A brief informative blog about the importance of obtaining house plans for your project such as what is included and why they are a good idea to have.

Depending on the project, you may be thinking: Do I really need house plans?

The short answer is yes, you will need house plans. For most projects you will need professional construction and permit drawings in order for the city to approve your permit application and for your builder to accurately perform their job.

There existed a time when a quick layout sketch with a break line on small grid paper would be sufficient. Those days are no longer. All the municipalities throughout Greater Victoria require professional drawings and most areas throughout BC do as well. Each municipality has their own website to provide the public with adequate information regarding their project and what they require. You can check them out at places like www.victoria.ca, www.saanich.ca or www.langford.ca.

You may still be thinking: What does a professional provide for my house plans that I can’t do myself? A question frequently asked and discovered the hard way through rejection from the city. That question that is the topic of today’s blog.

Professional Consultation

You may have all your ideas down on paper and are confident in what you want. I still suggest you talk to a professional about your project so you can find out about things you have not foreseen; there will be some things. This is the same with anything, really. Somebody who works in a certain industry every day will have insight and knowledge that somebody who doesn’t work in that industry does not possess. Talking to a professional will position you on the right track to ensure you are getting the best possible design. There’s no such thing as too much knowledge about a subject.

During the design stage of your house plans, a professional can help guide you through various aspects of your design. Maybe you haven’t taken space planning into consideration and have not left enough space in a hallway or in your dining room. Maybe the closet you have laid out is not actually big enough to hold clothes hangers properly. Items like this are things that a professional will know and will catch during the design stage to protect you against issues down the road. There are loads of other examples I could dive in to involving specified knowledge that a professional can bring to the table. Providing an acceptable floor plan layout that suits your needs and flows correctly is only a small part of what the professional designer provides.

Zoning Regulation and Building Code Knowledge

Of course, an obvious reason for getting house plans designed by a professional is to ensure that they are completed properly and meet all the zoning ordinances and building code regulations. If you don’t often work with these two regulations, things may be missed — even if you think you have done a thorough job. Confirming that your project meets all necessary regulations can be a challenge if you don’t work with these two regulations often.

Zoning regulations are the city’s land management documents that regulate how land, buildings and other structures may be used. Properties in any given area are actually divided into things called zones. These zones have specific regulations tied to them. This management system – along with many other purposes — is to ensure that issues such as commercial structures constructed in deep residential areas do not take place. A professional knows how to find your property’s zone, how to interpret your zone’s regulations and how to confirm that you are following all regulations required by the city.

The BC Building Code is a provincial legal document based on the federal legal document known as the National Building Code. The BC Building Code is the single most important document in the province that regulates how structures are to be built to a certain standard, ensuring safety and reliability. The building code is extensive and very technical. It is true that anyone can view the building code at www.bccodes.ca, however, will you know where to find the information you require? And if you do, can you interpret it? A professional designer works with the building code every day. Because of that expertise, a professional can provide you with house plans that meet all the required regulations for construction.

Construction Documents

Obtaining the construction documents from a professional is necessary to apply for building permit and for construction. The drawings are completed in a format that the municipality is looking for at building permit application. For almost every project, you will need to get a building permit. Only few projects fall out of the realm of obtaining a building permit – items such as replacing fixtures and painting, but that’s about it.

If you’re thinking you don’t need a building permit, you may be opening yourself up to liability. How will you know that your project meets the necessary regulations? How will you know the project is being constructed adequately and safely? You don’t. Imagine receiving a stop work order (an official stop and desist order from the city) on a project you’ve already sunk $100,000 into, only to find out no amount of drawings can solve the situation because the new unpermitted structure is within your property’s setback. I’ve seen it. You don’t want to. That situation can become very costly.

Obtaining a full set of construction drawings for your project is the right decision. In this way you can be secure in knowing your project is built correctly and that you are safe from any liability. One of the first things an insurance company looks for during a claim is unpermitted areas of your house. That should tell you everything you need to know.

Municipal Coordination Experience

As time progresses, working with the municipalities is becoming more complex. Some people would prefer to not go down to the city at all. A professional designer must have municipal coordination experience in order to get their plans through the permit application process. There are 13 municipalities in Greater Victoria and each have their own regulations that are slightly different from the other. Knowing this and understanding how to tailor each set of house plans to the respective municipality so the permit process goes as smoothly as possible is the job of a professional designer.

Without the experience of working with the municipality, you may be running down to the city multiple times just to get information. This may end up costing you more in time than if you hired a professional to begin with. Also, if you don’t know what questions to ask, you may not get the information you require. Even if you have everything you need, your drawings may not be in the format acceptable by the municipality. The list goes on and on. That’s why working with a professional who works closely with the municipalities on a daily basis can be the difference between obtaining your permit on time or being unexpectedly set back on your project.

Conclusion

Obtaining professional construction and permit ready house plans for your project is a good idea. All other professionals relating to your project will use the drawings to perform their tasks properly. You can learn about which professionals here. Proper drawings from a professional provides you with safety and ease of mind during the permit phase, the construction stage and well into the future after all construction is completed.

Proper construction drawings and following the legal permit system safeguards you against inadequate construction practices and unwanted liability. The last thing you want is to be left with a project that doesn’t work well for your needs compounded by unsettling feelings. You will see your new project every day when completed. Make sure it reminds you of a positive experience, not regret.