Garage Heater permit process?

[das_V8]

For those that have done DIY install for residential garage heaters and decided to pull permits, did you have to pull separate plumbing/electric/HVAC permits? I know every town/city/municipality is different just curious. I'm looking at upwards of $250 in initial permit fees just to install my Beacon Morris 45k in my attached garage with separated combustion (if I decide to pull them - not trying to debate that here).

Why: I don't live out in the country so there is some possible future resale value/liability tied to my home improvements.

Who: I'm a former commercial MEP Engineer and know how to pull/read codes in order to design/build to compliance. And I have experience installing gas line/electric so comfortable with DIY.

 

[Muc]

MN detached garage.
Installed everything and had propane tank delivered.
I tested to make sure everything worked.
Call for electrical inspection, done by the state.
Call city for the HVAC and piping.
Less than $100 for both inspections.

 

[Jim greengo]

Yeah I'd think a mechanical permit and maybe an electrical permit would cover it if you're worried about.

 

[ABusDriver]

$250? Ouch. Seems like a lot.

In my city in MN there is only one permit required, a mechanical one. I applied online for the permit and now find out they have other requirements (rough-in inspection, pressure test of 25psi for 12 hrs) that are not listed on the permit or on their website. I would suggest that you get a copy of exactly what's required before starting and speak with the person doing the inspection if you have any questions.

 

[xjfish]

MN detached garage.
Installed everything and had propane tank delivered.
I tested to make sure everything worked.
Call for electrical inspection, done by the state.
Call city for the HVAC and piping.
Less than $100 for both inspections.

Thanks for posting. Do you think this is somewhat normal/acceptable for many MN cities? I'm in Brainerd city limits, looking to do same as you except using NG. Just had gas line plowed in out to garage by a pro on the side. Did not need to permit or inspect without hookups yet. I will hire out gas hookups and happy to pull permit for that if needed, everything else I think I can handle...

I'm still a little confused about local requirements and what may be needed for homeowners insurance. Its cold and I will probably proceed as time allows. Thanks again for input.

 

[James-W]

I didn't install my garage Hot Dawg heater myself, I bought it from a heating/cooling company (I happen to know the owner) and he said that they would get whatever permits were needed. They installed the heater and they had it inspected. I had run the electrical for the heater when I wired the garage and that was inspected at the same time the rest of the garage's electrical wiring was inspected. The gas company ran the line from the street to the gas meter outside the garage.

If I were you I would inquire as to the cost of having a heating/cooling company install it for you. If the cost is too high, then do it yourself. But you may be surprised when you inquire.

 

[mm08822]

You may also need a fire permit.
Call the Building dept and they will tell you everything that needs a permit, what forms/sketches required and what/when has to be inspected.

If you are fully permitted/inspected, then your ins. co. shouldn't have any issues at all. You may just need to tell them you made capital improvements so they can adjust the replacement/coverage value.

 

[Muc]

Thanks for posting. Do you think this is somewhat normal/acceptable for many MN cities? I'm in Brainerd city limits, looking to do same as you except using NG. Just had gas line plowed in out to garage by a pro on the side. Did not need to permit or inspect without hookups yet. I will hire out gas hookups and happy to pull permit for that if needed, everything else I think I can handle...

I'm still a little confused about local requirements and what may be needed for homeowners insurance. Its cold and I will probably proceed as time allows. Thanks again for input.

I think it’s normal.
I am sure that they don’t like DIY. Every step of the way, they try to say no. Now that they know me they have stopped the “you will need a licensed contractor to do that” I’ve found that it’s best to play dumb and ask if they can tell me where in the code it says that. With the heater install, they started with “the city doesn’t allow propane tanks because natural gas is available” so I asked the zoning official to point out the section of the code. An hour later he called back to tell me he couldn’t find anything in the code that prohibited it, but I would have to talk to the fire marshal. He explained the tank size and distance requirements and added that he “would like to see a smoke and CO detector installed” so $20 for a couple of battery powered units = everyone happy.

