Can I Add Plumbing to My Pole Building?

There’s no denying that plumbing makes a building more comfortable. Being able to hook up a hose, turn on a sink, or add little luxuries like a washer and dryer can make your pole building more functional. 

But is it possible to add plumbing to a pole building? The short answer is yes, but there are a few things to keep in mind about how it will change the process. 

How Does Plumbing Impact the Building Process? 

The building process itself is largely the same when you add plumbing to your pole building. The biggest difference being that you’ll need to contract a plumber and we’ll need to coordinate our schedules. Once the poles are standing, we schedule a three day hiatus rather than continuing with construction as we normally would. 

We’ll give you advanced notice of that three day window and you’ll need to coordinate with your plumber to complete their underground work during that time. This allows us to proceed with the rest of the building normally before the plumber returns to finish their work. 

Since we finish with our portion of the building process before the plumbing portion is complete, there’s one important pre-build step you’ll have to take as the owner: applying for the building permit. 

Why Do I Have to Apply for the Building Permit? 

Since we will be finished constructing the pole building before the plumber is finished with their work, there’s a necessary delay from the time we finish to the final inspection. This delay makes it difficult for us to schedule the final inspection, and any other needed inspections. 

As the owner, you will be in close communication with the plumber and will have a better idea of their timeline, making it easier to schedule your inspections. 

Once we have finished with our portion of the build, we essentially hand the building over to you and your plumber to complete — this helps us keep our schedule and systems on track. 

How Do I Apply for the Building Permit? 

Applying for a building permit or an accessory building tends to be simple in most cities and counties. The best way to apply is to call your governing authority (city or county) and tell them you need to apply for an accessory building permit and ask them the best way to do so. You’ll submit the application, listing yourself as the owner/builder, and listing both Beehive Buildings and your plumber as subcontractors. 

This application method creates a clear point of contact for official purposes. It essentially just shows your locale that you’re in charge of the building and will be scheduling those inspections, but you’ve hired others to handle the construction and plumbing. 

Creating Your Ideal Pole Building

Adding plumbing to your pole building adds only a few extra steps to the building process, and allows you greater freedom when choosing how to use your building. 

From a barndominium to a she shed, plumbing can help your new pole building live up to its full potential. For questions about adding plumbing or any other aspect of creating your dream pole building, reach out to the Beehive Buildings team to get started.