Ask a Professional - September 2006

A friend of mine told me that I don’t need a permit for this job….. but I’m not so sure?
    Another friend of mine had trouble selling his house because he needed a permit!

If you're not sure about this, the best thing to do is to ask a licensed professional contractor. “Licensed” does not mean that he/she has a driver’s license or a business license. He/she must be licensed by the state of California in the classification of your project. If it is an electrical repair use an electrician and so forth. Anything with 2 or more unrelated trades that incorporates a residential or commercial building project requires a B classification. Assuming you do not need a permit can be costly and is not worth it! Example: Exchange windows for the same size in the same place. You probably don’t need a permit… however, if the size and/or location is different the answer is YES you’ll need a permit and plans.