Commercial stair or ramps that require handrails or guards under the code typically require a building permit. However, in most cases, planning permission from local authorities is not needed to relocate stairs. If the new design does not impact the external space, planning permission may not be required.
A building permit is always required for any addition or structural modification to existing living space, electrical modifications, and plumbing work. An exterior stair should have a minimum width of 36 inches and a minimum depth of 10 inches. Homeowners are responsible for getting all required permits, and they must check with their local building department at the start of their project.
Additional permits are required for all structures that have not been specifically exempted. Repairs do not require a permit, but railings might need a permit if the top landing is more than 30″ off the ground. A permit is required in most cities, counties, states, or areas for alterations or replacing a stairway.
In most cities, counties, states, or areas, all structures require a permit, and a licensed contractor can do the build according to current codes. Structures of 120 square feet or less may be exempt from the building code but still need to apply for a building permit.
Adding a wall, whether it’s interior or exterior, typically requires a building permit to ensure the modification is properly done.
📹 Do I Need A Permit To Build Deck Stairs? – CountyOffice.org
Do I Need A Permit To Build Deck Stairs? Are you planning on building deck stairs? Before you start, make sure you know the …
What is the building code for exterior stairs in NY?
Stairways must be at least 36 inches in clear width at all points above the permitted handrail height and below the required headroom height. Commercial railings include frameless glass, stainless steel post, aluminum base shoe, frameless glass pool fence, stainless steel pipe railing, stainless steel handrail, screen panel railing, cable railing, PVC handrail, LED handrail, perforated metal panel railing, and standoff glass railing.
Other commercial stairs include glass spiral, steel wood spiral, glass railing spiral, straight, U-shaped, L-shaped, quarter turn, floating, curved, escape, mono stringer, and Zig Zag stairs. Stainless steel posts, aluminum base shoe, glass spike, latch, standoff, clamp, cable fittings, bar holder, handrail brackets, round, slotted, and square tubes are also available.
Do exterior stairs need to be fire rated?
It is not necessary to provide a fire-resistance rating for interior and exterior stairs, whether combustible or noncombustible, unless there are other reasons for doing so. Examples of such reasons include the presence of scissor stairs or exit stairs over storage rooms.
What does not require a building permit in Florida?
It should be noted that building permits are not required for repairs such as broken fence rails, appliance replacements, house painting, or non-structural flooring replacements. To ascertain whether a permit is required, please contact the Building Division at 850-833-9605 or via email before commencing any construction project.
What structures are exempt from Florida building code?
In accordance with the Florida Building Code, certain buildings, structures, and facilities are exempt from federal government regulation. These include railroads and associated facilities, as well as nonresidential farm buildings on farms. This is in compliance with the relevant legislation.
Do I need a permit to replace kitchen cabinets in Florida?
In the state of Florida, a permit is typically not necessary for the replacement of a kitchen cabinet that does not involve any structural, plumbing, or electrical modifications.
What is the code height for outdoor steps?
The 2018 IRC code for exterior stairs, found in Section R311 Means of Egress, outlines the requirements for stairways, including specific requirements for exterior stairs. Section R507. 2. 2 defines the requirements for outdoor plastic composite deck boards, stair treads, guards, and handrails, which must comply with ASTM D7032 requirements. These boards, stair treads, guards, and handrails must exhibit a flame spread index not exceeding 200 when tested in accordance with ASTM E85 or UL 723, except for noncombustible plastic composites. They must also be decay and termite resistant, and installed in accordance with the code and manufacturer’s instructions.
The outdoor stair anchoring code, Section R311. 5, mandates that exterior landings, decks, balconies, stairs, and similar facilities must be positively anchored to the primary structure to resist both vertical and lateral forces or be designed to be self-supporting. These requirements ensure that the safety and functionality of outdoor spaces are maintained.
Why do New York buildings have stairs outside?
Building fireproof interior staircases was costly and would reduce rentable space. New building codes allowed landlords to attach iron or wood exterior staircases. However, enforcement of building codes was not strong, leading to poor fire safety. It took over 50 years and the deaths of 146 garment workers at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in 1911 for the city to clamp down on landlords and developers. The factory had only two exits, one locked to prevent theft, and a fire broke out in a rag bin, leaving no feasible escape route.
Can a handyman install cabinets in Florida?
A handyman license in Florida is not required for basic tasks like installing cabinets, painting, performing yard work, and repairing drywall. However, more specialized tasks like high-level plumbing, wiring, and construction work require a license. For comprehensive remodeling or improvement, a contractor license is required. Florida offers two classifications of contractor licenses: certified and registered. Certified licenses are valid throughout Florida, while registered licenses are limited to specific local jurisdictions.
What is the 27 rule for stairs?
Stairways must be at least 36 inches in width, with exceptions. The building code specifies a minimum width based on the area above the permitted handrail height and below the required headroom height. If handrails are installed on each side, the required width is 27 inches (686 mm) and 31-1/2 inches (800 mm) if only one handrail is installed. Inspectors don’t need to worry about trim, stringers, or other items below the handrail’s projection, as long as they don’t exceed the handrail’s projection.
Spiral stairways can be as narrow as 26 inches (660 mm). The number of stringers installed at a wood-framed stairway is related to the 36-inch minimum width. If cut stringers are used, at least three are required, spaced no more than 18 inches on center. If the stairway is wider than 36 inches, four stringers should be installed. A combination of cut and solid stringers can be used, but the maximum spacing between the stringers should be 18 inches (457 mm) on center.
What happens if you get caught remodeling without a permit in Florida?
Failure to obtain a permit before starting a construction project can result in penalties, as per Section 109 of the Florida Building Code and Florida Statutes 553. 80. Violations can lead to a higher fee, potentially causing further investigation by the state or local government, resulting in construction delays and potential litigation. Building insurance and permits are interconnected, and insurance companies may not provide coverage if the project’s location does not grant the “green light”.
Most insurers require proof of a building permit before insurance coverage is provided, and without a permit, an accident on the project’s premises may not be covered under the builder’s insurance. To ensure a successful construction project, it is recommended to hire an experienced construction law attorney, such as Attorney Brendan A. Sweeney, who can advise on Florida’s building permit laws.
What is the penalty for building without a permit Florida?
The City of Fort Pierce Building Development Department has clarified a policy regarding inspection of completed structures, stating that there is no provision in the Florida Building Code. If construction is cited without a permit, a double permit fee will be imposed, and a $100 fee will be imposed if a stop-work order is issued. Certified design drawings and a Certification of Completion must be attached to the permit application, sealed by a Florida Registered architect or engineer. If a Certificate of Completion is not obtained, the structure may need to be dismantled for proper inspections.
