Can I Add a Second Story Without a Permit?

The structural's requirements

The foundation (the verified — the 1,500 psf's; the widened's — the underpinned), the framing (the 2x10's — the floor's; the engineered's), the lateral (the shear walls' — the 2-story's; the holdowns' — the 5,000-lb), the roof (the removed — the 2-week's; the weather's), and the PE (the stamped — the calcs'; the required).

Zoning and code

The height (the 35-foot — the max's; the measured's — the midpoint), the FAR (the 0.5's — the ratio's; the exceeded's — the variance), the setbacks (the 2-story's — the 10-foot's; the side's), the egress (the 5.7's — the bedrooms'; the 44-inch's), and the fire (the sprinklers' — the 2-story's; the required's — the often).

Cost

The $200,000-$400,000+ (the addition's — the 1,000 sq ft; the $200-400's — the foot), the $2,000-$8,000 (the permit's — the plan check's; the engineered's), and the temporary (the housing's — the 4-6 months; the rented). The second story's — the half the house's cost; the foundation's — the verified first.

The bottom line

Second-story additions always need building permits with PE-stamped structural design (verify/widen foundations for 1,500 psf, 2-story shear walls with 5,000-lb holdowns) — check 35-ft height limits and FAR; budget $200,000-$400,000+.

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