Do I really need to get a permit for screening my covered porch in DC?
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Anonymous
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I live near Capitol Hill, but my house is not historically zoned. I have a handy man offering to screen my covered porch for 3.5k. My family is super excited to be able to use porch without getting bitten alive. But now I disappointingly realize this may be job that needs a permit. Should I go through the trouble to get one? I don’t even think my handy man does permitted work. Do I need a permit? Is it actually that risky to not have one?
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Anonymous
| I should say it’s a covered deck in the back technically not a covered porch. |
Anonymous
| I think a deck is always uncovered, so you it’s called a covered porch even if it’s in the back. |
Anonymous
| Will you have any lights or fans? That would need an electrical permit. Will your current deck foundation support the new load of a roof and wall beams? Would need a permit to dig and pour new footers. Unfortunately it's not as quick and easy as you are envisioning, despite, probably generations of home owners slapping them together unpermitted. |
Anonymous
| Can you call and asking permitting office? |
Anonymous
It’s already covered, it’s just screening the existing porch. |
Anonymous
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We screened our existing porch. We did not pull a permit. You're literally changing nothing about the porch except putting on a temporary metal screening.
If you want to make your life worse, try to get a permit. |
Anonymous
| Doesn't screening involve building a frame for the screens? |
Anonymous
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1. No, you don't. Applying for one will only make your life worse.
2. Your handyman is ripping you off. It's ~$450 in materials and two days labor max. Should be about half his estimate. |