📹 When NOT to Get a Building Permit
Do you need a building permit?…maybe. In the long run, it could be to your benefit. Final inspection of the Spec House here: …
As a home owner, I took on replacing the sidewalk myself. In the pre pour inspection, the inspector strung a line across the form and measured the depth. As he went along, he said “take out a quarter inch here…an eight here… a quarter here”. I was following behind, scooping out dirt, when he turned and said, “dont do that, you could throw that back in after I leave. Get rid of it. I’ll wait.” So I put it in a wheel barrow and spread it out along the foundation of the house. As he signed off on the pre-pour inspection I told him he better wait here until I pour, because I had a truck load of sand that I was going to dump in the forms. He sat at the curb for nearly an hour until the concrete truck arrived!
Spot on! Old man now, but 35 years ago I bought raw land in the Sierra, built my own home by myself, no help at all, been off the grid ever since. Never had an issue with the county, even the tax collector measured, said that’s it, you’ll never hear from us again. It all depends on the county, your proximity to towns and cities, so if you’re far enough out, Govt will leave you alone.
Most inspectors I have had to deal with, or seen my father deal with, are decent folk – it is the a-hole ones that give the rest of them bad reputations – one time the inspector red tagged the vent motor in the kitchen and while he was walking through the rest of the house I fixed the problem – took longer to go get my tools than it did to fix what he flagged – but the man refused to look at it again, refused to the point where he issued a thinly veiled threat to walk away and not come back – the only recourse was to have a failed inspection that delayed the finishing of the house UNTIL we could get him to come back and redo the kitchen inspection – it took 2 weeks to get back on his schedule – that is the kind of inspector that people hate.
In 2003 I had an inspection for a 2-car garage I was building behind my house. The building inspector saw that I used metal rafter ties, nodded, and said, “Rafter ties, eh? Carry on.” He knew that I knew what I was doing. I told him I was planning a large deck on the back of the house and would be in to see him the following week for a permit. He said, “You don’t need a permit. Just build it.”
Now we need a talk on dealing with an unreasonable inspector. I worked in a profession that required regular inspections and regularly engaged those inspectors help in getting things done that the owners didn’t want to spend money on. So, I am inclined to like inspectors. However, on a home project I had one walk in the door that just wanted to throw his weight around. He was pissed because the ladder hadn’t been put up for him, and when he came back when we got a ladder, he didn’t want to go up on it because he didn’t like where it was. The only reason he eventually went up was because I went up ahead of him,,,, and I’m a 70-year-old woman. I stood there with my hand out at the end and made him shake it, but, boy, did I want to spit in his eye instead.
The first project that I did in Phoenix AZ was a 750 sq. ft. garage. The owner was able to draw his own permit and do his own work, subject to inspection, if a permit was drawn. I advised him to get a permit, as the garage could legally be 3 ft. from the neighbors side yard. I said that there was a good possibility that the neighbor might not like that. As soon as the waals went up, the neighbor called the city; an inspector arrived, saw the permit in the window, looked the job over, and we were good to go! Lesson learned!
@essential craftsman – I am an insurance adjuster. I’ll weigh in on your first question about insurance coverage. If a “contractor” makes mistakes on a job which later result in a loss such as a fire, then yes, the contractor may be held accountable in the end. However, the insurance loss would likely still be covered. The insurance company would later pursue the contractor or his liability insurance (if they have any). In contrast, if a homeowner does the work, and that work is sub-par or generally incorrect, that alone likely won’t exclude coverage for the ensuing damages, such as a fire. And the insurance company can’t pursue their own insured (client/customer). However, all policies have exclusions related to poor workmanship, renovation, or neglect. Those exclusions apply directly to the work being done. Meaning the insurance company wont correct a bad wiring job, bad flooring install, bad roofing job, etc.. It doesn’t matter who does the work, if it’s done poorly, then the homeowner or the contractor have to bare the expense to correct it. But if that poor work later results in a claim, they may cover the ensuing damages.
I installed gas metal pipe in my crawlspace with a permit and as a homeowner. I was really proud of my work. I was disappointed when the inspector didn’t want to crawl under the house and see my work. All he wanted to check was that it held pressure from the gauge on the outside. Anyhow, I got the final and natural gas turned on.
Here is Syracuse NY, plumbing and electrical must be performed by a company that is owned by or employs a master plumber and electrician. The work does not have to be performed by the master plumber or electrician. The master plumbers and electricians of the area are all on the board that decides if someone can become a master plumber or electrician. They vote on if someone can take the test to become certified. This is led to only a small few companies being able to be permitted for the work, and driving up prices.
Where I live the building inspectors are pretty level-headed. They have been very helpful. What I did learn is that you have to be careful communicating. I’m a long-term, read 40 years, engineer so I used a lot of industrial shorthand in submitting my permit applications. That caused a lot of back and forth. I always assumed that inspectors had to be licensed Professional Engineers or at least journeyman tradesmen, That was an incorrect assumption. They are, on the whole, good people. So communicate in a way that makes sense to them. Now, lesson learned, while I have been accused of being an arrogant engineer often by my wife, on the point of disagreement, the inspector was right. So the real lesson learned was, as my Dad said, sometimes it’s better to stay quiet and have people think you don’t know something instead of opening your big mouth and removing all doubt.
Before embarking on a large 2-storey addition project, I spent a useful evening attending a presentation made by an older city inspector to an audience of regular Joe Citizens. He made many of the points you do. The most memorable part of his presentation, and the part he clearly liked giving best, was the extensive photo presentation of utterly discombobulated messes he encountered over the decades. If there was no zoning, permitting and inspection system, the crap that people would build would be *everywhere*. I’ll bet Boeing is wishing right now it paid a bit more than lip service to the idea of having work properly inspected.
I don’t disagree with anything you said but permits equal power. I don’t need to finish that sentence you covered it as I was typing. I find that in my industry customers more often do what the inspector wants rather than running it up the chain it saves time, money and makes for less trouble with future inspectors.
I have finished two basements and moved walls around our master bedroom/bath in my own home and all 3 times I pulled a permit for the very reasons outlined here. I did extensive research on building codes (both local and national) to ensure I did the framing, plumbing, and electrical properly and I learned so much in the process. Each time, it cost a little more than a $100 and the city engineer at city hall was very helpful in providing feedback and other things I may have overlooked such as additional outlets, GFCI or smoke/CO detectors. The city inspector was very helpful as well and gave me the peace of mind that I did things as they should be.
