Notes from the permit counter.
Plain-spoken guidance on permits, projects and materials. General guidance only: your local permit office always has the final word.
- Project walkthroughs
DIY or hire a pro? An honest way to decide
A practical way to decide which parts of a home project to do yourself and which to hire out, from skill and risk to permits, licensing, time and tools.
- Getting unstuck
Permit denied? A calm checklist for what to do next
What a permit rejection usually means, how to read the letter, and a step-by-step checklist for fixing the problems and resubmitting.
- Project walkthroughs
Roof replacement permits: what to know before you sign
When a reroof usually needs a permit, tear-off versus overlay, inspections, contractor registration, and what to settle before you sign a roofing contract.
- Materials and planning
Site plans and sketches the office accepts
What a site plan is, what it needs to show, when a hand sketch is enough and when it isn't, and how to draw one the permit office can review quickly.
- Materials and planning
A waste allowance guide: how much extra to buy
Why every materials list needs a waste allowance, the rough rules of thumb estimators use for decking, drywall, tile, flooring and roofing, and when to go higher.
- Permit basics
What the permit office wants in an application
The pieces most residential permit applications ask for, from the form and site plan to drawings and product sheets, and how to make yours complete the first time.
- Behind the app
Why permit rules differ from town to town
Model codes, state adoption, local amendments and zoning: why the same project can need a permit in one town and not the next, and how Sully deals with it.
- Project walkthroughs
Fence height and setbacks, explained
How towns usually think about fence height, front versus back yards, corner lots, setbacks and pool barriers, and what to confirm before you set posts.
- Project walkthroughs
Do I need a permit for a deck?
Why most towns review decks, the questions that usually decide whether yours needs a permit, and how to get a clear answer before you buy lumber.
- Permit basics
5 questions to ask your town before you start
Five plain questions that get you most of what you need from your local permit office in one phone call, before you buy materials or book a contractor.
Five things we write about.
- Permit basicsHow permits work and how to talk to your office.
- Project walkthroughsDecks, fences, roofs and more, step by step.
- Materials and planningWaste allowances, site plans, buying smart.
- Getting unstuckWhat to do when an application comes back.
- Behind the appHow Sully reads rules and admits gaps.
Get Sully on day one.
Coming soon to iPhone. Tell us what you're planning and we'll send one email when Sully is ready. We read every project note, and it shapes which project types we polish first.