Porch

BUILDING PERMITS

Are required for all porch additions. 

ELECTRICAL PERMITS 

Are required on all porches completing electrical alterations and must be wired to meet the current electrical code. 

PLAN REQUIREMENTS

Supply all of the following with your permit application:

  • Footing locations, size and depth (min. depth 42”)
  • Building size
  • Distance to property lines
  • Joist size and spacing
  • Lot survey showing where the deck will be located
  • Post size and spacing
  • Floor and Sub-Floor materials
  • Beam size
  • Height and design of guardrail and stairway
  • Height of deck from the ground

SETBACKS 

Contact City Planning Department at 952-953-2575 for setback and lot coverage information specific to your lot.

SMOKE ALARMS

Alarms must be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Smoke alarms shall be installed not less than 3 feet (914 mm) horizontally from the door or opening of a bathroom that contains a bathtub or shower unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm required by this section. Alarms placed on the ceiling must be a minimum of 4 inches from the wall; Alarms placed on the wall must be 4-12 inches below the ceiling. Smoke alarms installed in existing areas of the house may be battery operated and shall be hard wired when possible.

CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS

Alarms must be installed outside and within 10 feet of each separate sleeping area or bedroom. Alarms shall be installed on each level containing sleeping areas or bedrooms.

ENERGY CODE

Porches will need to meet all or a portion of the Energy Code requirements. Below is a list of Insulation and Fenestration Requirements by Component for heated porches:

  1. Wall insulation R-20
  2. Ceiling insulation R-49. Proper ventilation required
  3. Underfloor Insulation R-30, or sufficient to fill framing cavity, R-19 minimum.
  4. Heat supply and return ducts R-8 with vapor barrier shall be held high enough to allow a minimum R-19 below the duct. Duct seams must be sealed with mastic or UL 181 tape.
  5. Windows maximum U-factor .32
  6. Skylight maximum U-factor .55
  7. Concrete slab R-10

FIRE SPRINKLERS

If your house is equipped with fire sprinklers, the porch or addition will require a design and separate fire permit.

FOOTINGS / FOUNDATION

Porch designs must transfer all loads from the roof through all supporting members to the ground. This includes roof dead loads, snow loads, wall loads, floor dead loads, and floor live loads. Your plans should include detailed information on the sizing of all framing members. If you need assistance determining the size of beams, columns and footings, you may wish to consult a structural engineer. If your home is located in an area with clay or unpredictable soils, you may want to consult with a soils engineer to design your foundation. Footings must be at a depth of at least 42 inches.

SUNROOMS

Sunrooms are defined as having glazing areas in excess of 40% of the gross area of the structures exterior walls and roof. If a sunroom or porch encloses conditioned space, it must meet the insulation requirements of the Residential Energy Code. For sunrooms with thermal isolation, and enclosing conditioned space, the following exceptions to the insulation requirements of this code shall apply:

  1. The minimum ceiling insulation R-value is reduced to R-24.
  2. The minimum wall insulation R-value is reduced to R-13.

STAIRWAYS

All risers on a stairway shall be the same dimension (including the top and bottom riser). The maximum rise on a stairway is seven and three quarter (7 ¾) inches. The minimum size tread (run) is ten (10) inches. See attached stairway diagrams.

HANDRAILS

Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of each continuous run of treads or flight with four or more risers. See stairway diagrams attached. 

LANDINGS

If the porch has a door to the outside, a landing and stairway are required outside the door. Landings shall be the same width as the stairway and the length or the landing shall be a minimum of 36 inches. The landing may be seven and three-quarter (7-3/4) inches lower than the top of door threshold. 

If installing windows or panes of glass in the porch area, there might be safety glazing and window fall protection requirements that need to be met, please consult the Residential Building Code or the Building Inspections Department for specific requirements.

INSPECTIONS REQUIRED FOR PORCHES


  1. Footings: 
    For porches must be inspected and approved before any placement of concrete can begin.
  2. Electrical Inspections:
    All electrical work shall be inspected. Call 952-997-6822 between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday for electrical inspections. Prior to framing inspection, the electrical rough in should be completed.
  3. Mechanical Inspections:
    Complete prior to the framing inspection.
  4. Plumbing Inspections:
    Complete prior to the framing inspection.
  5. Framing Inspection:
    Must be done before any siding or interior finish materials are applied. Mechanical and electrical work must be completed and inspected before the framing inspection is requested. The house-wrap and roofing materials may be installed on a porch before the framing inspection.
  6. Insulation Inspection:
    This is required if the porch will be heated. All insulation, vapor barriers and air vents shall be installed before the insulation inspection.
  7. Final Inspections:
    When the building is completed and ready for occupancy. The final electrical, mechanical, and plumbing inspections must be done before the building final is scheduled.

Schedule inspections by calling at least 48 hours in advance of the desired inspection date.

For additional resources and examples please see Related Documents