Revised 4/10/15

What types of work need a building permit?

(A plain English explanation of DCMR 12, Sections 105.2 and 105.2.5)
Based on DCMR 12 (revised 2013), commonly known as "the building code," most any type of work needs a building
permit. But certain work does not need a building permit depending on whether or not the work is located in a historic
district or landmark building. The list below does not account for aspects of trade work like eie:::trical, gas, plumbing,
or mechanical which have separate permit requirements.

The following work does nat require a building permit, inside or outside of historic districts:
o

"Ordinary repairs," simple do-it-yourself repairs like replacing a broken piece of glass, reattaching or tightening
loose materials, etc.,
o Caulking, patching, and plaster repair
o Installation of window screens and storm windows
o Painting (except fire-retardant paint or unpainted masonry landmark buildings in which case you do need a
permit, see below)
o Wallpaper, tile, carpeting, fioor covering, cabinets, countertops, interior millwork and trim, or similar finish work
o Replacement in-kind 1 of
Ceiling tile
Not more than 160 square feet of gypsum board
o Shade cloth structures for nursery or agricultural purposes
o Swings and other playground equipment associated with 1- or 2-family dwellings
o Movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, etc. not over 5 feet in height.

The following work does nat require a building permit outside of historic districts but does require a
building permit inside historic districts:
o
o
o
o

o
o

Brick pointing
Repair or replacement in-kind of existing fences
Painting unpainted masonry landmark buildings
Replacement in-kind2 of
roofing"
siding
gutters & downspouts
private sidewalks and driveways
patios
P. single garden shed with no other shed present
Prefabricated swimming pools
Retaining walls less than 4 feet tall

Any alteration not listed above requires a building permit inside or outside of a historic distri:t, for example
replacing windows, changing roof material, instaliing solar panels, etc.
Any building being added to, altered, renovated, repaired or changing use (e.g. adding a new separate renta:
unit) is now required to be constructed to meet the Energy Conservation Code (2013). Historic landmark
buildings or buildings that contribute to the character of a historic district can be fully or partially exempted
from this requirement. Modern buildings built in historic districts do not qualify. Other exemptions apply; see
DMCR 12, Section 101.4.7.5.3.

"In-kind" means that new building components will match the existing components in terms of material and dimension and so will look
like and have the same fire rating as the original material.
2
For exam pie, to replace a slate roof in-kind means that the new roof will be slate. Replacing a slate roof with polymer roof tiies (aka "fake
slate") or asphalt shingles is not an in-kind replacement, and so would need a building permit inside or outside a historic district.