Building Permits For Screen Enclosures: Necessary Pain In the ASS

If you've started the process of getting a permit for your new screen enclosure, you've certainly heard about permits.  Chances are your contractor has told you that it could take 2-4 months. -- that is true. 

 In many building departments getting in touch with an official who is responsible for issuing the permit is difficult -- making it feel like you are communicating with the 'Wizard of Oz' behind a curtain.  The end result is a frustrating process. 

The first part of that time line is usually surveying and engineering.  Each must be done in a lineal fashion and can take a couple weeks.  Many of the reputable and established engineers and surveyors will have a work queue a couple weeks out.  After those are done the permit will be applied for.

Some building departments are efficient while others are like a black hole.  In many building departments getting in touch with an official who is responsible for issuing the permit is difficult -- making it feel like you are communicating with the 'Wizard of Oz' behind a curtain.  The end result is a frustrating process.  The top screen enclosure contractors generally have some direct lines of contact with a building official they can contact to usher things along, but that doesn't always work in everyone's favor.  

When I was a contractor, I would follow up with the building officials so diligently that they eventually told me I was being annoying and said "they will get to it, when they get to it".

You might wonder why you even need a building permit, or feel that they are unnecessary.  That is a fair thought but after years in the building industry I have came to seem them as necessary for maintaining a developed community.  The permit process is intended to make sure that all structures are build solid and in compliance with community standards.  It is intended to keep your neighbor from putting junk on their property.  Think about it like this, if your neighbor puts up a non permitted screen enclosure by an unlicensed contractor, it will probably look like crap, and likely become an airborne projectile during the next storm

SO although building permits can be a real pain in the ass, they are ultimately necessary for keeping the community in check.  

More info on screen enclosure permits at: http://screenenclosureguide.com