Why do I need a building permit?

Many people ask why they need a building permit. They contend they own their property and should be able to do with it as they please. The main reason for a building permit is to make sure the building is safe, and recently the safety portion has converged with energy efficient building. A building, especially a home, is expected to last at least 100 years. The builder, contractor, or owner will not be around forever. The property will change hands, and it is a social responsibility to make sure the building is built in a safe manner for future owners. For example, an older couple may not be concerned about the space between the posts on a railing but for a family with small kids this is very important. Then, of course, we want to make sure the rafters will stay up for 100 years!

Lenders also want to be sure that both the original construction and any improvements made over the years meet certain standards. Banks don’t want to lend money to purchase property that does not meet minimum standards for health and safety, not to mention longevity. Would you lend someone money to buy a house without any assurance that it was built well?

A home that is built “to code,” or better, will last a long time and will use a lot less energy over its lifetime. It should also require less maintenance in both the short and the long run. A house that is well-built, to code, is worth more than one that isn’t.

The City of Pendleton charges for building permits based on State of Oregon standard rates. A home with a construction value of $200,000 would have an approximate total building permit and plan review fee of $1,800.  This includes the charges for the heating and cooling systems inspections, electrical inspections that are done by the State and the plumbing inspections done by a firm hired by the City, and surcharges imposed by the State to operate the State building codes division.