Permitting for Renovation in DC

[Anonymous]

We are doing a pretty massive gut job/interior rebuild on a house in NE DC. We're on a very limited budget and I'd rather not go to an architect and spend money there for drawings, as I trust the contractor we've worked with in the past and most of this cosmetic, and I am not too picky about the minute details. Granted, I want to make sure the fridge doors can open after it gets installed, but he's got that covered.

The contractor did say certain components of the job would need a permit pulled though, and I'm not sure if drawings are required if I go down to DCRA and try to pull them myself? Do I need detailed electric or plumbing drawings if all we intend to do is move a toilet a few feet and put in some can lights? If I don't pull a permit for this type of work will it even be noticed?

Anther issue he said would be the opening of a wall that would likely require a support beam, and the conversion of a poorly built add-on room to a screened in porch.

Any thoughts or experience you can share, about what permits are required and how to best go about pulling them myself on a shoestring, I'd appreciate it. Is there a less-expensive way I can go about getting drawings than $150/hour for an architect? A draftsman I could possibly call? Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to check to see if you found anyone..I'm looking for the same for a place in Reston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are doing a pretty massive gut job/interior rebuild on a house in NE DC. We're on a very limited budget and I'd rather not go to an architect and spend money there for drawings, as I trust the contractor we've worked with in the past and most of this cosmetic, and I am not too picky about the minute details. Granted, I want to make sure the fridge doors can open after it gets installed, but he's got that covered.

The contractor did say certain components of the job would need a permit pulled though, and I'm not sure if drawings are required if I go down to DCRA and try to pull them myself? Do I need detailed electric or plumbing drawings if all we intend to do is move a toilet a few feet and put in some can lights? If I don't pull a permit for this type of work will it even be noticed?

Anther issue he said would be the opening of a wall that would likely require a support beam, and the conversion of a poorly built add-on room to a screened in porch.

Any thoughts or experience you can share, about what permits are required and how to best go about pulling them myself on a shoestring, I'd appreciate it. Is there a less-expensive way I can go about getting drawings than $150/hour for an architect? A draftsman I could possibly call? Thanks in advance!

You will need permits, but you can get them through the Homeowners Center at DCRA and they are much more forgiving for the quality of your drawings than the regular process for large renovations. Are you capable of drawing them at all? I started with a measuring tape and graph paper for my own for a full gut of a rowhome in NW.

Your contractor, electrician, and plumber should be able to help you create the drawings or at least get started. What you don't want to happen is permit only part of it, have an inspection, and then get a stop work order because you should have permitted something that wasn't on the plans you submitted.

[Anonymous]

I understand shoestring budgets, but for a whole house reno I would never pull my own permits. As owner, you are responsible for them being pulled and for your contractor's quality to code work.

I do urge you to let your contractor pull your permits: he will have to have licensing in D.C. and will have to have the trades write up their work too. If they are subs, be sure you understand they are qualified as well as the contract stipulating he pays for their work so you don't get a lien.

As for the drawings, your GC should be able to give you any of his/her structural engineers names or other.