Permit Process

For those of you who have never applied for a building permit in the Tahoe Basin it can be a laborious and challenging undertaking. If you are performing an interior remodel and not creating impervious coverage (run-off water is blocked from reaching soil) on your property then a simple permit from your local Building Department will suffice. However, if you are creating impervious coverage (ie. adding a deck, an addition to your existing structure or driveway expansion, etc..) then the Tahoe Regional Planning Association (TRPA) will need to be involved in the approval process.

Below are a list of minimal steps that need to be taken prior to even thinking about what your proposed structure can be.

Contour Survey (Topographic map) of your property. Performed by a licensed Surveyor
Land capability evaluation performed by TRPA - amount of impervious coverage your lot is capable of supporting. This is based on soil type, slope as well as many other criteria
Coverage Verification evaluation performed by TRPA - This is a confirmation that what is represented on your contour survey is actually what exists on your lot (ie. no sidewalks or patios were added, driveways were not enlarged, etc... since your Contour Survey was created)
Determine if you are in the Scenic Corridor. If your proposed structure is visible from the Scenic Corridor (ie. Highway 28 or within 300' of the shoreline) then your project will be subject to a more rigorous criteria.

These are a few of the basic steps that need to be executed before you can begin the design phase of your dream home. Now you can establish the footprint of your structure. Scaled drawings (floor plans, exterior elevations and design details, etc...) are created and structural engineers calculate how the structure will comply with our stringent building codes. Due to the heavy snowfall, high winds, ice collecting on rooflines, building on steep slopes, potential for seismic activity, etc... our structural requirements are much more stringent here in Tahoe than other parts of the country.

Once the client, designer and structural engineer come to an agreement then the plans are submitted to the local building department, fire department, improvement district and the TRPA for approval – Now you wait.

Once all appropriate agencies sign off on your plans, demolition and excavation can begin. Remember, TRPA only allows movement of more than one cubic yard of dirt at a time between May 1 and October 15.

During the approval process there are usually details that need to be clarified and disagreements that require time and negotiation to work out. The larger the scope of the project the more time is required. The key to the plan application process is to start early and practice patience.

If your proposed structure is in the Scenic Corridor or in a Stream Environment Zone then even more time may be needed to sort through the potential pitfalls. Don't forget your Better Management Practices (BMP's) too. Three words: Hire a Professional.

This brief outline of the permit process is just to give you an overview of how our system works in the Tahoe Basin. We are here to help you navigate through this confusing and obstacle ridden pathway to your dream home. It may seem impractical and tedious but it is intended to do one thing - protect our "Jewel of the Sierra".

We at Advance Design and Construction Inc. are committed to preserving the clarity of Lake Tahoe and the lifestyle this beautiful place offers.