We are in Western NY we are getting a new driveway, a tear up and a 15 foot add on with a taper for the camper we need a permit, also I guess let’s say you put a deck or something on without a permit and years down the road you go to sell that could present a problem because of your assessment on your home will not show that, we also had our chimney and fireplace removed a bathroom gut and remodel obviously needed a permit, but the contractors take care of all that at least in our part of NY
I learned from my dad’s case with a good inspector around 1975. Dad is tall, about 6’3″ and likes to cook. He built his kitchen with 42″ coutertops to save his lower back. He was mad when he was told to remove and reinstall them at 36″ and asked “why!!!”. I’ve never forgot the inspector’s answer, “The system of codes protects you, but mostly guarantees the integrity of the structure for it’s lifetime and future owners”. It was an easy fix since dad used standard cabinets on a 2×6 platform, but the point remains; its not just my house, its going to be someone elses.
In Victoria BC (where I live) there are 13 municipalities in probably a 30 mile radius of the down town. Every single one has a different set of specific requirements for what requires building permit and also what one needs to apply for one. I don’t know but I would guess that about 40% of the renovation work that happens on residential Holmes is un permitted. If you make the barrier to obtain a permit too high and too expensive people just aren’t going to get them.
Here in Germany you either need a permit, or you don’t. If you don’t need one you also won’t get one even if you asked for it. But if you asked first in a reasonable way you get any help from the building department at your local county (in German = Kreis) without any cost. On my first house I needed a permit for a carport. I went to the office talked with them and they directed me into the correct way to construct and dimension the posts and everything. I did the construction made a drawing and then I got my permit. About almpst 20 years later on the next house I wanted to add a carport. Since the requirments of when you need a permit had changed in the time between again I called the office and asked if I need a permit when I add a carport to the house. They said yes. I didn’t answered directly, and the clerk said “You heard different:” I said “Yes, but I want to make sure.” He told me that I had said I wanted to add a carport, which meant it is connected to the house. This influences the static of the house and hence I need a permit. If I build a carport beside the house, and even if it is just 3/4 of an inch I won’t need a permit. He also told me that I have the right to have two coverd places for cars at my house. One place is calculated at being 5 meter long. Since my garage is 9.5 meter long it only counts as one space, even if I easly can park two cars in it (well, if I clear all the other stuff in the garage). So I was free to build me a new carport. Only thing I had to do to check about the location of the gas, water and sewage lines, which I did with the help of the company that provides this services.
When I bought my home, I was told the roof was replaced in the past two years, turns out a permit was never acquired because the seller did it themself and the first rain of the year led to leaks in three rooms in the house. Turns out the person who did the roof had no qualifications to do so. At the purchase there wasn’t anybody pushing for due diligence, everyone very much was pushing to get the sale done ASAP. In hindsight I should have slowed down, but at the time I was just excited to be able to own my home. Def a lot of headache and if I had done my due diligence, I probably would have held out for a new place. The pressure after you put that good faith deposit down is real, though
Where I live, you technically need a permit for everything. I have done many jobs both with and without “permission” (we PEMIT you to continue). Brings to mind a garage I built. The call for final inspection brought a guy with a clipboard. He walked around the outside, occasionally glancing at the garage, but mostly at his phone. He step A FOOT through the entry door and turned on the light switch. He shut the light back off and closed the door. Signed the final, and said “looks good”. That told me they are interested in fees and fines, not safety and quality. Once I found out the punishment for lack of permit was double the fee ($350 for smaller projects where I am), I never pull one for my own projects. I advise customers of “the rules” and let them decide their own choice in their projects.
One thing I learned about code and the inspections done, is that is all they care about.. code, not quality of work. So, don’t assume meeting code, means high quality of work by a trade. Also, a couple years ago we decided to get a canopy installed over our deck. The prices of canopies and sunrooms skyrocketed due to material availability, and the pandemic. So we ended up paying at least 30% more for the canopy. We asked the contractor to get a permit, so, the county then knew the total price of the canopy (screened) was $30K. Recently, we found out the value of our home went up $38K, while none of the other homes around us went up. So, as a result of the canopy and its overpriced cost due to the pandemic, the taxes on my home now went up $200 a year. Now I am wondering if we should have done the canopy or if we did, not bothering with a permit.
The county does perform surveys every decade or more. I don’t recall the proper terminology for this. They send out inspectors to your property to update – “verify” their records. If they inspect your home and find something knew that required a permit but one wasn’t applied for… You’ll need to apply for a permit and pass an inspection. Depending on the work that was done, this may involve deconstruction for the purpose of inspection. You won’t be able to sell that house until the issue is resolved.
As a 25 year insurance attorney I would put more emphasis on the insurance side of this. If you add an addition of some kind and a Permit is technically required and not obtained, a carrier can and will use any excuse to get out of a large loss. They have two ways of doing it. One is asserting the cause of the loss arose from the addition. The other however is more insidious. A carrier can argue that had they been told about the addition, a different premium would have been charged (or perhaps no coverage would have been offered because perhaps no permit was issued), the carrier in most states can void the policy “ab initio” (from its inception) and simply return your premium and not pay the claim. You emphasized this to some extent but this is a VERY dangerous game to play, depending on your carrier and your state.
Regarding your insurance denial comment: YES, an insurer may deny a loss. I investigated a fire loss on the west coast about 20 years ago where the homeowner had intentionally “jury-rigged” wiring. The insurer relied on the “intentional” act to deny over $100K in fire damage. Mind your “P’s” and “Q’s”, especially when it come to wiring.
Safety certainly is a concern. However I believe building permits are just government overreach. They need to know what you’re doing so that they can increase your property taxes. Where I live in Canada, if I do anything to my property that is considered an improvement, including tearing down an unsightly outbuilding and levelling the site, you need a permit. Then your taxes go up.
Like many things, there are outstanding “building Inspectors” who have significant knowledge and experience who can provide the envisioned oversight. Some, are government bureaucrats who have neither, but are only interested in “catching you” and generating violations and fines. Hope for the first, brace for the second.
I have a condo in Naples, FL and if you are installing a new water heater, you need a building permit if your condo is two stories or more. The city charges $50.00 for this permit and my plumber charged me $100.00 to get this permit. I asked him if I could get it, and he asked if I was a licensed plumber? Nice way to divert from my question. If my plumber is licensed, why do I require a building permit? After the installation, the city sends an inspector to check the plumbing. The inspector walked into the room where the water heater was located, and he did not spend more than 10 seconds in the room, and when he came out he signed off on the inspection. Just another scam to collect more money. I called the city and asked why I required a building permit, and was told to prevent water leaks from damaging another condo. I then asked why don’t I need a building permit when I install a new faucet or toilet? He could or would not answer me.
