The demand for steel buildings has grown largely due to their ability to suit a wide variety of applications, both residential and commercial. Just like traditional structures, these buildings must meet standards for safety and integrity. Getting a building permit also ensures that your land is zoned for the reasons you want to put up the building. This will not be necessary for a simple structure like steel storage shed. Before putting up the structure, blueprints will have to be submitted to building authorities.
Steps to Getting a Permit
If your building plans do not meet zoning requirements, you can have some changes made to get the approval. Steps to getting zoning information include searching the Internet and talking to municipal representatives. An online search should yield the information you need so this is the best place to start. Authorities usually provide as many details as possible to save time and to maintain office workflow. The information you will have to provide will include:
- Square footage
- Height and width
- The materials
- Snow and wind loads
- Potential for natural disasters and the capacity to withstand them
Constructing Without Permission
Putting up a steel building of any kind is not advisable, and it could be a costly mistake. You might be forced to pull down the entire building if it does not meet established standards. If your plans do not meet zoning requirements, it is best to make changes instead of going ahead with the construction. In some cases it is possible to request an exception from the zoning board. It is a good idea to take a look at other buildings in the area. This will help in getting a sense of the size of the structure that will be appropriate.
Important Details
A building that will be used for commercial or industrial purposes will have specific requirements to ensure the safety of employees. Before every construction project, it is necessary to know where the gas, utility and water lines are. Once these areas are marked there is no chance of damaging them and inconveniencing neighbors. Another aspect that should not be ignored is the foundation for the building.
Choose only the best steel building manufacturers when you plan to set up a steel building. Equally important is choosing an experienced contractor to erect the structure. A properly installed steel building will be safer and will have a better resale value.