My contractor and I decided to change a couple project a few project details, and they said something about a change order. How is this implemented, and will it affect my building permit?
Change orders are a formal means of documenting a change to the original quote or estimate between the client and the contractor. It simply lists the changes being requested and any changes to prices quoted. This is signed by both parties just as the original contract.
Normally they do not affect the build permit but it can depending on the changes made or requested. Your contractor will be able to tell if the permit needs to be updated.
As the words imply, a Change Order is an agreement between the Owner and Contractor to do something different from what their Contract already specifies. A Change Order can increase or decrease the cost of the Job. If a Change Order specifies a significant increase or decrease in scope of work, or includes work that may alter previously approved plans, it can/will affect the Building Permit since the Permit has been issued based on a set of approved plans. Changing the approved plans could change the requirements for the new plans - again, up or down.
Building Permits are a source of revenue for the City or County issuing them and as such, are based on a projected value of the Job. Therefore, a significant increase in the Job value would affect the cost of the Permit. Likewise, changing the scope of the Job with items that have Code requirements might affect the Permit - i.e. window addition or deletion; water pressure issues, energy consumption changes, etc. On the other hand, a Change Order to simply upgrade a material type, i.e. granite from tile on a countertop the quality of paint or carpet might affect job cost but would have little affect on a Building Permit.
In brief, a Building Permit is issued upon satisfactory review and approval of plans that show a project will comply with current Code requirements on completion. Changes that could impact Code compliance will probably affect the Permit. Changes that are more cosmetic (i.e. brand of a plumbing fixture, etc.) not so much.
Also, a reminder to do due diligence on any new contractor relationship. Some less scrupulous builders have been known to deliberately bid low to get a Contract and then increase prices with (surprise) Change Orders. Moral: Do the best you can to check out your Contractor before signing the Contract at the start.
I would agree with the last post, a change order is basically a variation or usually an addition on the cost of the work due to a design change or as a request of the owner and this change order is produced in a form similar to an invoice where you describe the new work, a change order could affect your building permit if this change is structural or in some way affect the Infrastructure of the job.
I agree with both responses and the only way it affects your permit is if your MEP’s (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) changes from the original design and/or if any structural or footprint changes are involved in that change order.
some change orders do change the building permit, change order happens when more work or less work is involved then the scoop of work