DecorApproval Hub

Author: Engineer Scott

Legal Documents / Permitting Process

Essential Documents for Home Renovations: Understanding Power of Attorney and Contracts

In the midst of the often hectic process of applying for interior renovation permits, homeowners frequently encounter a familiar scenario: a designer or permit expediter presents a stack of documents, pointing to dense forms and saying, “Here’s the power of attorney. Please sign and stamp it so we can submit your application.” Trusting in their expertise, or eager to start construction quickly, many homeowners sign without a thorough review, sometimes even handing over their official seal for safekeeping. At the moment, this might seem like a convenient understanding, a way to streamline the process.However, when the application hits a snag, gets rejected, or if issues arise post-completion due to discrepancies between the actual construction and approved plans, leading to a…

Contractor Management

Decoding Your Home Renovation Plans: A Guide to Floor, Elevation, and Fire Safety Drawings

Remember the first time you received a thick stack of renovation drawings from your designer, feeling lost and overwhelmed? Lines, symbols, and numbers intertwined into a complex maze, leaving you nodding along but uncertain about the final outcome. This confusion has often been the root of renovation disputes: a significant gap between the homeowner’s and the contractor’s vision of the ‘finished product’.However, a quiet revolution is underway. Professional designers are now treating these seemingly arcane blueprints as strategic roadmaps for client communication. They’re moving beyond simply delivering files, using clear explanations to make every line and annotation a cornerstone in building your dream home. When you can understand the layout in a floor plan, appreciate the material details in an…

Design & Planning

Interior Renovation Permit Application: Essential Drawings and Documents Guide

After completing the initial qualification confirmation, you’ll move into the crucial ‘Submission Preparation’ phase. This stage directly impacts whether your application is approved. Many applications are rejected or delayed due to incomplete or non-compliant drawings and documents. This guide will detail all the necessary drawings and documents for applying for an interior renovation permit, ensuring you’re fully prepared.Important Note: According to Article 23 of the Regulations Governing Interior Decoration of Buildings, all drawings and documents submitted for an interior renovation permit must be certified by a professional technical person (architect or interior decorator). Simple drawings prepared by yourself will not pass review.I. Basic Application Document ChecklistEssential Foundation Documents (6 Items Total)□ Application Form (must include applicant and building details)□ Proof…

Analysis

Home Renovation Permits: When Do Dividing Walls and Ceilings Require Approval?

“I’m just adding a room in my own home, and I didn’t touch any load-bearing walls. Why do I need a permit?””I’m just redoing the living room ceiling, boxing in a beam. Does that require a permit too?””I’m changing a 4-bedroom layout to 3 bedrooms plus a storage room. Does that count as altering the structure?”On the other hand, a landlord converted their 30-ping apartment into five studio units for rent, proudly calling it “effective space utilization.” Unbeknownst to them, this act of subdividing has severely crossed the line of building regulations. It not only significantly increased the floor load but also compromised the entire floor’s fire compartmentation, putting themselves and all their neighbors at high risk.The “ignorance” of the…

Legal Compliance

Home Renovation Permits: Is Your Building ‘Publicly Accessible’?

Mr. Zhang, a resident on the 10th floor, simply wanted to remove the partition wall between his study and living room to create a popular open-concept space. He believed that since he was renovating ‘inside his own home,’ it was purely a matter of personal freedom. To his surprise, the building management immediately intervened, demanding he obtain an ‘interior renovation permit’ before proceeding. Mr. Zhang was bewildered: ‘My home isn’t a KTV or a movie theater, who is the ‘public’ here? Why should they interfere?’Meanwhile, Mrs. Lin, living on the 4th floor of an apartment building in a different district, had just completed a renovation converting a three-bedroom unit into a two-bedroom. No one approached her, and she hadn’t even…