You might need a permit if:
You are changing the roofline of your house.
You are putting in a new door on your house.
You are putting a new window in your house.
You are changing the wiring and putting new wiring in your house.
You are moving a sink.
You are knocking down a load-bearing wall.
You are changing the footprint, or basic layout, of your house in any way.

You might not need a permit if:
You are installing hardwood floor.
You are putting on a new roof, but not changing the roofline at all.
You are changing your countertops (it's finally time for granite!)
You are just putting new siding on the outside of your house.
You are performing electric work, but it's only minor. Example: replacing a pesky electrical outlet.
You are putting in new carpeting.
You are installing a hardwood floor.
You are putting in new doors and windows, but you aren't punching any new holes in your house.

Ultimately, the only way to know whether or not you need a permit for your remodeling project is by calling your local permit office. The types of permits required and the number of permits required varies from city to city. Your local permit office will work with you to ensure that you have the proper permits for each different remodeling project, so that you-and they-don't have to deal with the hassle of redoing projects and getting late permits. It's also to your advantage to call the permit office because if you are changing your roofline, for example, you might need to get the approval of your neighbors. You won't know this unless you contact your local permit office. Their phone number should be available in the government pages of your telephone directory.

Here are some different possible guidelines and distinctions that can help you know what kinds of permits you'll be looking at and how many you'll need. These guidelines apply only to Scottsdale, Arizona, however, and should only be seen as a general guidelines.

There are four different types of permits:

1. A building permit
A building permit is necessary for any construction work that you do on your house. This includes any additions that you put on, walls, fences, retaining walls, a carport, a patio cover, or storage and other accessory buildings.

2. An electrical permit

You will need an electrical permit if you are installing, altering, changing, or repairing in any way your electrical wiring. This holds true for your house, your garage, your swimming pool, any other structure, and any mechanical equipment that is on your property.

3. A plumbing permit

This permit is required for any changes made to your plumbing. This includes any installation, reconstruction, alteration, or repair. Affected operations are your plumbing, your gas, your sprinklers, and your water supply.

4. A mechanical permit

A mechanical permit is necessary if you are installing, reconstructing, repairing, or do anything else to your furnace, your refrigerator, and your air conditioning.