A balcony is an extension of your home's four walls. This place, however, must be shared with your neighbors. You can't just go ahead and add a balcony to your house any which way you like- there are regulations that control how many feet away balconies can be from the wall they face. The National Association of Home Builders recommends that you keep at least 30 inches between the edge of your balcony and the inside of your house for safety reasons. People love to relax on their porches or patio spaces outside their homes; however, this area should not be used as a bed because it could cause harm if someone fell off of it. Balconies come in several shapes and sizes. They can be as small as a window sill and as large as an entire room. Whatever their size, they all have two things in common: they are outside and they offer a view. Balconies provide people with a convenient way to get out into the fresh air while still being close to everything inside their houses. People often wonder whether or not they can build something onto their house without getting a permit first. Any addition to your house that increases its size by more than 10 percent requires approval from your local building department.