What permits does a house teardown in Redding need

Pull the parcel number and the age of the structure before anything else, because both decide which permit path a teardown follows. The breakdown sitting on redding demolition contractor clytemnestra project lists the steps in the order a demolition contractor meets them in Redding, CA, starting with the application and ending with the final inspection.

What the demolition permit application asks for

The building department wants a site plan showing every structure to come down, the footprint, and the distance to the property line. A garage, a shed and a covered porch each count as a structure, so each goes on the sheet. The form also asks for the method: excavator, skid steer, or hand demolition with a reciprocating saw and demo hammer.

Utility releases come before the permit is issued

Electric, water and gas each have their own provider, so each release is a separate sheet of paper. The permit office will not release the demolition permit until every service is shown as disconnected or capped at the street. A sewer lateral gets capped at the property line, and the inspector looks at the cap before the trench closes.

Asbestos notification for older homes

A house built before the late seventies in Shasta County usually needs a survey for asbestos in the drywall joint compound, the plaster, the floor tile and the roof felt. A notice goes to the air quality district ahead of the start date, and the work cannot begin until the waiting period runs out. Skipping the notice is the most common reason a Redding teardown gets a stop work tag.

Grading, erosion and the foundation

Pulling a foundation and a concrete slab leaves open ground, and winter rain on bare soil runs straight into storm drains. The site needs a plan for fiber rolls or a gravel entrance so the skid steer and the haul trucks do not track mud onto the street. A footing left in place is allowed only when the plans say so, and the inspector marks it on the record.

Inspections during and after the work

Expect one inspection before the first wall comes down, to confirm the utilities are off, and a final one after the debris is gone and the lot is graded. Trees near the structure, such as the oaks common around Palo Cedro, may fall under their own rules, so check before the excavator swings. The permit stays open until the final signs off, and an open permit blocks the next building permit on the same parcel.

Timing a permit around the calendar

Plan review for a plain single story house is short, but an asbestos waiting period and a utility release can stretch the total to several weeks. Starting the paperwork before the dry season means the equipment arrives when the ground is firm, and the crew is not waiting on a signature while the weather window closes. Work that starts in the dry months finishes before the first heavy rain reaches Redding.