| 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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