While the State of Pennsylvania’s Building Code does not require a building permit (and thus no inspections) for the renovation or finishing of a basement unless there will be structural work, the home owner is still obligated to meet the requirements of the code for finishing basements.

A residential building permit is required for the following work on a residential building or structure: Renovate and repair an existing single-family or two-family dwelling. Construct an addition to an existing single-family or two-family dwelling.

Do I Need a Building Permit? For example; the PA UCC exempts fully-detached residential accessory buildings (garage or shed) less than 1000 square feet from needing a permit, but many jurisdictions have amended this provision to reduce the exemption to two-hundred (200) square feet.

Once the permit is issued, different jurisdictions will have different time requirements, but it is a common rule-of-thumb that a building permit will expire if the work it covers does not begin within 6 months or is not completed within one year of the date it is issued.

UCC Buildings

Most electrical or plumbing renovations need a permit, such as bathroom remodels. If you plan to do an interior remodel and only change the visual elements of your bathroom, a permit is not required.

Furthermore, can I do my own electrical work in Pennsylvania? Before you do any work anywhere in Pennsylvania, it’s required that you check with your local township or city officials to make sure that the task doesn’t require an electrician’s license.

Average Cost of a Bathroom Remodel The average bathroom remodel costs $10,913 Most homeowners spend between $6,587 and $16,367. You can spend as little as $3,500 to $7,000 updating the essentials in a small or medium-sized bathroom. On a large or master bath, you could spend $25,000 or more.

In most homes, you can convert a walk-in closet into a powder room. Or, you can utilize square footage from another room of the house, such as a spare bedroom or utility room. You can also add a half bathroom into a hallway or under a staircase depending on your home’s floor plan.

The minimum requirement for outlet receptacles in a bathroom is one GFCI-protected receptacle served by a 20-amp circuit. This is a bare minimum, however, and most bathrooms will have at least two receptacles, and often as many of four or five. When considering bathroom receptacles, keep correct placement in mind.

When the number of bathrooms is approximately equal to the number of bedrooms, an additional half bath adds about 10 percent to the home’s value, and converting the half bath to a full bath adds another 9 percent, so one additional bath adds about 19 percent to the value.

Cost to Add a Half Bath or Powder Room If you’re adding a half bath to an existing area, expect to spend $5,000 to $15,000. If you plan to add space to make this happen, it will cost you $10,000 to $30,000 on average. A half bath has a sink and toilet and no shower or tub.

It doesn’t have to be difficult to add a shower to a half bath, however, it obviously depends on the circumstances and the plumbing that is already installed, as well as the amount of space that you have available, and the current layout of the space that you are working with.

Cost to Add Shower to Half Bath The price to add a shower to a half bath ranges from $900 to $12,500. You’ll need a space at least 5 by 7 feet to accommodate three fixtures. This might require you to change the position of walls and plumbing.

As opposed to a traditional full bath, a three-quarter bath is usually characterized by an efficient combination of standing shower, sink and toilet. This simple but useful design is often used for guest bathrooms, and it can add tremendous utility and value to your home.

Steps to Remodel a Bathroom

1. Remove or Demolish Bathroom Fixtures.
2. Install Your New Shower or Tub Basin.
3. Install New Fixtures and Features.
4. Lay Down Your New Floor Tiles.
5. Hang New Drywall and Start Painting.
6. Install Your New Vanity and Cabinets.
7. Finish Hooking Up the Plumbing.