Minor home projects could start after filing permit materials

An approved agency must carry professional liability insurance to review plans or inspect construction. For projects costing up to $5 million, required coverage ranges from $500,000 per claim and $1 million total for minor home improvements to $2 million per claim and $4 million total for other projects. Projects over $5 million require $4 million per claim and $8 million total. A regulatory authority may waive the insurance requirement. The agency must give the building official proof of coverage before starting services and require notice 14 days before cancellation or policy changes.

For a minor home improvement, construction may start after an approved agency submits a plan affidavit and permit application and the applicant pays the required fees. A minor home improvement is work on a home or its accessory building valued at $100,000 or less. The agency must submit the plans it considers necessary to check code compliance. The building official has two business days to issue the permit or give written notice of specific problems. The two-business-day period starts when the official receives the required affidavit and permit application and the fees are paid.

A building official must issue a completion certificate or give written notice of specific problems within two business days. This shorter deadline applies to minor home improvements as defined in the proposal: home or accessory-building work valued at $100,000 or less. The official must receive an inspection affidavit showing all required inspections are complete, and all outstanding fees must be paid. If the official does not act in time, the certificate is considered granted and must be issued the next business day. The two-business-day period begins after the official receives the completed-inspection affidavit and all outstanding required fees are paid.