Building Codes: You've Got a Friend at City Hall

That mysterious "code" contractors always talk about isn't the Code of the West. It's probably the Uniform Building Code, or UBC, the legal standard for construction in any given geographical area. The UBC sets forth all requirements for a construction job, from installing a window or a woodstove to building an entire house or office building. In short, it's a set of rules that helps make our structures safe by specifying what methods and materials we can use. If you're renovating, remodeling or building anything that requires a permit, you'll be dealing with codes and the inspectors who enforce them.

The UBC comes in different flavors depending on where you live, and they're all long and complex. The various states, and sometimes even separate counties and municipalities, use differing versions of the UBC, so your project must conform to the version enforced in your locale. How do you find out what will be required to be "up to code?" Easy: let the building department show you from the very beginning.

From the Top: Plans
Most building departments will offer a prepermit meeting with an owner-builder. Here, you can tell them about your project. Generally, they will require a set of plans for approval; these need not be architectural blueprints. For a fence or a small deck, a simple sketch may do. For a room addition, kitchen remodel, new house or other major project, your building department will likely require a set of engineered and approved plans. For this, consult an architect, engineer or plan company (there are entire catalogs of plans out there).

Once you've submitted your plans, the building department will make any changes needed to comply with the local code. They will keep an approved copy of your plans and give a set back to you. Once your plans are approved, you'll receive a building permit and pay a fee based on the value and/or the square footage of your project. Those approved plans are the "rules" for your job.

Ask Questions
If you have questions as you go, ask the folks at the building department. They're the experts, and they're usually happy to work with an owner/contractor. Get them involved from the beginning, and then follow their lead. They'll explain what you must do to make your project conform to the UBC and, in some areas, the building department gives out copies of the pertinent parts of the code to those who request it. Also, building departments can suggest alternative methods of construction that could save you time and money. In fact, most building departments have a hotline for such questions.

Depending on your project, building inspectors will check your progress one or more times. Usually, you'll be required to call in and request an inspection at specified points—which should be clearly explained to you before you start the job.

Don't skip any of these inspection points, or you could be in for a world of trouble. For example, if you pour concrete and you haven't had your footings and forms inspected before the pour, you will have to prove you've included the proper steel reinforcement. How do you prove this? With a jackhammer.

The building department will schedule an inspection within a reasonable time after your call. Typically, lead time is 24 to 48 hours, but this will vary. Don't call for an inspection until you're ready. Inspectors are busy folks, and if you waste their time they won't forget. If they show up on your site while you're still nailing down what they're supposed to inspect, you may wait a week the next time you call.

At inspection time, be sure your work conforms to the UBC. Disagreements over code interpretations sometimes arise, especially in remodeling. Have the original copy of your building permit ready, and listen to the inspector. If you think you have the code on your side, you can make a better case for yourself. The inspector may just sign off on your work. But if there's a problem, the inspector will tell you exactly how to fix it. You'll receive a correction notice, and it will go into your file. You'll need to correct any problems and order a new inspection before you go on to the next part of the job.

Inspectors Are Pros
Most inspectors are real professionals as well as walking construction encyclopedias. If any one person knows the entire UBC (doubtful!), it's an inspector. Try to develop a good working relationship with your inspector, and he or she will help you along with your job. Fill inspectors in ahead of time on what you're going to do, and they can save you a lot of grief. Don't be afraid to ask questions when they're on site; they'd rather keep you from making mistakes than force you to correct them later.

Above all, don't try to slide anything substandard past a building inspector. The inspectors who come to see your project as it develops will be playing by the rules, so play it straight. Don't ask them to bend the rules: They won't risk their jobs for you, and they'll resent your asking for favors. And once it's clear you can't be trusted, an inspector can make your life miserable. Be straight with them and they'll be a great resource.

Bad Apples
This is not to say that there aren't bad inspectors out there. Many contractors can tell you stories about problems they've had with an unqualified or incompetent building inspector. If you suspect this is the case, don't argue. Listen to what the inspector has to say, and keep your opinions about his or her ancestry to yourself. Then call the building department for confirmation of the problem and solution. Most departments have an appeals process for reinspection if there are grounds. But be very sure before you go this route. Most inspectors are up on the code, and they're usually right.

Codes and Contractors
Even if you're hiring a contractor to do the work, your local building inspectors can still be helpful. While most building departments cannot, by law, say that one builder is better than another, they do keep records of infractions and problems. These files are in the public record, and you can use them to check up on a contractor before hiring. Once the job is underway, always be at your job site when the inspector comes. Keep your eyes and ears open (and your mouth shut), and you'll get a good idea of how good a job your contractor is doing. Capable contractors maintain professional working relationships with inspectors. They do the job right, with only minimal corrections. If you find your contractor is being corrected a lot or, worse, is trying to hide things from an inspector, you definitely have a problem. But you won't know it unless you're there during inspections.

Electrical Work
Electrical work, inspections and the codes that govern them are a world unto themselves, a world that's ruled by the National Electrical Code. If your job involves new wiring or extensive rewiring, you must obtain an electrical permit, and a special electrical inspector will examine and approve every bit of your work.

Electricity is pretty unforgiving, and if wiring isn't correct, someone can get hurt. Key steps of an electrical job must be approved, and when this is done in stages, you often can solicit advice from the inspector about succeeding steps.

Bottom line: Although the physical act of wiring requires only basic skills, a comprehensive understanding of the subject takes years. If you're out of your depth, get a permit and hire a licensed electrician. That way, you know the job's done right.

Steve Blenk is a professional woodworker with 20 years' experience in both the building trades and furniture industry. He has served as a contributing editor for several major woodworking publications, and is currently building his own house in the Pacific Northwest.