Tearing down a house is typically the easiest and cheapest part of the project! For the average house, all you need to do is disconnect the utilities, bring out the right-sized excavator, and start hacking away! Unfortunately, you will need a permit to do it!
But don’t worry! Getting a permit for tearing down a house doesn’t have to be a chore! Sometimes the permit can be a simple over-the-counter permit and if you do need to do a formal submittal it will be the easiest thing you submit for.
For the remainder of this article, we will help you understand the process of getting a permit to tear down your house!
House demolition process
If you choose a contractor, they will typically handle the entire process for you, and sometimes pay the fees. But if you want to handle it yourself, remember that every jurisdiction is different. Here are some things you may need during your house demolition process.
Items you need for your house demolition permit
- Utility disconnect letters. Once you understand who provides what utilities to your property you will need to coordinate with them on disconnections. This ensures safety for everyone and so that there are no delays (think hitting a water line that hasn’t been turned off and flooding the neighborhood).
You may have to verify with your municipality that this step has occurred before moving forward with your permits.
- Dust permit
- Grading permit
- Plumbing permit
- For the submittal for the permit the following may be requested:
- Legal description of the property
- Application form with contact info and more info about your house demolition project
- Owner affidavit
- Contractors license
- Zoning clearance
- Rent stabilization clearance
- Environmental clearance
- OSHA clearance
- Other city departments clearance
- Site plan indicating information about your property and most importantly which house you will be tearing down. We cover what a site plan is here.
- Asbestos survey may be required for older homes.
- Lead survey
- Proof of insurance
- Fees will be required for all permits.
Submit your documents to the building department. Typically, you can do this online or in person. Some departments may have an over-the-counter review which means you can get the permit on the same day.
If this seems like a big process and you want to bypass the permit think again! It could cost your project time, money, and you could face lawsuits! Find out more on if you don't get a building permit for your project and what the consequences could be.
House demo review process
Once your documents have been submitted to the building department they will give you a review time. That review time could be a couple of days to weeks. Many times, it depends on how busy the department is.
In some cases, you can expedite the review by paying a fee so if your schedule is tight ask about that option. But if you live in a big developing city that may not be an option.
After the review is done, they may have questions or additional requests for you to complete. If you didn’t follow the checklist correctly it could also be rejected and have you reapply again.
Once approved by the building department you will receive your demolition permit and they will give you stipulations that you will have to follow to close the permit out. These stipulations could be inspections, keeping the permit onsite and available for the public to see, and more.
How long to demolish a house?
You have your permit and your contractor is ready to go! Congrats! The average-sized house can be demolished in 2 to 5 days. If the house has a basement or is larger you can add more time to that.
What equipment will be used to tear down my house?
Typically, an excavator will be utilized to tear down your average stick-built house. Then it will load up the debris into dump trucks that will take your material off to approved landfills.
A hose will also be used to keep the dust and dirt particles from becoming a nuisance to your neighbors.
Again, this is for your average stick-built house. If your house is large and made up of different materials like concrete, the equipment used could be a little more specialized, but the excavator will still be doing the heavy lifting.
How much is a demo permit
Demo permits can vary depending on what city you are in. They average around $100 but could go up depending on the size of your project and location.
But let’s check some cities to verify our claim.
- City of Phoenix Fee - $75
- Los Angeles Fee – dependent on valuation
- Lexington, KY Fee - $100
- Raleigh, NC Fee - $112
- Saint Paul, MN Fee - $85 minimum
This is a drop in the bucket when comparing what you would pay to demolish the house. As of 2024, the typical spend to demolish a house can range from $10,000 to $20,000.
Can you demolish your own house?
Unless you have a general contractor’s license and a demolition license you may not be able to perform the demolition yourself. And this may be for the best to keep yourself safe and out of trouble with the city.
While tearing down a house looks easy there is a lot to it. Here are some things that you would need to tear down a house.
- Equipment. An excavator is expensive to buy and to rent. To rent one could cost you around $200 to $800 per hour. Do you know how to operate one? You will also need a dump truck (with a CDL) to haul the debris away.
- Insurance. If you are having someone help you then you need to make sure you have insurance to cover accidents. Accidents in construction are common.
- Licensing as mentioned above. Obtaining licensure could take years to obtain.
- Construction toilets. The city or county will require you to have a way for you and your crew to utilize a restroom.
- Pay a landfill to dump your debris.
Site plan demolition plan for your house or property
If you have any questions or would like us to assist you on preparing your site plan for your project please reach out to us at info@propertysiteplan.com. We can get you your site plan quickly and accurately so you can move closer to getting your permit.
Check out our site plan options. There you are one order away from getting your site plan back to you in under 24 hours.