How To Fix Unlawful Garage Conversion
Garage conversion is an excellent option for the homeowners seeking additional living space or rental income in Miami. Like other types of construction, the building department requires the homeowners to obtain proper permits before putting their garage conversion plans into motion.
While the extra space may seem beneficial, unauthorized conversions can lead to significant legal and financial repercussions. An unlawful conversion can lead to fines, difficulties in selling your property, and complications with insurance claims.
Unlawfully converting a garage can lead to a host of legal, financial, and safety issues. Therefore, it is important to find a solution to legalize it as soon as possible.
Fortunately, the city of Miami allows the homeowners to legalize their unpermitted construction by obtaining a retroactive building permit. The most sensible way to save the money spent on garage conversion is to obtain a retroactive building permit.
To obtain a retroactive building permit for your unpermitted garage conversion, you will need to;
Hire a Professional
Hire an architect or structural engineer to assess the current state of the conversion. A review by the professional will help you identify all aspects of the conversion that do not meet the minimum building codes.
Submit Plans
Work with your architect or structural engineer to create detailed floor plans outlining necessary modifications and submit them to the building department along with all the necessary documents.
Apply for a Retroactive Building Permit
Apply for the required permits, which may include building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. Submitting detailed plans of the existing conversion.
Schedule Inspections
Schedule inspections with the building department at different stages of the work to ensure that your unpermitted garage meets the compliance requirements.
Make Corrections
Based on the inspector’s report and permit requirements, make the required modifications to bring your converted garage up to code. These corrections may include reinforcing walls, floors, or roofs to meet safety standards. You may need to hire a licensed contractor to ensure that the work is done correctly and safely.
Schedule Inspections
Once the modifications are complete, schedule inspections with your local building department. Inspectors will verify that the work complies with all relevant codes and regulations. If any issues are found, address them promptly and schedule a re-inspection.
While getting your unpermitted garage retroactively permitted can help you save your investment and increase the value of your property, a simpler and more straightforward solution to rectify the situation is to reverse it to its original use.
Assessment
Hire a professional engineer to determine what changes are needed to revert your space back to a garage.
Remove Alterations
Remove any unpermitted modifications, such as drywall, plumbing, and electrical installations from your unpermitted garage.
Inspection
Schedule an inspection with the building department to ensure that your converted garage meets its original specifications.
Obtain a Demolition Permit
Obtain a demolition permit from the building department for the reversion work.
Make Corrections
Reverse the unpermitted work to restore your property back to its original state. Make sure that the authorities are closed out with the final inspections.
Ensuring compliance with building codes, enhancing property value, avoiding legal penalties, facilitating smoother transactions,
Both these options require careful planning and consideration of the specific circumstances of the garage conversion. Consulting with professionals is crucial to successfully legalizing the conversion while ensuring safety and compliance with local regulations.
Transform Your Garage Conversion:
Legalize or Restore It with Expert Help!
If you’ve undertaken or inherited an unlawful garage conversion, addressing it promptly is crucial.
Reach out to us to discuss a possible solution to legalize your unpermitted garage.