Stupid Garage Plan Question - Details Required?

[scootermcrad]

Hey everyone!

This is probably a stupid question, but I don't know the answer.

I've spent about every minute since my wife and I bought our house thinking about what I need in a nice shop/garage space that will meet our needs for the next many years to come. After more than a year of feeling out our property and thinking about what I need in a building, I've got a pretty good layout for a garage (with some alternative designs) and I'm ready to start laying out the floor plan and details in AutoCAD. I'm a couple years out from actually starting construction (money doesn't grow on trees these days), so I've got plenty of time to nail down a design, get the plot surveyed, ground prepared, etc.

The stupid question I mentioned... How do I know what details I need to show the city, county, PE, etc.? I'm assuming there will be the general framing details, slab details, roof, elevations, calculations, etc., but where would I look for what is REALLY needed? Is this just something available on the city or county's website under their code section?

Any tips on what to show and what NOT to show, to make my life easier with getting things approved, stamped, etc.?

Thanks for any help!

S

 

[Rainking]

I recently went through this. This is where I would start. Also, calling them with any questions you have helps a lot.

http://www.concordnc.gov/departments/planning/permits

 

[koditten]

First off they are going to what to know where on the lot it will reside, second they will want the square footage, third they will want the height.

If the city/county actally has a building department, they will have requirements for footings and concrete requirements.

Many county websites have this info. They will also have the name of the building inspectors. Email the inspectors. They want to help you do it right the first time. I would copy your opening post and send it directly to the building inspector. These guys generally are pretty nice and great to work with.

Don't let the fact that you are a novice intimidate you. Questions lead to knowledge and confidence.

The building inspectors have a good list of specialized skilled trades that you may need to call on as well.

Lastly, write down every conversation with contractors and have them review your notes. Breakdowns in communications are where all the troubles start when taking on a building project.

I'm glad you are not in a hurry. This will be an asset.

Later

KO

 

[scootermcrad]

I recently went through this. This is where I would start. Also, calling them with any questions you have helps a lot.

http://www.concordnc.gov/departments/planning/permits

Awesome! Thank you!

 

[scootermcrad]

First off they are going to what to know where on the lot it will reside, second they will want the square footage, third they will want the height.

If the city/county actally has a building department, they will have requirements for footings and concrete requirements.

Many county websites have this info. They will also have the name of the building inspectors. Email the inspectors. They want to help you do it right the first time. I would copy your opening post and send it directly to the building inspector. These guys generally are pretty nice and great to work with.

Don't let the fact that you are a novice intimidate you. Questions lead to knowledge and confidence.

The building inspectors have a good list of specialized skilled trades that you may need to call on as well.

Lastly, write down every conversation with contractors and have them review your notes. Breakdowns in communications are where all the troubles start when taking on a building project.

I'm glad you are not in a hurry. This will be an asset.

Later

KO

This is great advice! Thank you sir!

I really like being involved with any construction related to our house and/or property. The house is pretty old and has good history and I feel that it's my duty to be extra involved for the sake of the home and out of respect to those who worked so hard to make it what it is now. Plus... I need to save on labor, since contracting an entire job out for what I have planned will probably be staggering. (at least on our budget) Plus I just like building stuff, so there's that. Anything I can do myself, I want to.

I'm an engineer by trade, so I'm planning on going through the grind and doing the dead load calcs and all that wonderful stuff. I suppose I should find out who the PE(s) will be and talk with them about what they would like to see as well.

 

[PAToyota]

There is a difference between permit drawings and construction drawings. Typically, permit drawings are only concerned with HSW (health, safety, welfare) issues and code issues. Construction details are of less concern to them if it isn't a code or HSW issue.

 

[ddawg16]

If your area is like mine....

Plot plan first. This is the first part of what Kod is talking about. Essentially, it is a dwg of your plot showing the lot dim, your house...distance from the street and sides...dim of the house (you don't need inside details) and the dim of your garage and where you want it.

In Autocad, it's easy. Create a sheet in model space and draw it to scale....then in your paper space, just set the scale...1'=1/4" works well for a D size printout.

In reality...a lot of places will accept it on the back of a napkin if the dim are correct.

Once you have the plot plan approved...then your into garage details.

For the actual permits, you will need the approved plot plan along with the construction drawings.

