Plan, Permit, Perform: Keep Your “P’s” in Order

Discover why it is important for trade contractors to pull permits before beginning a job.

Read a few potential consequences of failing to properly pull trade contractor permits.

Fresh air and renewed gusto are springtime trademarks in Northeast Ohio. We feel excited and energetic for sprucing up and change. Usually, this is the start of the busy season for trade contractors, lining up jobs, assessing equipment, and brushing up on legal requirements. One of the key legal requirements for trade contractors is pulling a permit in the jurisdiction where a job is located before starting any work.

Most jurisdictions in Northeast Ohio have building codes, which dictate minimum standards for construction. Building codes are intended to ensure safe occupancy of

structure(s) and to prevent accidents and injuries. Common trade contracting activity that is subject to local building codes is work involving structural walls or supports, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing. Aside from complying with the law, common sense suggests all trade contractors benefit from obtaining necessary permits before beginning any job. While the following is not all-inclusive and is not intended as professional advice, it does highlight important considerations for trade contractors:

• Increased costs to your trade contracting business in the form of fines due to failure to obtain proper permits. The flip side of this is that by pulling proper permits, you may build a better relationship with the city where you do trade contracting work by demonstrating your intention to conform to its building codes.

• Unnecessary delays and/or job shutdown due to trade contractor failure to obtain permits before work begins. This opens the door to potential legal action from the client and/or another trade contractor scheduled to start a different part of the same project after the certified completion of your work.

• Liability for accidents or injuries occurring during or after non-permitted work was performed. Obtaining the proper permit and approval of work by the local building inspector discourages a claimant from alleging your work violated code and may possibly lessen the degree of negligence involved in an accident or injury alleged to be related to your work.

• Insurance may be difficult to obtain and/or insurance rates may be increased for trade contractors that do not comply with building codes and/or have loss history associated with not complying with building codes.

• A favorable reputation is not associated with cutting corners.

Richey-Barrett Insurance is your Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agent for trade contractor insurance. We also are available to handle trade contractor license and permit bonds.