Our township just ripped up 100 feet of 6 foot high privacy fence, 100 feet of a stamped and dyed CONCRETE driveway, and a 20 x15 foot stand alone garage from the property of a ” sovereign” citizen. He moved in to a residentially zoned neighborhood and started a major project without township permits. We are assuming he was trying to make this property a construction company headquarters. All this within sight of the township building one quarter mile down the street. Lets just say police were on guard around the property as demolition commenced. I estimate this homeowner lost $100k worth of improvements. None of us can understand what planet this very determined man came from. Btw, everything he did looked nice, and actually made the place look better😮
An interesting choice of words Scott. You talk about (possibly) not getting a permit and using the word “freedom”. As I see it, a project without a permit is a liability the homeowner holds every day going forward. A permit is not in the interest of the contractor, but in the interest of the homeowner. A contractor like you is a blessing Scott, but too many contractors lack knowledge, employ unskilled people or drive a job by cost with little regard for the homeowner. Always enjoy your articles Scott.
It’s hard to believe. I was walking the dog this morning,contemplating my options regarding a couple of significant structures. I’m just north of the border from you, and we are being ruled by the bureaucracy. Stop work orders rule the day. I can’t mill my own timber. Strict adherence to a recent and evoling high efficiency code. Help!
I looked up the rules for building sheds and pergolas in my area. Then I took a walk around the block and found at least eight sheds not installed with the required property line clearances. In fact, none met regulations. My next-door neighbor has a metal pergola right next to my property line. It was sold to her with it installed.
Back around 1990 I decided that my mothers deck needed replacing. Wasn’t a large deck, but was old enough. I found a contractor to do the work, but the neighbor (who I thought was a friend of my parents) called the county about us for not having a building permit. The inspector was a jerk and a little flakey. He said he couldn’t make a certain decision without talking to his supervisor, so I called his supervisor who said the inspector had full authority and I called the inspector back and told him so, and I never heard from him again. At the time I was administering road construction contracts and my experience helped get rid of the building inspector. To resurface an existing deck did Not need a building permit. I put a new roof on my house around the same time over an existing almost flat roof that gave me an attic you could stand up in. Only time I saw the building inspector was when I had to call him to come inspect the work when it was completed. He looked bored and uninterested in looking at the project. Didn’t set well with me.
Colossally disappointed. I’m not entirely sure how you could equate “progressive” with regulation, but you’re either willfully ignoring, or glossing over the fact that almost all regulations are written in someone’s blood. You’re trying to somehow classify civilized behavior as something negative, and that encourages lesser men to selfishly ignore the rules of society. In my humble opinion, that’s beneath you, sir. I expected more. I built a shed in my backyard. It was large enough that it required a permit. I had to have four separate inspections before the final. The building regulations were not oppressive, because they were all there to keep me from facing major financial problems, from producing substandard work, and from the eventual possibility of finding myself, or my family in a potentially dangerous situation. Those regulations protected me. So what if I had to spend $275 on a building permit! It was an investment in my home and its property value, and an insurance policy against me screwing things up. It was never about me or “my rights.” It was about the future, about my family, and about anyone else that might ever own this home long after I am gone. If anyone really thinks that regulations are there to prevent you from “doing what you want”, or that they are an imposition on your “rights”, then that person needs to take a step back, and realize two things: 1) They are not the only one on the planet and the things they do can and usually will affect others and 2) Your rights stop where everyone else’s start People may not like it, but it is the reality and it is the truth.
I had an agreement to put up a steel building and the building permit was denied based up on an engineering seal after the public health order sent everyone home. I paid the money to the town and paid for a really nice building pad, three years later there is no structure because the banks are very strict after sitting on foreclosed properties for several years.. I found shoddy electric work in our house on nearly every circuit and the 50A line to the range was simply wrapped with tape under a cabinet, OMG!
I have remodeled homes built in the 1880-1950’s without permits that were solid construction no problems, I have remodeled homes 1970 -2018 that all had permits, inspections and bla bla bla and THEY ARE CRAP. Permits are money grabs. The best thing is to find someone who takes pride in their work. But hell I was taught by old timers twice my age when I started out.
I was on a job where the inspector refused to acknowledge the Plumbing Code was updated and we had to fight town hall to let us use Pex tubing for Radiant Heating. That happen again in the same town when we used Ward Flex for the gas on a different job. It was basically one town with three inspectors doing inspections on things they’ve never done as a job. Meaning that the Electrical inspector was also the pluming inspector and never did plumbing or electrical work in his life. I’ve also seen towns where all the inspectors are friends from the Fire Department. I personally had an inspector change the full inspection to a partial inspection because I had found a gas leak and was in the middle of fixing it when he walked in.
I’m in Central Montana building a 1200 sq ft. straw bale house. As a owner/builder all I need is a septic permit and electrical permit. It’s kind of fun, i don’t need stamped lumber can build with straw, build my own trusses etc. The interior will be a bunch of stained concrete floors and counter tops. Decorated in what I can only call “steampunk bordello”. at the end of a 30 year career as a carpenter I’m about to paint a masterpiece in the material/labor/ value formula. But I would never think about not pulling an optional permit on contract work why? because it absolves me of liability. when I lived in Ohio there were places that didn’t require building permits and if the owner didn’t want to pay for it or deal with it you just built it according to the biggest pain in the butt local municipalities requirements. I really enjoy this website I’ve watched a lot of these vids and every thing you have done is spot on for the second oldest profession.
If you live in a booming, high growth area, permits are huge issue. Inspectors w/ limited knowalage trying to rethink architects & engineers to show “Who D Man”. Overworked inspectors will always say NO to even the most minor issue, w/ zero explanation. Thats after waiting few weeks to get visit. I am involved in a four lot build where two offices in same county are arguing, and pulling contractor both ways in the middle. Not first (or 10th) time I’ve seen this. Its UGLY…
On paper it’s to ensure the quality of construction, that it meets codes, etc. In practice that’s not always the case – there’s many permits where they don’t do a final inspection, or any inspections; in those instances it’s merely a tax. It also can be subjective, based on the inspector’s knowledge / training. I have a friend who had a concrete patio poured where the inspector insisted on a ridiculous pitch, made the contractor change the forms. Inspector later proven wrong and no longer with village; but the damage remains and the homeowner really has no recourse, as suing the village is a costly endeavor. The permits are taxes, both up front and to add to the cost basis for property taxes. On the surface they are well intentioned, but government often goes beyond….. Caveat emptor.
