Lets say someone (totally not me) started removing an inground pool without realizing that a building permit would be needed cause why the berkeley do you need a permit to remove a pool. What would be the best course of action moving forward? Does this person finish filling it themselves without telling anyone? Or go talk to the permit people and see what happens? What would likely happen?
Talk to permit people. Side benefit might be lower estimated property value which would lower taxes more than enough to cover the permit cost. You'd probably have to fill out some additional paperwork for the property revaluation.
Number one that’s ridiculous.
with that out of the way there are two ways i look at this because of my profession. If it were my house, no way i’m paying for a permit to bust some concrete and move some dirt. If it were my customer’s house, i’m getting all the required paperwork and inspections.
If you plan to live there for a long time, get the permit. You only need one for your lifetime because whenever you are doing something, officials (and nosy neighbors) only look to see if you have a permit displayed. No one walks up close enough to actually read the thing. Once you have one, you are good forvever.
pinchvalve said:If you plan to live there for a long time, get the permit. You only need one for your lifetime because whenever you are doing something, officials (and nosy neighbors) only look to see if you have a permit displayed. No one walks up close enough to actually read the thing. Once you have one, you are good forvever.
My sister did that. We got a permit for her front door. Then we did her roof, windows, electric, plumbing, furnace, garage door. Every time she just taped the front door permit to the window. I did the same with the house i rebuilt. Windows, doors, roof, wiring, plumbing, furnace. I pulled a plumbing permit. The reason we did is because the city of Cleveland’s inspectors are so busy with the new buildings downtown that they don’t even return your call for residential inspections let alone bother scheduling one. I called 5 times for the rough plumbing inspections with no response to my voicemails before i gave up and finished everything.
Get the permit. In some places unpermitted work can cause a huge headache when trying to sell.
My neighbor decided to build a bigger deck on the back of his house with a three season patio enclosure on 1/2 of it without pulling a permit. I asked him why not, he said the county will never see it on the back of his house. Well, they did see it ... from above while doing mapping runs from the air. Big *** fine followed ... he is actually lucky they didn’t make him tear it down.
All that said, a permit to remove a pool sounds like an odd requirement.
I would think there are a couple of upsides to getting the permit. Lower property taxes and house insurance would be at the top of the list. The only downside would be that you would have to do the job correctly...
In reply to 93EXCivic :
There are too many variables. It depends on your city your neighbors, who’s doing it and a thousand other things.
Ask neighbors. Friends etc. because the consequences can be absolutely ruinous.
Could possibly need a demolition permit which may track where the debris goes to make sure it doesn't end up in the woods down the street..and that the giant hole is filled properly. Plus most towns seem to think permits are a good way to make money.
Many towns don't want the concrete just buried in the yard. Paperwork sucks but see what they want done first, may not be a big deal. Call in and ask "for a friend".
In most municipalities, the permit is a bureaucratic paper move for stuff like this. It doesn't have anything to do with big brother or overbearing legality, its that they need the information. They need to know that you're removing a pool for property value and accurate recording. Some states require that real estate has to be listed for sale based on public records. If you remove a pool and don't have it permitted, you could have the conundrum of being forced to re-install a pool before you sell to be legal. If you advertise it without a pool, it contradicts public record. If you advertise it with a pool (from public record) and there is no pool, you're lying and its a crime. Not sure if that is true where you are, but it affected me in PA.
When I bought my first house in Pittsburgh, it was listed as a 3 bed/1.5 bath despite the fact it was actually a 3/2. In the 60s, they temporarily made it into upstairs/downstairs apartments, so they had to make the half bath into a full bath. There was no permitting then, so the public record was never changed from the original 3/1.5. In that case, they overlooked the permitting thing because I was getting more than I bargained for. But before I sold it, I would have permitted the extra bath facilities. The $47 permit fee would have paid off since I would have made more than $47 on selling a 3/2 compared to a 3/1.5. (in the end, the ex wife got the house so its her problem now)
They're not trying to oversee your choice of removing a pool, they're just using bureaucracy to maintain their records.
Always ask, but don't worry too much about it. They won't take you to jail. Dad just had his driveway paved and didn't get it permitted. The local permit dude stopped in and said, "hey, I noticed you did your driveway. Looks great. I'm sure you didn't know, but it needs to be permitted so here are the application forms." I think he gave dad 90 days.
It would be different if you were constructing a 40x40 garage. They might stop construction in that case.
I think the issue with a pool is that some people will just fill them with dirt. You need to remove the concrete and whatever else was there. They want you to fill a hole with dirt, not just fill a pool with dirt if that makes sense. It's also a way for the municipality to make money.
If where you live uses the IBC and in this case the IRC the removal of a pool technically falls in to an alteration level one and that requires a permit. Removing a pool is not maintenance and as such requires a permit. Demo permits are very common in construction.
Am I likely to get fined since the bottom of the pool is completely smashed up and laying in a pile at what used to be the deep in and all the pool equipment is gone if I now go get a permit?
In reply to 93EXCivic :
I doubt it. You will probably be seeking a demolition permit. Around here they won't see the until you are finished, even if then. Do not be surprised if they ask you if you have had an asbestos evaluation done.
93EXCivic said:Am I likely to get fined since the bottom of the pool is completely smashed up and laying in a pile at what used to be the deep in and all the pool equipment is gone if I now go get a permit?
You could always just say that's the way you found it. Always been like that.
Inquire about the permit. I like the idea about asking for a friend, or a hypothetical situation. Find out costs and requirements, then you have more info with which to proceed.
In reply to 93EXCivic :
Did you take pictures before filling to show the concrete was no longer intact? (assuming a concrete lined pool)
Do NOT get a permit now, you will likely have to dig it out to show the concrete is no longer intact.
Mine was an above ground pool (half dug in) with no concrete except around the support posts I never considered getting a permit to remove it. The concrete from all the posts went in the hole first, and I got the fill dirt free and delivered by the city saving them dump fees and fuel.
There are no hard-fast rules as each township tends to be different and have different levels of enforcement. If you did the work yourself, you can probably stop work, go pull the permit and plead ignorance. You can often find the permit fees on your twp website. I doubt it'll be a lot of money. Consequences can also vary depending on what kind of records the twp has for your property. As mentioned it can become a big hassle if the plot plan they have on record doesn't match when you want to sell.
Probably varies by township, but it may be better to ask forgiveness than permission...
bentwrench said:In reply to 93EXCivic :
Did you take pictures before filling to show the concrete was no longer intact? (assuming a concrete lined pool)
Do NOT get a permit now, you will likely have to dig it out to show the concrete is no longer intact.
Mine was an above ground pool (half dug in) with no concrete except around the support posts I never considered getting a permit to remove it. The concrete from all the posts went in the hole first, and I got the fill dirt free and delivered by the city saving them dump fees and fuel.
There is no fill in it yet other then the busted up concrete so you can still see that there is no bottom anymore.
You don't need a building permit. You are not building anything.
You might need a demo permit.
Permits are cheap. Get one- it will make your life easier.
I have worked in hundreds of municipalities. The worst "fine" I've ever heard of for starting building without a permit is doubling the permit fee, which is pretty cheap. Again, you are not building
Ive never heard of this being imposed on someone who voluntarily asked for a permit. It's usually only done when they catch you. Even then, it's easy to talk your way out of.
In reply to 93EXCivic :
Are you SURE a permit is required?
Id be really surprised.
You're in Alabama.
How can this be??
SVreX said:In reply to 93EXCivic :
Are you SURE a permit is required?
Id be really surprised.
Not 100% Going to call later today.
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