Help Code Office help you: Do your best to hire a professional

Q: We want to build a new house. What is required before we start?

A: Of course a building permit and all the normal stuff like surveys, plot plans, construction plans, energy code compliance sheets and septic system design prepared by an engineer.

Q: You can see where the house is on the lot, why do we need a survey?

A: To verify exactly the setback distances to all property lines or shorelines and distances to other existing buildings on the property and to verify that the property markers have not been disturbed.

Q: Oh!, We can give you that information, we used a yard stick and flipped it over and over, end-over-end and measured everything! We have lots of room!

A: A surveyor’s method of measuring is highly accurate; I doubt your yard stick is that accurate.

Q: I do know how to use a yard stick and I did it twice and took the average.

A: Still, the surveyor is a licensed professional, we will need his certification. You said you have plans for the house…..

Q: I have the plans right here… is this okay?

A: This is a picture of a house out of a magazine!

Q: Yeah, isn’t a great looking little house! Why, do you need something else?

A: Yes. Construction drawings, all the specifics to snow load design, wind design, fire safety design, and energy code compliance.

This picture only offers an idea what the house will look like, not if it meets the minimum standards of the codes involved.

Q: We are hiring all the local contractors so they will know what has to be done, so we don’t need plans.

A: State law requires plans.

Q: I was told that since we are from Connecticut and we own the property, we do not have to meet the New York Code.

A: The Code applies any structures built in New York.

Q: Ah-ha! We are using a modular home company based in Connecticut, which is where the house is built!

A: The code applies to any structure built in, placed in or used in New York.

The Connecticut codes do not apply.

Q: I would think they would because the Connecticut codes are so much better than the New York codes.

A: Actually, both states use the International Building Code as their model code.

Each state may change a few things to be consistent with the needs or preferences of the state.

But for the most part they are substantially the same.

Q: So if I get a survey done of the property, show where the new house will be, get a set of construction drawings, you’ll give us the building permit?

A: There is one thing more, you need to talk to an engineer regarding the new septic system.

Q: We will not need that either! We are going to use the existing system and just tie into it!

A: There is already a system on the property?

Q: Well yeah….for our house, is that a problem?

A: You have not built the house yet.

Q: Not the new house, for the house that’s there now!

A: Oh, I see, you want to build a second house.

Q: That’s right. Why is that a problem?

A: Having two single family dwellings on one property may be allowed if the property is large enough as required by density.

Q: Anyone can tell if there is room, just stand on the lot and look!

A: The survey will show the lot area and setbacks, and then we can determine if the property is big enough for two houses.

Please consider hiring a design professional in the site plan, building plans and permit process.

Sometimes what seems so simple to one person is actually a little more complicated… but none of it is rocket science.