Masonry Contractor in Lancaster - Repairs That Fix What Caused the Damage

Often yes, because the city's Building and Safety division issues permits for any work that physically changes or adds value to your property, and the permit has to be issued before work starts. Some jobs also need building plans, while a few small items, like some fences and low retaining walls, are exempt. We check with the city for your address, and when your job needs a permit we apply for it and set up the inspections.

The city exempts retaining walls up to 4 feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, as long as the wall isn't holding up extra load like a driveway or a slope above it. That 4 feet includes the buried footing, so a wall that looks 3 feet tall can be over the line. I measure it out with you at the estimate so you know which side of the rule you're on.

Only an owner who lives at the property, a properly licensed contractor, or an authorized agent of either can get a permit in Lancaster. A contractor also needs a valid city business license on file, and a workers' comp certificate where it applies, before the city will issue the permit. We're licensed and fully insured, and we apply for the permit as your contractor so you don't have to.

Hire a licensed land surveyor, because the city says a survey is the only accurate way to locate your property lines. Building and Safety has no information or maps showing property lines, so they can't tell you where yours runs. Once the line is marked, we lay out the wall from it.

The size of the job, how much has to come out first and what caused the damage set most of the price. A wall with a failed footing costs more than one that only needs new mortar, and a job that needs a permit and plans adds time before we can start. I write all of that into your estimate so you can see where the money goes.

A permit expires if work doesn't start within 360 days of being issued, or if started work stops for 180 days or more without real progress, as the city's Building Official decides. For most masonry jobs that's a lot of room, and we usually start well inside it. If your project will run in phases, tell me at the estimate and we'll plan around those limits.