As I write this article early Tuesday morning, torrential rains from Tropical Storm Nicholas are still pounding in some parts of Houston and the surrounding areas, homes have flooded, trees have blown down punching holes in rooftops and hundreds of thousands of homeowners are without power. After hurricanes and storms like Nicholas wreak havoc, homeowners that suffered damage to their properties are often left wondering how to make repairs or worse the rebuild.

We live, work, and play in Houston and we get it. We have heard the sensitivity in the voices of homeowners when they have called our hotline after a hurricane asking questions like:

• A tree fell on my garage, do I need a permit to replace a portion of the roof?
• Our roof caved-in and the Contractor says we do not need a permit. Is this true?
• What kind of permit do we need when water came into our home and damaged our carpet and walls in the den?

To assist in calming homeowners during challenging times after incurring damage to their property after Hurricane Nicholas, following are 5 things to know about when and when not to pull a building permit.

Permits are Required in Most Jurisdictions When:

• Replacing and installing new windows and exterior doors that may have been damaged by fallen trees, flying debris or from the pressure from flood waters
• Repairing roof that incurred structural damage or installing a new roof
• Replacing or repairing structural walls or beams
• Replacing and installing siding that is greater than approximately 125 sq. ft.
• Installing new or repair to mechanical (HVAC) and electrical systems. Note that licensed trade contractors must pull a permit. To verify that a Electrician and HVAC are licensed in the state of Texas visit www.tdlr.texas.gov

Permits are NOT Required When:

• Replacing sheetrock and drywalling
• Repairing or installing new wood fence that is less than 8 ft tall
• Making minor repairs to exterior trim and soffit
• Placing a tarp on roof
• Repairing cabinets, flooring, carpets, etc.
• Painting, wallpapering and refreshing walls

Getting back to normal is the desire of residential owners after their property has been damaged from a hurricane. The list above on when to pull a permit and when a permit is not needed is a general guide for most jurisdictions along the Texas Gulf Coast. Some exceptions may occur in rural areas and suggest that you visit your local jurisdiction’s web site for more information.

In Conclusion

The PermitUsNow team stands ready to answer any questions on building permitting for restore residential and commercial properties and can reach a team member at 1.844.PERMIT.4.

#BuildSafe