It feels like about 15 or so years ago, insurance companies have gone from providing protection, to collecting premiums and being your ‘friend’ up to the point where you have a loss. At that point, they are no longer your ‘friend’ and will do anything and everything they can to deny your claim. Don’t trust them anymore.
My number one rule if I do the work myself and I know how to do it properly I might skip the permit. If I hire someone I always get a permit period end of story. Every hose job I have seen came from contractors who didn’t get a permit so they could get the work done as fast as possible and not follow building codes or best practices. . Think about it, why would a contractor do work without required permit by law? Isn’t that like driving a car without a license and insurance? Could it be he doesn’t want someone inspecting his work? I know some horror stories done to little old ladies by church going con-artist contractors. Not nice.
Not sure about Oregon, but up north in Washington building permits and electrical permits are issued and inspected by different entities. Most things can be “replaced with existing” by the homeowner w/o a permit, but all new work requires a permit. I have found electrical permits to be fairly cheap and helpful and less punitive.
Senior Commercial and Residential adjuster here. Most carriers would pay if a sub did the work and the subrogate against the subs or builders carrier for recovery. If homeowner completed the work, that is a different matter and handled case by case but usually would fall under the policy exclusion language for Negligent Work section relating to “faulty, inadequate or defective” design, specifications,workmanship,repair,construction, renovation, remodeling, materials used,maintenance “. Bottom line, don’t risk it.
In most places a permit simply means that you paid the fee. The ‘inspectors’ are mostly clueless around here and are simply checking boxes on a form that you paid and that the work is done. Usually if you need a permit they will come tell you about it at some point during your project. At that point you can decide if a hole will solve your problem…
I have remodled several houses I owned, and I’ve never bought a permit. ! one main reason the inspectors ! I never met an inspector that helped only one that was such a pain in the butt that he put a “non compliance” on my house for a silly trash pile ( he didn’t like how junky the ranch was….) it was a Ranch not a house in a city, yet he wanted my ranch to look like a city street ! we got around his “block to sell” the ranch…. but because he did that I could not afford to re-build after the house fire…. I had moved into a school bus that I had turned into a motorhome. he said I can’t do that I asked why not? he said that is not a house …. in the end he forced us to move to another county and get out of Shasta county,CA. the reasoning he used was ridiculous by anyone’s view. and then when I was living in the bus because I had no other place to live the permits alone for a new building was $16,000.00 and then there was a sliding scale on top of that depending on the square footage… so the permit alone would have cost me over $20,000.00 dollars ..that’s just the permit ! I told them at the planning commission I couldn’t afford that and they told me then you can’t build in Shasta county ! I said I have 20 acres of land paid for free and clear why can’t I build a house if I want.? she said if you do we will tear it down…. ( I knew this was true because they drove a bulldozer through my neighbors house because it was not up to code.) the whole experience was degrading and frustrating.
The itrritating thing is that youi have to have inspection with a permit. If the inspector misses something and it fails, they have ZERO responsibility. I wish they would change that. If I have to pay for an inspection, I want to hold the inspector or their office accountable. Now-a-days I think you should always get a permit. Your insurance company might not cover you if something happens.
Permits are nothing other than tax revenue generating. The permitting office holds no liability and very few actually know the building codes in the first place. There’s plenty of examples of houses built that are literally falling off the hillside, or are flooded every time it rains, or literally missing footings. Due to negligence on everybody’s part including the inspector. They are the only ones shielded from liability. VERY few people will care at the time of sale that something was done without a permit as long as it passes a home inspection. Which is also up to how good the home inspection is. All that has to be done by the seller is disclosure. If it’s disclosed there no liability on the seller’s part. Unless it can be proven it was intentionally hidden which is VERY difficult to do. Building codes are updated yearly around here. If people cared their house wasn’t up to code no one would buy a house older than a year. But people buy 100 year old homes all the time and don’t care there’s nothing holding the framing to the foundation. In the end it comes down to how good your contractor is. The person who is ACTUALLY doing the work. Just because it was permitted and inspected means nothing. The work is only as good as the ruler used to measure it. Also insurance companies don’t inspect the interior of your home. They would also have to prove the “work” that caused the claim wasn’t done before you purchased the property which would also be impossible, unless you tell them.
People who don’t know what a supporting wall is and who don’t know that two layers of shingles are allowed but not three, are in no position to discern a safety concern for their family. Always recommend people call their local building inspector. The inspector makes money from the purchase of the permit, and they may offer a biased opinion, but it puts them on the hook. A building inspector cannot offer engineering advice. They will, however, tell you “yes you can” or “no, you can’t.” If you think you may need a permit, chances are, you do need one.
My advice is do the work to code but never get a permit. Always photograph all work. If you have photos and did it to code you will have no issue getting your project signed off when you want it to be for insurance or a sale. Unless you want added property tax, to pay someone who just got hired and never built anything telling you how they are interpreting the code. Also here in California homeowners insurance doesnt exist anymore ( insurance companies dumped everyone because of the insurance Commissioners refusal to raise rates). Most places require a neighbor to file a complaint before code enforcement comes btw…
The narrative of complaining about inspectors is almost always a) born of people who don’t know what they are talking about b) individuals who need to take a look in the mirror. NOt always – but 97% of the time. If you build w/ out permits in an area where permits are required. YOU are SOL when it comes to a bank appraisal if you add sq ft. or make noticeable changes. If you are your own General, as I am, an inspector in your corner can be fantastic. They’ll point out sub. failures, etc. Lastly ‘progressives are nosey & always in our business’ is tired cliche and stereotyping not worth the words they’re printed on…
I got into a discussion with my neighbors when i got a notice i needed a permit for some stairs i was repairing. The permit cost 65 bucks, the county officials were a pleasure to with with, and there weren’t any issues. I brought up two points .. the fees barely cover the cost of the labor to process the application and inspections, the county is not making bank on a lot of this. Two, the permit isn’t to protect me, it’s to protect the next guy who buys a house with stringers installed by an idiot. At least the idiot’s work was checked to make sure it was safe.. Very good article discussing something i think is very important in a world where too many cut corners to save a few bucks at the expense of other people’s safety.
