Monthly Archives: April 2011

Special thanks to Bryan Romanesky,  owner and founder of Permit Masters, for the following post:

Basement Building Permits – 4 Good Questions to Ask When Buying

When buying a property, due diligence is very important. If you are buying a property with a recently finished basement, add one more task to your already very long list of queries. You need to ensure that the renovation was done properly and that the proper permits were applied for and obtained.  Here are the 4 most important questions to ask:

What was the extent of the renovation?

Unless the renovation consisted of painting, putting new flooring or doing aesthetic improvements, a basement building permit is needed. Do not let anyone advise you that you don’t need a building permit as long as the work is done appropriately. This is the issue: without a valid permit, you don’t have confirmation that the work has been done properly. Therefore, if a fire or an accident occur, it is very possible that your insurance won’t cover your damages.

Did you add windows?

Adding windows is one of the most common alterations that home owners do when finishing their basement. Here is what you need to know: A permit is needed for a new window in a side yard. The reason is simple. If you are adding windows on the side elevation of a house, you need to ensure that the total amount of window opening facing your neighbour does not exceed 7%. This rule is to reduce the potential proliferation of fire from one house to another. If you do not meet the building code regulations, you may be putting yourself at risk.

Do you have a copy of the permit and approved plans?

When buying a home, you become responsible for all the work done by the prior owner. Ask to see the permits or call the local jurisdiction to find out if permits were applied for. Write down the address on a piece of paper and call the City of Calgary at 403-268-5311. Ask the customer service agent regarding all of the permits associated with the property. Once you know that a building permit was approved, you have two choices: you can trust that the permit matches the improvements or you can request to view the building permit file to validate that the permit matches the existing conditions.

Can you apply for your permits now?

You can apply for a basement building permit even after it is completed. The challenge is to pass the inspections. If the work is already completed, the city inspector will need you to open portions of the walls to see that the construction was done properly. Unfortunately, we see this happening very often and it adds cost and time. The additional cost and time should not deter you from requesting the permit before buying.

About Permit Masters and Bryan Romanesky

Bryan Romanesky is the owner and founder of Permit Masters. Permit Masters is a permitting solution for residential and commercial permits.

With offices in Calgary and Edmonton, Permit Masters offers a one stop shop for your development permits and building permits needs. We invite you to visit our website at www.permitmasters.ca and contact us at 403-475-2044.