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City Lights: Do you need a permit for that shed, or fence? Just give a call
by Paul Stagg, Zoning Administrator · Op-Ed · April 02, 2015
With spring time and warmer weather fast approaching we will be entering into a new building season soon.
This is the time that you will finally be able to start that home improvement project you have been thinking about all winter or perhaps fence in the back yard or build that shed that you have always wanted. As the local building official for the City of West Branch I get a lot of questions regarding whether or not a permit from the City is required for various projects.
The short answer is βit just depends.β
In general, any project that involves something being constructed, structurally altered, additional electrical, plumbing, or mechanical components, most likely requires a permit.
Each project is unique and may or may not have aspects that would trigger the permit process. To complicate things further, there are some projects that do not require a permit but they still have Code requirements that must be adhered to. For example a shed that is less than two hundred square feet in area can be placed in a rear yard without a building permit but City Code requires that it meet setback requirements of at least three feet from the side property line and five feet from the rear property line to the structure.
The purpose behind building codes and permits is to give reasonable assurance that a home or structure is safe from structural failure, fire hazards from electrical and heating systems, electrical shock and health risks. Building permits and inspections are required by state and local laws to confirm that minimum building standards have been met and that no fire/life/safety issues exist. The permits provide a permanent record of work performed and inspections conducted on the project.
The City of West Branch Code of Ordinances is available on the city Web site β www.westbranchiowa.org β and the international building codes that have been adopted by the City of West Branch are available in various locations on the Internet.
However, before you navigate thousands of pages of codes to determine whether or not you need a permit or what the applicable requirements are for your next project, feel free to stop by the city office and pick up one of my business cards from the front desk. I am always happy to answer any building related questions you may have or assist with any necessary permits to get you started. I can be reached via email at pauls@westbranchiowa.org or by phone at (319) 631-0716.
Thank you and I look forward to talking with you about your next building project!
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