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The Permit Process
for New Homes
The Dream-
I think most everyone dreams of someday designing and building
their "Dream Home". The popularity of so many publications, websites,
and even entire TV networks like HGTV is I think a testament to that
fact. But, especially if you live in California, and more
specifically coastal California, you have also no doubt heard
nightmarish stories of wading through the bureaucracies
necessary to getting that building permit. Even the smallest of
projects need good planning.
Same Questions-
I have had clients ask the same questions over and over during
this time and with the advent of the internet, have been surprised
to find how little comprehensive information is available to people
interested in all the things it takes to get a permit for that dream
home. I hope you find the following information helpful. The process
of obtaining a permit can seem daunting but is still done every day
and with a lot of persistence, and a little good planning, is still
achievable if you put your mind to it.
Several Phases-
The first thing to be aware of is that there are
often several
different phases or levels of regulation that you may need to
address in the planning of your new home. Whether you live in an
unincorporated area of your County, or within the
City Limits of your particular City, you will typically have a
Planning Department, a Building Department, and a Public Works
Department. Sometimes, they may be all lumped into one office called
the Community Development Department.
More and more of the various departments offer a lot of
information, even flow charts of the different processes, online and
I have included many of them in my
City & County Links
but I find them very slow to embrace the internet and lacking in
overall comprehensibility, especially for the uninitiated. I attempt
here to put the whole process in plain English as much as possible.
It is important that you find out as much as possible about the
various limitations to your design that will be imposed by this
regulation before starting the design process of your home. Like
making a painting, you must first determine the canvas size. It's
rather difficult to make the canvas larger, smaller, different
shape or proportions, etc., after you've already started the painting!
Home Owner's Associations-
If your property is located within a Home Owners Association
(HOA), you may need to get approval from them as your first step.
Generally, the plans for that would include a
Site Plan,
Floor Plans,
Elevations,
and possibly and
Landscaping Plan. Each Associations
requirements and processes can be different so check with yours
prior to proceeding with your design. They usually provide some kind
of checklist for that purpose. Most commonly, the Planning
Department will not accept your application for the next level of
the permitting process without approval from your HOA. But your
plans will require the forethought to comply with the various
Zoning
Ordinances of the Planning Department.
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