Planning Your Construction Project - Minnesota Commercial Remodeling Permits
So your company has decided to invest in the business by remodeling your existing facility or expanding to a new location. This is a very exciting time for everyone at your company especially the owners and team involved. Remodeling projects can bring add new excitement to the work place and also increase your production in several ways. The ROI (Return on Investment) on a commercial remodeling project goes way beyond the tangible items and can make a huge impact on your employees and customers alike. Nowadays, we are helping businesses remodel their workspaces to stand out from the competition and retain the younger generation of new hires. These modern office design trends include, open work spaces, bright and clear branding throughout the office, dedicated leisure areas, data-driven office designs, and adaptable workplaces.
Once your company has made the decision to remodel your facility, the first step is to schedule a meeting with a local commercial remodeling contractor and a licensed architect. The benefit of having a "local" commercial remodeling contractor work with you on your project, is that local contractors will have a great network of subcontractors and architects that they work with on a regular basis. The contractor brings the construction knowledge and experience with the architect offering design expertise. Contractors like Randahl Construction can offer you a list of architects that fit your scope of work and help you make the best connection for your project.
These introductory meetings are most beneficial on site and at the location of the project. This also allows both the contractor and the architect to work with you, as a team, to create the ultimate space for your business. The contractor and architect can then offer some preliminary numbers and can also help you decide whether to move forward on engineered drawings for the project. Most Minnesota municipalities require engineered drawings to begin the permit process.
Minnesota Commercial Remodeling Permits
It is very important when reviewing the contractor proposals for your project, to make sure that your selected contractor has a "Building Permit" section clear on their proposal. There are several permits that will be involved in your project but your contractor should handle all of them and guide you through any permits that you, or the business owner need to submit. In Minneapolis, MN for instance the following permits may be required, all depending on the scope of the work:
Minnesota Commercial Building Permits
- Wrecking Permit
- Building Permit
- Plumbing Permit
- Electrical Permit (State of MN)
- Elevator Permit
- Mechanical Permit
- Sign Permits
Additional Reviews / Licenses
- Food Plan Review
- Business Licenses
- Environmental Management
- SAC - Sewer Availability Charge
The above permits all depend on the scope of work that is to be completed and the municipality that your project is in. Every project is different and may have more or less requirements. This is why, it is so important to find a local contractor familiar with local codes and City Departments ensuring that your project is completely in accordance to the building code laws.
What is the purpose of Commercial Building Permits?
Building permits are used to enforce the building codes set in place by the municipalities that issue them. Building codes are a way for state and local governments to defend residents against illegitimate contractors and do-it-yourself homeowners that inadvertently compromise the structural integrity of the buildings they work on. When it comes to commercial remodeling, building permits are almost always required. While they may seem like more of a giant hassle than a protective measure, building codes and permits serve an extremely important purpose in keeping us safe from sub-par construction and remodeling work.
How much are Commercial Remodeling Permits?
At Randahl Construction, we typically include all permit related costs into our proposals. Our construction proposals are very clear and communicate exactly what permits we are responsible for and include them in the total cost of the project. In Minnesota, Building Permits are managed by the city offices of the project location making permit fees all over the map, all depending on the scope of work involved.
Minnesota Building Permit & Code Helpful Links:
- Metro Council SAC Forms: https://metrocouncil.org/SACforms
- Minnesota Plumbing Code: http://www.iapmo.org/Pages/MinnesotaPlumbingCode.aspx
- 2017 National Electrical Code: https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=70
- Makeup & Use of the Minnesota State Building Code PDF