My insurance agent told me that anything I did with the garage that requires a permit and inspection, I would need to get a permit and inspection to keep my coverage valid.

I really think the city is just trying to keep everyone safe and happy.

 

[das_V8]

Thanks to everyone for their input, some good pointers. Definitely the insurance side is a big contributor. Especially being an attached garage. Best advice is to just call or stop in and actually talk to someone about the process in the building department. Old school communication methods!

 

[das_V8]

Update for anyone following or future readers, the heater is considered an appliance and so hookup and venting falls under IFGC, assuming I used mfg suggested vent materials. So only gas line and electric (I'll have to pull a new run for outlet and kill switch) permits needed, which cuts the permit cost in half and thus reasonable.

 

[Jim greengo]

 

[bczygan]

Permits?

Bill

 

[Tech89]

Thanks for posting. Do you think this is somewhat normal/acceptable for many MN cities? I'm in Brainerd city limits, looking to do same as you except using NG. Just had gas line plowed in out to garage by a pro on the side. Did not need to permit or inspect without hookups yet. I will hire out gas hookups and happy to pull permit for that if needed, everything else I think I can handle...

I'm still a little confused about local requirements and what may be needed for homeowners insurance. Its cold and I will probably proceed as time allows. Thanks again for input.

You're very close to me. I'm glad you posted. There might be some useful information here for me for my future install. I live right over by Mille Lacs. Not sure if it'll be similar for me or not.

-Pat

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

 

[xjfish]

You're very close to me. I'm glad you posted. There might be some useful information here for me for my future install. I live right over by Mille Lacs. Not sure if it'll be similar for me or not.

-Pat

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Hi Pat. I admit I've ran across a post or two from you on here in the past and have yet to say hello. I'm not sure either on any similarities for permits/etc. I have been so damn busy lately, the garage keeps getting pushed to the back burner. Will try to post some info or possibly even start a thread when I get back to the heater (Soon I hope!). I am very tempted to just diy install everything except the gas hookups, and have that permitted/inspected if needed. I recently had all the electrical inspected and may "sneak" in another circuit for the heater under the radar. At any rate, thanks everyone for posting.

-Nick

 

[D45]

Do you need a permit when installing a new furnace in your basement?

I think it's sad all these permits are needed to install a garage heater.......and it's such a simple project

 

[das_V8]

Do you need a permit when installing a new furnace in your basement?

I think it's sad all these permits are needed to install a garage heater.......and it's such a simple project

No you don't, if replacing an existing furnace with same size gas line.

But let's say something happens while I'm working in the garage and a fire starts (unrelated to garage heater) and it burns down my garage, the house attached to it, and my family's belongings. Do I want to risk the insurance company possibly denying any portion of the claim because they can't judge without a doubt that the uninspected/approved heater didn't cause the fire? All because I skimped on $150 in permits?

For normal gas line work, I've never pulled a permit, adding a leg or converting an electric range to a gas range for example. There is a little extra risk and liability involved with the heater.

Anyways, not here to debate whether to pull permits or not. If I lived in a rural area, probably would not do it. I live in a suburban housing development and so for me, for future resale and nosy neighbors, I'm just going to go ahead and play by the rules for once on this one.

One more thing, it's not always a simple project (I read through your thread by the way during my research phase, thank you for documenting so well!). For me, I have to be extremely creative to get the gas line to where I can mount the unit and still find a path for intake+venting. My attached 3-car garage shares 2 walls with the house and has a bonus room over the middle of it. And a support beam bisecting the middle ceiling. I've prob spent 6 months pondering how to route everything cleanly and still get decent airflow for heating.

 

[Gerald O]

In most jurisdictions that follow the national residential building code you won't be able to get permit for a heater in a residential garage without bringing the entire heated area up to code as a "conditioned" space. This involves full insulation and sealing as required by the energy conservation section of the code. If your slab is not insulated underneath to R-10 then you're screwed.

 

[biggziff]

No permits, no inspections here.