In 1984 I built my home and as a 25 year old the experienced individual tradesman’s who were inspectors in those days were a godsend. Unfortunately in the forty years I spent working since then I watched those guys retire and their replacements are not knowledgeable at all. You can get a way with a lot with these guys now so you better hire experienced tradesman and not rely one bit on the inspectors..IMHO
My personal opinion is that you should be able to submit your changes to the county for their records but it’s classified under unregulated work. Attach a waiver at sale that says the same thing, and give a future home owner the option to remove the waiver by going to the county a future point. Unless it’s something like gas/electric/water/sewer that has a potential to cause a genuine hazard to the community. It really should be your own property, the county isn’t liable if they’re wrong, so what’s the point anyways? In the US anyways we’re almost always liable for our actions and mistakes, so why do we need somebody to insure our work when we are the ones who would ultimately be harmed?
As a very young man I identified as a libertarian as well. As I went through engineering school, bought a house, and saw the absolutely disgraceful work some people do, I’ve become more fond of rules and regulations, within reason of course. Building codes and dive tables (depth and times for different gas mixtures and conditions) are written in blood. Thousands of people have died over the years to help refine them. And the reason we can trust those documents today is because of the sacrifice those folks made in the past.
All your points are valid in the real world but Oh Lord… If you live in Chicago and pull a permit or go for a special use permit anywhere – may your god go with you. I have learned about getting up at 3am and waiting in line with the street winos to get a “place in line” for next morning at the plan office because they only see maybe a half dozen parties a day. Paying 3k for a set of plans for a century old building because your project “might require moving a 2×4”. And woe unto those that pull an EZ permit to find a planning dept idiot (without your knowledge) reclassed your 3flat to a 2 flat. Or from a 2flat to single family. (Yes I have seen both happen). And the unwritten law that says pull one too many permits and go on a surveillance list for annual inspections. If you do pull a permit in dangerous waters befriend a long in the tooth investor who can steer you through the pitfalls. Remember – Chicago still required lead service supply lines after the millennium. REQUIRED!
Fire inspector here. Generally, work has to be at least bad for me to notice that something isn’t done right. Of course, that means the work was done by someone who didn’t know what they were doing, making the need for a permit and inspection even more important 🙂 If it can catch fire, block someone from exiting safely, or otherwise potentially put a person a risk, get a permit. If in doubt, get a permit.
Los Angeles County here. Permit fees are calculated by the lineal foot ! No inspector is going to look at 300 fee of electrical wire or plumbing. Once he sees the label imprints on the type of wire or pipes, he is done and looking at “a part of” something else. Once they see the materials used are “approved types” for the work, they tend to only inspect connections, not by the lineal foot. BTW, some permit fees can be up to $40,000 for just a simple 3 bed 2 bath new home.
I like the balanced thoughts and reasoning about building permits or not. What one county in California did was for the longest time require cast iron drain pipes and would not permit ABS plastic pipes, even through the plastic drain pipes are easier to install and perhaps last longer. It was later revealed that the pipe-fitter’s union had a hand in that building code requirement. It was that way for a ridiculous number of decades, but not that long ago, those ABS plastic pipes were allowed and it saved me a ton of money in labor… and yes, I got the work permitted and inspected. Thank you very much for your thoughtful insights… I just subscribed to your website.
I’m certainly one who sees value in permits. As an avid DIY-er, I really value having a pro come out to make sure I’ve done everything right so I nearly always get permits for everything. All of the inspectors I’ve run into here are very reasonable. My personal opinion of the inspectors here is that they are more lenient and kind to homeowners pulling permits for their own work (as long as you’re genuinely trying). I think they don’t want to scare off people from seeking permits, where they could be harsher with a pro who should have known better. One of the tricky things I found with permits is reading between the lines. I was surprised to find lots of grey areas in code. Especially in electrical, there are lots of forum posts to be found debating the meaning of various code references. It’s like trying to figure out what an obscure bible verse means, different people have their own take. More often than I would have guessed, passing an inspection is more about the inspector’s interpretation of the code than an absolute truth and that can vary between inspectors in the same jurisdiction. I find anxiety from not knowing how an inspector would take what I’d done. I’m not sure about the fire loss question, but I’ve heard that too and am interested in the answer.
I’m a bit taken a back by this article, I think there is an inherent divide between ‘rural America’ and ‘urban America’ where a person ‘living’ in the country – especially if that ‘living’ has been done and passed down over generations, believes what they do on their own property is their business and no one else’s, and perhaps there was a time for that, when those living this way were more capable in those building endeavors with the skills taught to them by the skilled people in their lives. Sadly, not today, most people in the rural country or urban centers have no or limited skills to undertake any building job or major repair. Building permits are a type of necessary evil, if you will – today, mainly the strongest reason is to protect the homeowner from unforeseen harm which, they, for the most part were not even aware of because of their lack of knowledge. Sure there are lots of people with a mechanical aptitude that can watch a couple of YouTube articles and undertake a building project without too much worry, but there are plenty of yahoos on this platform that aren’t the most reliable sources of information. In my book, as a carpenter of 35 years, a building permit is always needed to protect the homeowner, first and foremost.
Lodi Ca you NEED a permit just to replace an existing light fixture, also you must completely strip a roof 1 layer only (state law 3 layers). stockton ca the flashing on the side of the house 2nd story that goes to the first story roof and has a ‘v’ to prevent water from entering the house, the inspector MADE me smash it down as it looked out of place, his supervisor agreed with me and said if it leaks we’ll be held responsible (yeah right) states want the money inspectors are ALWAYS right even if their wrong. I did a job with new technology and it failed because the inspector wasn’t sure if it would work.
I really wish you wouldn’t have used decks as your example to say where you might skip permits. Decks are one of those things that people have too much confidence in and people cut more corners than they should. People party on them and they collapse. Permits are important to protect the consumer, protect occupants (which might not be just the owner), to protect the next owners, to act as a documented history of the house, and to sometimes even protect the neighbors (fire separation, for example.). This is a tremendously inane article and I am excessively disappointed that you would advise people to skip permitting because of perceived inconvenience. I’d always trusted what you said, but this message was a miss and I really hope people don’t take it to heart. As a previous building permit administrator, I can say the legal answer (at least via the international building code) would imply no permit needed for anything purely decorative (trim, floors, interior doors, wall coverings, paint, cabinets, etc). In my area, anything causing you to go into walls (even just partition walls) required permits. Don’t know how many times we found egregious errors by the “good contractors” that would’ve cause a huge problem down the line. Again, this message is a bad one, Scott. You really should hold yourself to a higher standard as a public figure in this industry than to advise the public to possibly break the law and endanger peoples lives by skipping important steps of a project.
