Short answer... Yes!

Long answer... Yes, and here's why!

$1000/day in penalties for building a non-permitted structure in Maui County! Yes, you read that correctly, $1000/day in penalties! How do I know? Because last week I went down to the building department and had a conversation. The woman I spoke with was very helpful and friendly; sharing a great wealth of knowledge about permits, penalties and other related topics, she told me penalties for non-compliance can be up to $1000/day. SIDENOTE: Nobody at the building department enjoys handing these penalties out, it's a tough job, so be nice when you call or go down there!

$1000/day, that's a lot of money to spend on fines!

The next logical thought is, how much does it cost to get a building permit? And the answer is, it depends! If you're building a 25,000 sqft office building, the permit will cost a lot more than if you're adding a covered lānai (patio) to your back yard; but you can be certain the penalty for not acquiring a permit will be a lot more expensive than getting one in the first place!

Why do so many people cringe at the thought of getting a building permit?

I'm sure it varies by individual, but my best-guess one-word-answer is FEAR! Fear of the unknown, fear of complexity, fear of expense; or maybe it's some other fear variation, but what I'm saying to you is... Don't do that, getting a building permit isn't as scary as you think; but the penalties for non-compliance are!

There's no other way to look at it, building without a permit is a high-risk / low-reward gamble (at best)! So what can you do? The simple answer is, have a conversation! If you're building anything on Maui, a remodel, deck, stairs, trellis, or 25,000 sqft office building, simply call or go down to the building department and ask questions, have a conversation. It's not that scary, I promise!

Now that you're comfortable with the idea of getting a building permit, and you're ready to have a conversation, feel free to give HONU Engineering a call (213) 349-5877 with any questions you have. Or, if you've already built that covered lānai (patio), and you'd like to acquire an "after-the-fact" permit, we can help with that too. Let's have a conversation, call, send an email staff@honuengineering.com or check us out online: HONUengineering.com

​HONU Engineering
"Quality CAD Solutions"

Contrary to the stereotype, construction is not just a bunch of dumb guys with big muscles and thick skin!

Construction is actually a very sophisticated process; full of changes, delays, accelerations, time, money, materials, permits, paint colors, personalities, pre-existing conditions, quality variations, labor, contractors, plumbers, electricians, designers, architects, engineers, investors... You get the picture!

When all these different variables are mixed together, in just the right way, with a touch of luck, hopefully the finished product is something you love, or can at least live with. If not, keep trying until you get it right!

When all the fun is done, now comes the "As-Built."

An as-built is nothing more than a detailed survey (drawing) of everything that was actually constructed. It can be a newly created drawing, or it can be a version of the original construction documents marked up in red ink indicating all the changes, updates, requests for information (RFI's), submittals and other information that went into the construction.

For example, if the original architectural design calls for a water feature in the driveway, but it wasn't built because the owner wanted to save money, it's not included on the as-built, or it's crossed off with red ink. If the mechanical drawings call for a gas line five feet from the building, but it was installed 8 feet from the building because you found an old concrete footing in the way, that type of information goes into the as-built. Typically an as-built will include floor plans, elevations, details, specifications, and other drawings.

The level of detail captured by the as-built is determined by the contract language. Some projects call for the general contractor (or a third party) to complete a full as-built with detailed information on everything built during the project, other projects require less information, and some projects don't require an as-built at all. Everything depends on what the owner wants, and what the owner is willing to pay for, because completing an as-built can be a lot of work.

Occasionally there's a need to complete an as-built of an existing building. For example, when a building was constructed without a permit you will need to complete an as-built to bring your structure up to local code. Dividing a property into two or more separate units via condominium property regime (CPR), will require an as-built of existing structures on the property. Maybe you're setting up a short-term rental or bed and breakfast on your property and a Miscellaneous Inspection is needed; Maui County requires a scaled and detailed site plan and floor plan which will be satisfied by a professional quality as-built.

If you need or would like to complete an as-built for your home on Maui or investment real estate, give HONU Engineering a call at (213) 349-5877​ email staff@honuengineering.com or find us on the web: HONUengineering.com

​HONU Engineering
"Quality CAD Solutions"