5 Things About Building Permits in Solon

Itching to build that new garage? Making plans to add a large addition to your place?

If you have any kind of building or renovation work planned, the first step is to make sure you have the proper city permits. Home improvement work is stressful enough without city building officials breathing down your neck because you didn't follow the rules.

So here are five tips you should know about the permit process in Solon.

1. Find Out If You Need A Permit: Beyond the general building permit, the city requires permits for work such as roofing, fence installation, siding, and landscaping. Click the links to pull up the applications for these permits.

So the first thing you should do is call the city building department at 440-349-6737, explain the work you're planning and find out if you need a permit for it.

If you're hiring a contractor to do the work, then likely they will handle the permit process for you. But make sure you and the contractor are on the same page about that before you hire anyone.

2. You Will Pay a Fee: Of course, you will have to pay a fee to get whatever permit you need. For a list of all the fees, check out the pdf attached to this article. Generally, fees are paid after the permit has been reviewed by the city and approved.

3. Contractor Registration: The city of Solon requires that all contractors be registered with the building department before working in Solon. So make sure your contractor is registered before he starts the job. Check out the city's website for more information about registration.

4. The Review Process: A residential building permit application for a single-family home will be reviewed by three departments: the building department, the planning and development department and the engineering department. Luckily for the homeowner, the reviews happen at the same time. You will need to submit construction documents –  check with the city to make sure you submit everything that's required – and other information so your application can be reviewed.

5. The Work Will Be Inspected: Building officials will come out to your place to make sure the work is being performed as described in the permit. You will have to call the city to schedule the inspections. To learn more, visit the city's inspections website.

BONUS: When in Doubt, Ask: Remember, it's better to make sure you have dotted all your i's and crossed all your t's before doing anything. If you have questions about anything, call the city and ask