CHARLOTTE - Are you building a deck? Installing a new water heater? Updating your wiring? Overhauling your plumbing? You'll need a permit – and Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement has made it easier than ever to get one.
With the recent introduction of Homeowner Internet Permitting (HIP) and Trade Internet Permitting (TIP), contractors and do-it-yourselfers can get permits on the Web – which eliminates waits in line and, in the case of TIP, can save money. It's part of a large-scale effort to make all Code Enforcement activities automated, online, paperless and seamlessly efficient by 2012.
Take a closer look at how HIP and TIP make permitting easier.
Homeowner Internet Permitting
Homeowner Internet Permitting (HIP) allows residents to secure permits from home in less than 10 minutes. Through the application, the homeowner acts as the general contractor for home improvements, but Code Enforcement still offers any needed guidance in ensuring that homeowners meet criteria for permitting.
HIP's interface is designed to maximize ease of use. Residents answer a series of questions to determine their project's eligibility for permits. Projects that get the green light will proceed quickly through the process; those that don't – including projects that must go through the plan review process – will be directed to the Residential Technical Assistance Center to help resolve any issues that arise.
As with traditional permitting, Code Enforcement verifies compliance with local ordinances and validates subcontractor licenses, and permits are paid for online. Homeowners, like professional contractors, can print permits immediately and post them at the work site so work can start immediately. To learn more about which projects require permits and to use HIP, go to
www.meckpermit.com and look under "Homeowners."
Trade Internet Permitting
Mecklenburg County requires contractors to have plumbing, electrical and/or mechanical permits for certain projects, including equipment changeouts for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) and water heaters. Now, contractors can use TIP to secure permits on the Web 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As with HIP, TIP leads users through a series of questions to verify a project's permit eligibility. Then, they can pay for and print a permit – in a matter of minutes.
Upon securing the permit, the contractor can go to work and request an inspection. TIP allows contractors working on projects that don't require building permits to quickly and efficiently achieve code compliance.
Because of an increase in permit fees that took effect July 1, 2009, individual permits will now start at $60. For projects that require both an electrical and mechanical permit, for example, the cost would be at least $120. Contractors who use TIP will be charged $90 – a savings of $30. A larger project would incur higher permit fees.
HIP and TIP underscore the importance of securing permits for home improvements. Many additions and home improvements require permits. If an accident takes place on the site of unpermitted work, legal risks arise, and insurance may not cover any subsequent claims. Also, in the case of resale, lenders may require sellers to show permits for work that has been completed.
HIP and TIP are just a few of the key changes Code Enforcement is making to firmly anchor the department's place as a national technology leader. Electronic Plan Management and the A/E Pass Rate Incentive Program are online initiatives that also seek to help Code Enforcement better serve its increasingly Web-savvy customer base. The goal? Be entirely digital and paperless by 2012.
For more information on Code Enforcement's vision for a streamlined future, go to
www.meckpermit.com.
