Is a Platform With a Roof Exempt From a Building Permit?

Cost Exemption

• Most cities specify that residents must apply for building permits whenever they make alterations to their homes, inside or outside, or add new structures to their property. This means that the only way to avoid needing a building permit for a platform with a roof is to fit within one of your local permit exemptions. Some cities offer exemptions for platforms that don't exceed a certain cost. For example, in Seattle you can add a patio or covered platform without a permit if the total cost is less than $4,000.

Special Exemption

• Special building permit exemptions for platforms and patios are an option in some cities that will allow you to build without getting a permit first. This is the case in San Diego, where paved platforms and patio awnings are exempt from building permits if they occupy less than 300 square feet and are less than 30 inches above or below the landscape's existing grade. This type of exemption means that you can build a platform without a permit if you limit its size to stay within your local building code's defined exemption.

Complexity

• If your platform with a roof includes any special fixtures, you are not likely to qualify for a building permit exemption. Permits are almost always necessary for any type of new plumbing or electrical wiring. For example, if you build a platform with a roof in your yard to serve as a covered picnic area, it may be exempt from needing a permit. However, adding a water faucet or electrical outlet will require special building permits and a licensed contractor to perform the installation.

Building Code Compliance

• Even if you don't need to apply for a building permit to add a platform with a roof to your property, you are still responsible for complying with local building codes. This means that if you build a platform that interferes with your home's escape routes, doesn't meet distance and structural requirements or alters your home's ability to withstand a disaster, your local building code office may be able to cite you or force you to remove the structure.