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Most cities require that homeowners obtain
a building permit before making modifications to their residence.
Which modifications require a permit vary by city. Also, some
cities are more vigilant than others in enforcing permit laws.
In order for the homeowner to receive
a permit, the homeowner or his/her designee are required to
file plans and pay fees to the city. In addition, the improvements
are given a value. If they increase the value of the property,
this may result in an increase in property taxes. Inspections
are often required, and this means having to schedule and
then wait for inspectors to approve the work to be done. This
process can be time consuming and inconvenient in the short
run. It is for this reason that some homeowners skip the permit
process.
If a permit is needed and you fail to
get one, the city may discover this at some time in the future
and getting a permit retroactively can frequently be significantly
more expensive and much more problematic than having obtained
the permit before work commenced. If work is not done in accordance
with city procedures or if the inspector is unable to determine
if the work has been done properly, the homeowner could be
required to open walls, tear up floors, so that the inspection
may take place. In addition, by law, work not permitted where
a permit was required must be disclosed to any prospective
purchaser. This may cause the owner to discount their sale
price or perform costly or time-consuming repairs before title
can be transferred.
For prospective buyers of a property,
save yourself the future hassle and loss of money by researching
whether all work on the premises has been done according to
code and with the proper permits. You may obtain these permits
by going directly to Building & Safety in the municipality
in which the property is located or by hiring a "permit
puller" who will research the permits for you.
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