Stupid permit question

[Bob Orts]

When a permit is issued and the building is completed and inspected, what is required for the final permit to be finalized?

Structure completed with all walls, windows, exterior doors, roofing installed, sheetrock installed and primed, electrical, plumbing, HVAC installed and inspected.

1. Does the finish flooring material have to be installed or can it be the bare sub floor?
2. Do interior doors have to be installed?
3. Bathroom plumbing is installed with shutoff valves but no fixtures (toilets, sinks, shower, tub). Is this allowed?
4. Electrical installed, outlets covered, switches in place, but all fixtures (lights, fans) are not installed and box is covered with plate. Is this allowed for final?
5. Kitchen water, propane, and electrical are installed with outlets or shutoff valves but no appliances, fixtures or cabinets. Is this allowed?

I guess it's a question of how much is required to finalize the permit. I’ve heard many say that building material is a common theft item as is the fixtures before someone actually moves in. I also was told that often, people buying a new built home may like the layout and design, but not the specific finishes. Could a spec home be built on the idea that the shell is completed, inspected and final and the individual interior decorating is up to the new owner?
Or is this just dumb?

[laniA]

Don't know about the rest but in our case the electric fixtures were required.We were waiting for the specific ones and had to install "whatever" to pass the inspection.

[Carey]

Bob, We had asked this as a back reference question (when we bought our older house it had a final-ed permit for building improvements, but did not have some of the things on your list).

We were told (5 years ago... so this may be ancient history) that if the items were called out for in the stamped drawing, or permit applications, or if they are required by the building code ,they must be installed for the final...

[Kapohocat]

1. Does the finish flooring material have to be installed or can it be the bare sub floor? Sub floor. No floor covering required.

2. Do interior doors have to be installed? Cant remember - sorry!
3. Bathroom plumbing is installed with shutoff valves but no fixtures (toilets, sinks, shower, tub). Is this allowed? Nope. That is rough-in plumbing. Final plumbing must be completed - i.e fixtures.
4. Electrical installed, outlets covered, switches in place, but all fixtures (lights, fans) are not installed and box is covered with plate. Is this allowed for final? Plates allowed for final especially where ceiling fans may go - but you should have some fixtures in.
5. Kitchen water, propane, and electrical are installed with outlets or shutoff valves but no appliances, fixtures or cabinets. Is this allowed? Need sink installed but can be laundry tray sink on 2x 4's. Cabinets are furniture and not required. Stove should be in as again the is final plumbing if gas. The washer and dryer issue go back and forth. You might get away with none as long as the final plumbing is done because a washer is a hose not piping and a plug in. A electric dryer is a plug-in too. Gas dryer is finish plumbing.

quote:

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Could a spec home be built on the idea that the shell is completed, inspected and final and the individual interior decorating is up to the new owner? Or is this just dumb?

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That would be a realtor question!

Catherine Dumond
Blue Water Project Management
http://bluewaterprojects.blogspot.com/
808 965-9261
"We help make building your dream home a reality"

[Aki]

Bob:

This is not a dumb question at all. We have a garage (with full bath) and guest house that we wanted to be finaled first, and then bring the main house along to a state that finalizes things from the county's perspective but allows us to completely finish as time and budget allows. We took out three separate building permits at the outset in order to have maximum flexibility. Originally, we never thought we'd get as far as we did on the main house before a pause. We're from Canada and the exchange rate and labor conditions on the Big Island were such that it made sense to go farther than we had orignially planned. We have a good arrangement with project management as we are building long distance and good trades so we decided to keep going while all was in place. However, we'd like to take our time on the final 'finishing' parts of the main house, given the cost and not wanting to rush and compromise on the final product. So, we are interested in knowing what it would take to final the main house as far as the county is concerned but allow maximum flexibility for finishing the kitchen and baths at a later date. Also, since we have the guest house (less than 500 square feet) and garage complete it is plenty adequate for sleeping, bathing and cooking (with outside BBQ). We also have purchased all the kitchen and laundry appliances for the main house but don't want to get into all the cabinetry work in kitchen and baths at this time. We'd like to leave the flooring and tiling in the bath and kitchen to a time when we can do it right and as our budget will allow. Any experience out there as to what 'minimum' is needed to meet these requirements for a final? In the main house, there are 2 baths and, of course, the kitchen. We were thinking of putting a simple plywood run for counter, put in a sink and faucet, and hook up all the appliances.

[EightFingers]

Once all the permits are finalled, don't you get what's called a certificate of occupancy?

[Rob Tucker]

Actually I don't think you get one officially. I didn't. The inspector told me he just files the final at the office.

[hotinhawaii]

Interior doors must be installed on bathrooms and any other that may be required by code.
Electrical fixtures must be installed if they are the sole light source operated by a wall switch as required by code. Receptacles must be installed. GFI receptacles and covers must be installed. Basically, ceiling fans (if not the only light source) and extra light fixtures don't need to be in but must be capped.

A spec house can't be finaled until most of the interior work is done. You could leave off the paint and floor coverings and kitchen cabinets but that's about it. It wouldn't be very appealing without those though.

[Bob Orts]

Thanks everyone for the response. After much communications and rechecking, it’s a lot of ‘Yes’ must be completed, a few ‘No’ that is not part of the permit process, and a whole bunch of ‘Yes’ if “A”; ‘No’ if “B”; but ‘Yes’ if “B” and also “C”. All in all, the common factor seemed to be what is required by code for the residence to be a residence.

[DanielP]

Toilets and shower stalls must be caulked in to finish flooring in bathroom. I did not have to install any interior doors.