HOME REMODELING & IMPROVEMENTS: TIPS TO STAY WITHIN THE LAW WITHOUT A HEADACHE

Did you know that attitudes like cutting a tree or even expanding the property require the authorization of Organs responsible bodies? Yes, some types of renovations and constructions require greater attention so that they can be in accordance with the law and, consequently, avoid fines or more serious disorders. It is worth remembering that the legislation may vary from municipality to municipality, so it is very important that you check what the rules in force in your city are.

In this post you can clarify your doubts and check out tips for home improvement that will show you what you should pay attention to before changing the look of your home. Continue with us and check it out!

LOOK OUT FOR THE BUILDING PERMIT

Contrary to what many people imagine, the reform also requires a permit. Thus, if the owner wants to build a bathroom, expand a room, incorporate a small house in the back or make any other changes to the original plan of the property, it is necessary to request approval from the City Hall – the construction permit. The purpose of this permit is that the government has knowledge of what is being built, so that it can regularize and inspect the work. This avoids problems such as self-construction (works without the assistance of a trained professional), which can cause problems for the entire neighborhood.

Therefore, when the owner decides to carry out a renovation, the first step is to seek the advice of an architect or civil engineer, so that this professional can prepare a project that is in accordance with the rules regarding zoning. This is because it is only after the license is granted that the reform can be initiated.

BE CAREFUL WITH SUPPRESSION OF BUILT-UP AREA

It is worth remembering that the suppression of the built area also has to be understood as reform and must follow the same care and procedure as if it were the reform for expansion. In this case, the City Hall must be informed and, later, if approved, will issue a Demolition Permit. It is important to note that, in both cases – construction and demolition -, the document issued by the City Hall must be registered with the Real Estate Registry Office, next to the registration of the respective property, together with the certificate to be issued by the INSS.

CHECK IF THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN IPTU

If the reform implies changes in the built area, there is a possibility of repercussions on the value of IPTU. The Property and Urban Territorial Tax is formulated following a Map of Values, a document with several variables that must be approved by the City Council to integrate the tax calculation. Thus, the variables that affect your IPTU are provided for by law and are available for consultation in the city’s legislation. In Belo Horizonte, the reforms that lead the ranking of changes in the value of the contribution are the  construction of covered areas  and  changes in the finishing pattern  (especially in condominiums). From the new project presented to the City Hall, the readjustment of IPTU can be calculated and predicted.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE BIG TREES

In any municipality in Brazil, both the pruning and the cutting of large trees in private or public environments is considered legal only when it receives an authorization from the city hall or other competent body. The rules vary depending on whether the tree is located inside or  outside  the property. Let’s see:

MAINTENANCE OF THE TREE INSIDE THE PROPERTY

The removal or pruning of a tree that is planted inside the property, in most cases, is the responsibility of the owner. However, it is still necessary to make a request at the city hall, which, in turn, will send engineers capable of verifying the feasibility of the process. Thus, based on the technician’s report, the city may approve or not the request. If approved, the government issues a letter granting the owner the right to remove the tree.

PRUNING AND CUTTING OF TREE OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY

If the tree is located outside the property, removal or pruning is the responsibility of the city hall – since the plant is in a public space. Thus, if there is a need to prune or remove a tree that is in the public space, it is necessary to place an order with the city hall, which will also send an engineer to verify the need. In addition, the city may or may not charge a fee, which will depend on the reason for the request: security or maintenance cases generally do not cost money, but other cases may result in the payment of an established amount.

LEARN HOW TO PROCEED WITH SIDEWALK RENOVATIONS

In order to lower the guide or even change the pavement floor , it is necessary to pay attention to some rules.

CHANGING THE SIDEWALK FLOOR

Generally, changing the sidewalk floor does not require authorization from the city hall. However, it is necessary to observe what are the requirements of the city hall of your city around how the pavement or sidewalk should be carried out. The law provides that the owner is responsible for the renovation or maintenance of the sidewalk located in front of the house. Thus, in order to renovate the sidewalk, it is necessary to consult the safety rules of the municipality, as well as which materials can be used.

LOWERING THE SIDEWALK GUIDE

The demotion of a guide requires authorization from the city hall. Therefore, this will usually send a professional to the site in order to inspect and check whether or not it is feasible to lower the guide. If the Municipality approves the request, it will issue a guide that will authorize the demotion – which will usually be carried out by the Municipality itself by charging the amount of expenses.

NOTIFY THE SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT APARTMENT RENOVATIONS

According to norm 16.280 of the Brazilian Association of Standards and Techniques  (ABNT), the resident who wishes to make any changes to the building – including those made within his unit – must previously inform the condominium manager. Thus, if the owner or resident wishes to carry out a renovation or home repairs in his condominium unit, he must present to the supervisor:

Reform plan

ART (Annotation of Technical Responsibility) or RRT (Registration of Technical Responsibility) that are signed, before the beginning of the work, by the architect or engineer designated and responsible to accompany the renovation. This avoids the execution of works without the assistance of a professional, being the responsibility of the liquidator to collect and keep all these documents, as well as to make sure that what was previously agreed in the project is what is actually being built.  With all these tips, it certainly became clearer that the reform, however simple it may seem, requires some care to remain within the law and, thus, avoid headaches in the future.

Did you like our text? Looking for home remodeling tips? So be sure to check out another article of ours, in which we talked about which professionals should be hired in home renovations.