Finishing a Basement in Westchester: 2026 Costs, Egress, and Waterproofing
Westchester basement finish costs, egress requirements, and waterproofing realities for 2026 homeowners.
Renovating in Clintonville: Older Housing Stock, Knob-and-Tube, and the Upgrade Path
Clintonville's early-20th-century homes hide expensive surprises. Here's how to plan a renovation that doesn't spiral into a gut.
Renovating in German Village, Short North, and Italian Village: Historic Review Inside Columbus
Columbus's historic neighborhoods each have their own review commissions, material rules, and cost realities. Here's the guide.
Renovating in New Albany: Strict HOAs, New Construction Zones, and Custom Home Premiums
New Albany's master-planned character drives one of the strictest private review processes in Central Ohio. Here's what homeowners need to know.
Renovating in Worthington, Westerville, and Hilliard: Suburban Permit Comparison
Three Columbus suburbs with different permit processes, review timelines, and construction cost baselines. Here's the homeowner's guide.
Renovating in Upper Arlington vs. Bexley: Permit Rules and Cost Differences
Upper Arlington and Bexley both have older housing stock and established review processes. Here's how they differ and what that means for your project.
Renovating in Dublin: Permits, Neighborhood Character, and Franklin County's Most Regulated Suburb
Dublin has some of the strictest residential design review in Central Ohio. Here's what that means for your renovation budget and timeline.
Renovating in Bedford, Katonah, and Pound Ridge: Wetlands, Well-and-Septic, and Long Review Cycles
Northern Westchester's larger lots come with septic systems, private wells, and serious environmental review. Here's how renovations really work.
Renovating in Yonkers: Historic Districts, Permit Timelines, and the City's Growing Enforcement
Yonkers is the largest city in Westchester and its building department enforcement has tightened. Here's what homeowners need to know in 2026.
Renovating in Greenburgh: What to Expect from One of Westchester's Busiest Building Departments
Greenburgh covers multiple villages and unincorporated areas. Here's how the building department works and what sets a Greenburgh renovation apart.
Renovating in White Plains: City Permits, Review Times, and the Common Traps
White Plains runs the largest building department in Westchester. Here's how to navigate it, what review really takes, and where homeowners get tripped up.
Renovating in Chappaqua (New Castle): Tree Preservation, Steep Slope, and Wetland Buffers
New Castle's environmental review layers — tree law, steep slope, wetlands — add time and cost to Chappaqua renovations. Here's what to plan for.
Renovating in Larchmont and Mamaroneck: Shoreline, Flood, and ARB Rules
Larchmont and Mamaroneck sit on the Long Island Sound with a mix of historic housing and serious flood exposure. Here's how to plan a renovation in either community.
Renovating in Bronxville: Historic Review and Village-Only Permit Rules
Bronxville's compact footprint, historic character, and strict village review process make renovations here different from anywhere else in Westchester.
Renovating in Rye: Coastal Overlay, Wetlands, and Permit Timeline
Rye's coastal location adds flood zone, wetlands, and shoreline review layers on top of standard permits. Here's what homeowners need to know before starting a project.
Renovating in Scarsdale: Permit Rules, ARB, and the Cost Premium
A practical guide to renovating in Scarsdale — how the village building department works, what the ARB actually reviews, and why projects cost more here than in most of Westchester.
Ohio's 2024 Building Code Just Went Live in Columbus: What Changed for Homeowners
As of April 8, 2026, the 2024 Ohio Building Code — based on the 2021 International Building Code — is officially in effect. If you're planning a renovation, addition, or new build in Columbus this year, this is the code your plans will be reviewed against, and it's different from what your neighbor built under two years ago. Here's what actually changed, what it means for your project, and the trap most homeowners fall into when a code update lands mid-renovation.
Do You Need a Permit for That? A Room-by-Room Guide for Columbus Homeowers
Most people only think about permits when a contractor brings them up — and by then, it's usually because the contractor doesn't want to pull one. That's a problem. In Columbus, the rules about what needs a permit are stricter than most homeowners assume, and the consequences of skipping one show up years later when you try to sell, refinance, or file an insurance claim.
ADU Costs in Columbus: What You'll Actually Pay in 2026
Columbus legalized ADUs by right in late 2025, but "legal" doesn't mean "cheap." Here's what a backyard cottage, garage conversion, or basement ADU actually costs in Columbus in 2026 — and where homeowners blow their budgets.