What's A House Permit Jacket? 10/21/2010
 I have learned quite a bit about homes and home construction during the six months of our remediation. I have also learned about building permits and other documentation about homes that reside within your local township/city/municipality. Information that I believe each of us should have in our possession. Most permits required by townships/cities/municipalities reside in a folder titled “House Permit Jacket.” Before our remediation began, we acquired a copy of the contents of our House Permit Jacket. I called up the township office and gave them my address. The woman who answered told me that she would have a copy ready for me in a few days. Because there were fewer than fifteen pages in total, there was no charge for these copies. When I picked up the copies and looked through them, here’s what I found: · The Application for Plan Examination and Building Permit. · Building Permit and Building Permit Number. (This document included the Inspection Record which listed all the inspections that were made of our house, the dates that the inspections were made; the progress, corrections and remarks for each of these inspections; and the signature of the inspector who conducted each of these inspections.) · Building Permit Calculation Sheet – This determined how much the building permit would cost. · Application for Permit – This was needed to construct the driveway. · Certification that the plumbing contractor installed fixtures and faucets to conform to the Municipality’s Ordinance Number. · Water Quality Management Permit – Sewage. · Health Department Potability Standards – Water coming into the home was tested for “Total Plate Count” and “Coliform” levels. The E.P.A. MCL Suggested Limit in 1999 was 500/l ml for Total Plate count and Absent for Coliform. · Workers’ Compensation Insurance Coverage Information – This document was notarized. · Notice of Intent to Construct and Comply – The builder signed this form warranting that the building referenced was constructed in accordance with the provisions of the Building Energy Conservation Act of 1980 (in our cas) and its current regulations. · Map showing our home and the surrounding area. In order for someone to live in a newly-constructed home, the city or township needs to issue a Certificate of Occupancy. The Certificate of Occupancy was the last inspection that the Code Enforcement Official make on the Inspection Record before the new owners could move in. When this was issued, it stated that all the necessary inspections were performed to ensure that our home was built to the minimum code standards for health and safety. At least, this was the way it was in 1999 in Pennsylvania. But what the Certificate of Occupancy doesn’t tell you is how well the home was built. But, that’s another Blog! For more information on Pennsylvania’s Building Codes visit: http://www.generalcode.com/options/pabuildingcode.html CommentsLeave a Reply |  Kathryn M. Barto AuthorHi! ArchivesOctober 2010 Categories |
RSS Feed