they are "roughed in" -- initially completed before wall, floor, and ceiling coverings are added -- and when the entire porch project is done. Additional fees may also include a submission fee, plan review fee, and plan archival fees.