5 Things You Need To Know About Getting Building Permits In Mentor

1. If you think you might need a permit for a project, you probably do.

Decks, fences, pools, sidings, sheds, porches, enclosures, sidewalks, apron, driveway paving -- even internal stuff like plumbing, electrical or HVAC changes require a permit.

2. You won't know exactly what the permit costs until after the project is approved by the city of Mentor's Building Department.

The cost of a permit changes depending on the size and nature of a project; and the myriad types of permit make it impossible to list every formula here.

However, the Building Department will be able to give you more specific information when you apply for the permit.

3. To apply for a permit, you'll need to fill out the necessary paperwork, which is all conveniently available online.

Then you'll need to bring that and two copies of the construction drawings to .

The drawings need to include a site plan that shows where the structure will be and how far it is from all of your property lines. Plans must also show how the structure will be built, which includes the materials you intend to use.

Once dropped off, the Building Department will get back to you in about five days. (That's for residential projects. Commercial projects have a very different timeline.)

4. If you're going to use a contractor, they need to be registered with the city of Mentor and properly licensed.

If you use an unregistered contractor and claim to do the work yourself, that can void your permit.

If you want to see if somebody is registered in Mentor, call the Building Department at Building@cityofmentor.com.

5. If you have any more questions, there's a good chance that the city answers it on the Building Department's web site