Building Codes are constantly changing because of improvements in building safety (sprinklers, construction materials, earthquake bracing, etc.), changes in regulations addressing social issues (wheelchair access, counter heights, etc.), aesthetic or energy efficiency reasons, and zoning reasons. Even if your building is only a few years old it is very likely that the building codes would not allow you to rebuild your building exactly the way that it was built originally.
Do you need any building permits Chicago for a residential or commercial project? The submittal process can often be confusing from changing requirements and conflicting information. This is where Permit Studio can help.
From the Easy Permit or more complex permits, Permit Studio is here to help. Obtaining building permits Chicago is vital for any renovation or remodeling project that can change the look or structure of a building.
These permits are important for contractors, and we are here to provide you with anything that you may need when it comes to applying, checking the status of the permit, and keeping any permit up to date.
Your reaction to the above may very well be "So? My building is fine for now and I will deal with the code changes if I ever decide to move or tear this building down". It is true that most code changes only apply to new construction and that existing buildings are grand-fathered until they are remodeled or re-built. (By the way, the threshold at which remodeling triggers mandatory upgrades is very low in some jurisdictions. Be sure to check with the building department before starting even minor remodeling or you may be in for a shock when the inspector requires you to make additional changes for which you had not budgeted such as restroom upgrades.) There are exceptions for critical safety issues such as emergency lighting and earthquake bracing that require immediate compliance, but for the most part an out of code building is allowed to be used as is.
Even if you have no plans to move or renovate there may be a serious issue that must be addressed. Most building codes trigger an upgrade when the building is damaged beyond a certain percentage. If the building is damaged beyond this percentage (50% is common) then the building must be brought up to the standards applying to new construction.
If the mandatory upgrades are minor this may not be important, but what if the issues are major and require changes that can only be made by tearing the building down and rebuilding? Or perhaps the occupancy is no longer allowed and the building can not be rebuilt at all?
You may not have thought about these issues and it is even less likely that you considered their implications on your insurance program.
They are consultants with the goal of helping their clients obtain building permits fast and easy. At Permit Studio, they pride on building positive relationships with both their clients and city officials. From their first meeting, you’ll know that you can trust them to provide you with superior service.
The basic problem is simple: the standard insurance policies are only going to pay the cost of fixing what was damaged. If the building could have been repaired to its prior condition for $200,000 that is all the insurance company is going to pay even if it costs an additional $700,000 to tear it down and rebuild it to code.
There are several components to this problem and each needs to be addressed:
There are solutions to these problems but before we can discuss solutions it is important to do some investigation to determine the extent of your non-compliance. We suggest the following: