Question about Maryland building code

[indoyota]

Good day everyone! I am currently in the process of building a pole barn style garage. I have the building done and am going through the framing part of the inspection. I do have a couple of questions though.

Is anyone familiar with Maryland's building codes on pole barns? Are stamped Engineering drawings required for the lower structure of the building? I already have stamped drawings of the truss's. But, the inspector is saying there needs to be stamped drawings for the lower structure as well. Section 2303.4.1.1 of Maryland International Building Code explains the drawings for trusses. This is all i can find so far, in regards to Engineering approvals. I am still searching though.

Thank you for your time.

 

[ducatithunder]

As long as your walls are under 12ft tall you should be fine. If your over that height you will need a letter from an engineer that states you are fine. Was this pole barn in a kit form or did you just draw it up and build? If you have supplied the building spec and got approval from the county you should be fine. Just follow their building code on the site for your county. I did mine through AA county which was kind of a pita.


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[cderalow]

will depend entirely on the county.

anything over 200SF in MoCo requires drawings, even sheds.

Up in Frederick county i'd be surprised if they required much of anything.

 

[indoyota]

I'll have to talk to someone at St Mary's county building permit office.

I've found St Mary's county building codes. But it just mentions "registered design professional". No Engineered drawings.

 

[kd3pc]

what did your permit application specify would be built? And the permit was issued for that build?

If the lowers were not part of the permit submission, then the inspector may have a point, else he should refer to your information and approve what you have built, per the permit.

What are you building in the lower section, most pole barns are some stringers to attach the exterior finishes...

 

[indoyota]

what did your permit application specify would be built? And the permit was issued for that build?

If the lowers were not part of the permit submission, then the inspector may have a point, else he should refer to your information and approve what you have built, per the permit.

What are you building in the lower section, most pole barns are some stringers to attach the exterior finishes...

Well, i just now looked over the permit. Application Type Description says Residential Accessory Structure. Also, Structure Information says Detached Garage. At the bottom, under special notes and comments, it says construction must comply with IRC 2015 Code. I'm currently reading through that code now.

 

[kbs2244]

Your inspector has already told you what you need.

Do not try and out lawyer him.
You want him on your side.
He can knit pick you to death if you upset him.

 

[JerryB]

^^YES^^

A "registered design professional" is just legal shorthand for anyone from a licensed land planner, or surveyor to an architect to a structural engineer to a water systems designer or manager. Rather than specifying the full requirements for each position, they are relying on possession of an appropriate license as being adequate.

You might very well be required to try to get your plans stamped by a licensed engineer or other "registered design professional."

As suggested above, you should try very hard to get along with the inspector. He has the power to cause you some amount of trouble if he gets the rule book out.

 

[metlmunchr]

A "registered design professional" is just legal shorthand for anyone from a licensed land planner, or surveyor to an architect to a structural engineer to a water systems designer or manager. Rather than specifying the full requirements for each position, they are relying on possession of an appropriate license as being adequate.

I think you'll find "registered design professional" refers only to a registered architect or registered engineer. The other trades you mention have no more demonstrated (by examination) capability of building design than would a licensed applicator of termite chemicals.

 

[red61cj5]

I used to live in MD. I think he means stamped with a presidents face and "In God We Trust". But maybe that was just my experience.

 

[BillK]

But, the inspector is saying there needs to be stamped drawings for the lower structure as well.

He is the guy that will have to approve it so that is probably your answer.

 

[indoyota]

It's crazy how much is up for interpretation with these codes. I come from an aviation background and there is little that someone could interpret differently.

The IRC 2015 that the permit references doesn't mention a pole barn or post-frame construction building in it. So, the permit itself is wrong to begin with. (In my opinion). But at this stage I feel like I'll be opening a can of worms if I want to pursue this. I guess I should just she'll out the $700 and be done. Even though it's not right. If this was considered an agricultural building then I wouldn't have to provide these stamped drawings. Damn if I do, damn if I don't.

 

[blkhonda1991]

Permit requirements are different than stamped drawing requirements...most places require a permit on anything bigger than a shed but may not require a stamp on something until you trigger a certain size or category of building based on state law. IRC does not have a permit exception for a pole barn and local officials can always enact stricter requirements on what needs to be permitted. Im pretty sure unless you are in an agricultural zone you cannot call the building an agricultural use.

 

[readhead]

Do all the reading and interpreting you want but a simple call to the inspector will tell you everything you need. You can agree or disagree but that is what will be required.

 

[Don1357]

When I lived in MD I had a large shed built. The process was simple: I would go to their office, they would point some random thing, I would fix it, then they would point some other random thing, I would fix it, eventually they decided it was enough and I got my permit, even when I knew there were things that did not comply with the law (for starters too many structures in plot). For a 20x30 shed I wanted 12 x 12" sonotubes with rebar on 24" bellow grade footings, they demanded 12 x 24" sono tubes with footings.

 

[Hellpig]

will depend entirely on the county.

anything over 200SF in MoCo requires drawings, even sheds.

Up in Frederick county i'd be surprised if they required much of anything.

St Marys Co, MD

"A building permit is required for a garage or carport. If the structure is less than 600 square
feet it will be exempt from building code inspections, however a building permit is required."

Maximum height is 40 feet.
SO I have a bunch of small, tall buildings....

 

[mark-NJ]

As others have already said, "Approved" = "acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction".

If the inspector tells you that you need Z, Y & Z, it really doesn't matter what the codes say. I work in construction & can't count the number of times I've had to do things that are above & beyond 'code', simply because the AHJ says so...