Building inspectors and codes were put in place to act as a guide while completing a project on top of safety. They were designed to help you find a way. Now it seems like they are more concerned with taking the fee for the permit, adding to your tax base, and finding reasons why it won’t work in the first place. I think the biggest apprehensions come from bad inspectors and bad offices for code, not the permits or codes themselves.
1:15 Note, there is a BIG difference between security and the illusion of security. Many who claim to offer security are only selling you on the idea or feeling of security, which then often makes you even more vulnerable. The extremely high failure rate of TSA @airports comes to mind. As does the concept of moral hazard (i.e. people who know they aren’t insured while driving tend to drive more carefully. Having insurance causes some people to be less cautious since they feel there’s a financial safety net under them.) #SecurityTheater
I am a Building Official and formerly a contractor and consultant. First point, in most juristictions, do what you want, but do not affect the safety of others and their property. Ultimately it is the owner’s responsibility. If you choose to get your build permitted, you have the benefit of substantial experience and another set of eyes looking out for your best interests. Responsibility can also be shared once a permit is issued and build is inspected. I believe there is value in a permit, but ultimately it is your choice.
My beef on permits is they require them yet it seems every inspector around me has some disease where they can’t answer the phone, can’t return an email, can’t call you back, don’t want to show up when they say they will. We have some local builders that simply will not do business in certain municipalities due to the great difficulty in dealing with these poorly run municipalities. They all seem to think they sit on some high horse and we all have to take a knee to them. If they were a private sector company and had competition they all would be out of business. 2 weeks for an approval on a shed permit is simply absurd. 2 week wait for a zoning permit to replace a deck of f the same shape and size is absurd. Pull a permit for your roof replacement online and pay your fee, they don’t even come out to inspect the roof. Hand over money for what on a roof replacement if you’re not even going to check the work performed or hold any responsibility?
“Those who give up Freedoms for Security deserve Neither”! ~ Thomas Jefferson. The overreach is happening everywhere small towns turn into Metro areas across the U.S. Yes, there is a time and a place. If you add square footage……………..Get a Permit or the Title Company will make life hell. The square footage can even be subtracted from the value on appraisal. But a kitchen sink? Give me a damn break! A small shed or garage? Get the County involved and what was to cost $23,000 will cost you $62,000 by C of O!
In arguments about all the rules and regulations we usually prefer to adhere to around here (in Germany) I heard Americans argument that those are unreasonably restricting our freedom I have to add, we don´t feel restricted in our freedom at all, overall we feel we have more freedom. And with everyone having to adhere to the same rules and regulations (And yes, you will find people violating or ignoring those, and be it just out of gross negligence up to willfully for profit. You just can´t help stupid, no matter where) I always put it that way. Those rules and regulations give me the freedom, not to worry too much about what others do. Way more important in everyday life in my opinion, than anything else. Oh and legally, while personal freedom is an important part of our constitution, it naturally always ends, where it harms or negatively impacts others. With rules and regulations, you at least know, up to where you can safely go with your actions.
I am not a fan of joe homeowner doing major reno’s without someone inspecting it. What happens when they sell the house to someone who doesn’t realize he added a second floor without proper support beneath. We all have our work checked when were working and its no different in construction. I have seen so many people cut corners and compromise the structure of a dwelling. How many house fires have there been from shotty electrical work.
I live in Oregon, and wanted to put a home up the hill on my property. The gravel road up the hill had to be approved by the fire marshal. He required so much rock and such a large turn-around circle (72′ radius) that it was unaffordable. What’s interesting is that he was Mormon, and Mormons only needed half as much rock in their roads.
I know in my area you can try to build without a permit, but you have to aware that you might get a stop work order at any time. A neighbor might file a complaint, or in a friends case, the inspector might be driving by and notice a contractors vehicle who he knows very well. But that friend was prepared for the possibility and got back up and running quickly. There are still some Wild West areas: like Cochise county, Az. You can get a permit, and receive a CO, but it is also perfectly legal tp build without. But you have to deal with the consequences of getting insurance or reselling.
That was very well thought out and skillfully presented. I’ve seen people who are sure that because there was a permit and inspections that everything is done right. But that’s just not the case. Inspected or not, I trust myself far more than any professional at getting everything right and symbiotic with all systems in mind. I’ve seen far too many clusterf…s where different tradesmen came in at different times, each only concerned with their specialty. And many tradesmen having been shown “the right way” to do something, with little to no understanding of the underlying concepts. I’d much rather go the extra mile myself and take full responsibility for the outcome.
In one of the towns that I used to do work, the inspector there always found something to violate us on. I think his thing was to prove that he was smarter than you are. So, I turned the tables on him. Every time I would go pull a permit in that town, I would sit down with the inspector and show him a questionable area on the plan and ask him what he thought I should do in that area…he seemed to like that… a lot. He never violated me again ever. I learned from that experience and always try to get the inspector involved on planning the projects that I got involved in. It turned him from an adversary into an active participant in my projects and really smoothed out the inspections process. If an inspector looks hard enough and decides to be a real stickler, he can find small violations on any project, if he wants to. Nobody needs that frustration. It;s better to get them on your side.
I am from a third world country called New York City. Most work done in old buildings is not permitted and the results are disastrous. Expensive apartments can have electrical systems that are outdated and unsafe, whole kitchens wired to one 20amp breaker for example, ore entire buildings where gfcis are rarely seen. The problem is twofold: permits are so time consuming and expensive the city uses them as a way to make money off new construction and ensure only huge companies can work rather than as a way to ensure safety. Second, that enables stupid and or greedy people to act with impunity
Most permits are a joke. Most inspectors don’t care enough to get out of the truck. I’ve professional seen hundreds of inspections not once did they catch anything worth catching. Now out of the trades and into a different career but building a home myself they don’t get look at my work my last electrical inspection as a NON professional was, he came said hi handed me the sticker filled out and said looks good from the driveway!!
Very nice unbiased and reasonable article sir. By and large I have had few big problems with inspectors but there have been some power tripping and/or ignorant ones over the years. I find if you leave a glaring mistake for them to find they don’t nit pick you to death and you stroke their ego by saying something to the effect of “Oh I’m glad you noticed that, I will show this to my helper so we all learn something”. Frustrating when things are signed off on but are not right though. Inspections are to protect the financially involved parties that are not directly doing the work. (Insurance, bank, and most importantly future owners) Be skeptical of the inspector that says “Well I like to see it done this way or that way and don’t back it up with code”. I generally don’t say much to inspectors until what they want is a reduction in the quality of my work. Sometimes inspectors have argued points contrary to the laws of physics ( I’m and excavator) and that makes for a tenuous discussion. I really like your thoughts on dealing with the unreasonable or ignorant inspector.
