Do I need a Building Permit?
· Building permits are required for all new buildings - new homes, commercial buildings, garages, sheds over 120 square feet in floor area - all new buildings constructed within the city limits of the City of Ames
Are you constructing a new building?
You need a permit!
· Building permits are required for all new additions to existing buildings - room additions, garage additions, second story additions, decks, porches with or without roofs - permits are required for all new floor area added to an existing home, commercial building, garage, shed, barn, storage building
Are you adding a new addition to an existing building?
You need a permit!
· Building permits are required for all interior remodeling of existing homes, apartments, commercial, industrial, storage buildings - all changes to the inside of all buildings requires a building permit, unless you answer no to all the questions in the section below.
Are you remodeling an existing building?
You need a permit! - Unless you answer NO to ALL of these questions:
___Am I removing more than 32 square feet of sheetrock or plaster from any wall?
___Am I going to fur out and finish a basement wall?
___Am I building a new interior or exterior wall?
___Am I removing an existing interior or exterior wall?
___Am I making repairs that include the cutting away of a part of any wall or partition?
___Am I removing or cutting any structural beam or load-bearing support?
___Am I going to cut an opening for a window or doorway in an existing wall?
___Am I installing a replacement window or door in an opening that needs to be made larger or smaller?
___Am I changing the location of a doorway?
___Am I going to replace a window in a sleeping room on any floor of the house?
___Am I rearranging any parts of the building that affect the way people get in or out of the building?
- If you answered YES to ANY of these questions, then
YOU NEED A BUILDING PERMIT!
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Click here and scroll to Section 5.104. of the Ames Municipal Code
to see the full legal text
How do I get a building permit?
It's a three step process -
1- submit an application form
Click here to see a digital form and then -
Print it off and submit a hard copy application to our office, OR -
Copy the application as a word document, fill it out and submit to us as an
e-mail attachment, OR -
Stop at our office and fill out a hard copy application - our staff will help you
2- submit your project plans
Submit digital plans, drawings, projects description as an e-mail attachment, OR
Stop at our office and drop us a copy of your project plans
3- come in for a pre-construction conference
Every project has different inspection needs
After we've reviewed your submittals, we'd like to meet with you in our office or at your site and share information. We need to know about your project objectives and you need to know about the inspection and code compliance process. We want you to have the best possible building experience by building a foundation of good communication and understanding from the very start of your project.
During our meeting, we'll talk about any code concerns we may have noted during our review of your submittals, we may ask for more information, and we'll reply to any code or process questions you have.
Email the Inspection Division: inspections@city.ames.ia.us
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