Unless your doing something 'different'....you most likely won't need engineering. If it's just standard construction....a sketch pretty much works....as long as you have the important points detailed....how deep the footing is...foundation details....anchor bolts, etc.

If you want, I can send you copies of what I did for my garage...minus personal details.

Yea....I did my own garage drawings....you can see the details by clicking on the link in my signature...

 

[zcar751]

Just go to the permitting office and ask them what they require. Thats what I did and it turned out that the only thing they wanted was a plot plan with the building located on it.
They also provided me with a sheet listing the inspection requirements and slab requirements.

 

[Ken P]

This is perfect timing. I'm considering building a 45' x 45' in my backyard. I had to do some termite repair last year and checked with the county on square footage limits. I'll be working with a local lumber supply company on calculating materials costs very soon.

Looks like step one will be to get the lot surveyed / staked.

 

[scootermcrad]

If your area is like mine....

Plot plan first. This is the first part of what Kod is talking about. Essentially, it is a dwg of your plot showing the lot dim, your house...distance from the street and sides...dim of the house (you don't need inside details) and the dim of your garage and where you want it.

In Autocad, it's easy. Create a sheet in model space and draw it to scale....then in your paper space, just set the scale...1'=1/4" works well for a D size printout.

In reality...a lot of places will accept it on the back of a napkin if the dim are correct.

Once you have the plot plan approved...then your into garage details.

For the actual permits, you will need the approved plot plan along with the construction drawings.

Unless your doing something 'different'....you most likely won't need engineering. If it's just standard construction....a sketch pretty much works....as long as you have the important points detailed....how deep the footing is...foundation details....anchor bolts, etc.

If you want, I can send you copies of what I did for my garage...minus personal details.

Yea....I did my own garage drawings....you can see the details by clicking on the link in my signature...

Great info! Thanks!

Great garage build, also! I moved here from Southern California last year. Huntington Beach. The owner of the company I worked for had three huge house renos going on and I remember all the stuff he went through with permits and inspections, etc. Looked like a nightmare! But, I know it's quite a bit different around here.

OH! And YES! I would love to see what you've done. Shoot me an email if you like. [email protected]. THANK YOU!

 

[JakeKohl]

Just go to the permitting office and ask them what they require. Thats what I did and it turned out that the only thing they wanted was a plot plan with the building located on it.
They also provided me with a sheet listing the inspection requirements and slab requirements.

^^THIS^^

Every area is different...counties are different than cities and lord help you if you have a HOA.

When I built my garage, I just took an AutoCAD drawing of my property showing my lot lines, house, drive, and garage from a top view. I had the feeling that a napkin drawing would have sufficed.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Everywhere is different, my experience is similar to zcar751...all I needed was a Cash or Personal check for the permit and a rough sketch of where the building would be with measurements to my property lines...guy shook my hand and said "enjoy your new garage".

 

[SportFury59]

I built my 30'x48' myself with just the help of a one-man concrete contractor for the floor, in 2008.
One little item I always remember is the inspector told me I had to ground the electrical with a 20' rebar imbedded in the footing, and not a 8' grounding rod driven into the ground as done before. I told my concrete guy this and he resisted doing this. (this was a new requirement passed in 2008 I believe) But I persisted so it was done.
I guess the point is that you can not always rely on contractors advice. Do a little research for knowledge (like you did on this site) for yourself.

A friend of mine had his garage built by a contractor and the contractor wanted to do a quickie building it so he could finish others before winter and talked my friend out of a lot of a little extras he wanted in his garage build.

 

[LutzTD]

yep first thing is to ask. I had to have PE signoff so this drove most of the detail requirements

 

[Homerr]

If you go in to the counter at the building department some jurisdictions have a packet or loose sheets of 'approved' details which may simplify and speed your process.

 

[spotco2]

The only way to know what they will require is to go ask.

I drew mine out on a piece of copier paper when I went and asked about mine. They said that was fine.

 

[scootermcrad]

We are a little out in the country, but have neighbors (who thankfully are very cool!), so no HOA. We specifically avoided master planned communities knowing that we were going to build a garage like this and knowing that it would be about impossible to have it fly with an HOA. I think we chose wisely. I have a feeling my experiences will end up being the same, with a glorified napkin sketch being the minimum requirements. I'll have more than that, but I suspect it will be minimal drama.