I like freedom vs a permit & inspection however when we had our old bungelow replumbed an inspector was our ally; as the plumbers had placed plumbing too low in our already too low basement. They moved it because the inspector said do it guys l’ve know it can be done because l’ve done when l worked as a plumber. He helped us out
I am a new homeowner. I learned over half of my house was built without permits. Permits are cheap where I am (CT) and even cheaper in the past when the work was done. Now I am looking at being in litigation for at least a year. Part of house was built over septic, electrical needs to be completely redone, both bathrooms were also done unpermitted and need to be completely redone. Rear and front of house additions were built without proper foundations and are not repairable and need to be completely rebuilt. What I have learned is that the only reason people don’t get permits is because they don’t want their work inspected. Homeowners can take out their own permits here and just get the work inspected and passed as long as its to code.
I see many have chimed in with their thoughtful insights. Off topic in a manner of speaking. Every inspection was passed with flying colors. The inspectors had rarely seen a level of competence before on other jobs. The owner receives their certificate of occupancy. Some time immediately after. The structure catches fire and burns to the ground. Not one. Not one of those inspectors is liable. Even though they signed off. They are not held accountable. During the forensics of the arson investigation some minor event happened that caused a dominoe effect of all building systems to have been effected. Those inspectors will never be held accountable. They might appear in court. But only to help the insurance company not pay out what is due to the property owner.
I had a fence installed on my property line because of a problem neighbor. I told the carpenter to get a building permit and make sure it was built to code because I knew this person was going to call the city and complain. He did, and when the inspector came out and checked the installation he found it was within code, so the neighbor couldn’t do anything.
I have never had a problem with an inspector I could not explain away or go over their head and have them come back with an apology but sometimes plan check in my county can be about a year for new construction and 8 months for a remodel or addition. Totally unreasonable. That’s the main driving force for unpermited work around these parts.
I ran into something like this when I replaced my own water heater, and didn’t realize that when I did so I had to bring it up to current code, not just as it was when the original water heater was installed. When I went to sell the home, the home inspection guy noticed that there wasn’t an inspection sticker on the WH and flagged it. The seller, of course, requested it be inspected prior to closing. The county inspector came by and informed me of several modifications I would need to do to get it up to current code and even helped me by drawing out what was needed (a gas line drip leg). He said to call him when I get done with the modification and he’d come back out at no charge. A couple of days later when I was done I called him to come back and he gave me full marks on my craftsmanship, even saying it was done better than some pros he knows. Bottom line, I learned something and made it a better/safer installation and the home sale went through without further issues.
I will add I worked as a inspector for five years. Fully educated, certified etc. I left and returned to wear The Bags as I didnt care for the bureaucracy with in City Hall (long Story). One, for instance is on the way back to City Hall after I gigged a builder for lot line run off filter fabric fencing the city Vactor truck was emptying on the edge of the same wetlands I was responsible to protect. The city emptying the truck on that location was all “legal”. Yes another: long story but hopefully you’ll get my drift. (and yes, mitigating run-off from a building lot is all part of a permit in man-a jurisdiction.) His including the fact that you can beef on an inspector if he or she is just being a dick. Plus you must realized theres a big difference with jurisdictions be they one with a city manager vs only a mayor. Where a mayor only system could gain a fired inspector a tidy sum from a law suit because the mayor backed his pals rather than adhering to The Law, yes, remember the UBC as adopted is The Law….anyway….great topic, I’ll shut up now…pencils down Roy
Contracted in both CA and OR going back to 1987. We pull permits for everything except flatwork and I’d do it for flatwork too if I was in an area that required it. YOUNG CONTRACTORS A -WORD OF CAUTION! The biggest mistake I ever made was failing to file Preliminary Notices for work for a ‘best friend’ who stung me for $600K (We’re primarily engineering contractors today). Legal fees on that one ate up about 1/3 of the judgement … and I didn’t get $600K … then you have to chase the best friend to collect the judgement. 😞
One VERY important thing you did not mention: If you get caught with non-permitted work and have to get a permit, you need to meet the building codes in effect TODAY. So even if every aspect of the project met the code when it was built, any subsequent code changes that affect the construction have to be met. This can be extremely difficult–think stair rise/run changes, GFCI/AFCI requirements, wind or seismic requirements, etc. Not getting a permit can never help you in the long-run. I’m really disappointed to see an EC article with the title used. If everyone was as honest and careful as you are, and KNEW THE CODE relating to their trades, this would be less of a safety problem (you’d still have the bureaucratic problem mentioned above). But installing anything without a permit is setting you up for future headaches. Don’t do it.
6:00 Re: your “LIBERTARIAN” instincts- the comments after cause me to wonder if you misunderstand what that even means- libertarian DOES NOT mean doing whatever you want. It means no one has a right to infringe on the inalienable rights of others. In fact the free market, which libertarians support, would offer all of the same “security” options (private inspection markets, building code standard (like the passive house standard, for example), etc.) the government currently does, if the government didn’t monopolize the market, and have a mandated customer base, which inevitably leads to corruption. Might want to take a moment to review the philosophy of liberty.
The problem with pulling permits is it also allows them to reassess the property value for tax purposes. Your taxable value can only go up by 5% a year typically, but if you make improvements on the property then they will reassess at the new value. We bought a new home and added a $27K deck. Our property valuation jumped by $50K. If I could have done it without permits, I would have 100%
You mention if you think you can safely to it without a permit that maybe you go ahead and do so. In my admittedly limited experience I’ve come to believe that the building permit has everything to do with protecting your neighbors and the future home owner from your incompetence, and generally the thing about incompetence is that you don’t know that you are incompetent. I’m new enough at it to know my limits but I’m finding all sorts of things in my home that aren’t remotely to code and are making my own projects that much more complicated.
I was replacing some rotted siding on a partial wall of my garage when I got the cease notice from the city. Threatened with a $3000 fine plus penalties for everyday it was uncorrected, I immediately got a permit. It was just to replace siding, no sheathing, no structure, no MEP. The permit took 65 days & cost $600 (my project materials only cost $1400). It requires a site inspection, then waterproofing inspection, then final. I just got the waterproofing inspection. I had done meticulous work not wanting rotted siding again. The inspector was here for about 8 seconds and only looked at my work from 50’ away. Now tell me how that is anything but a revenue generating tool.
My family was in the construction business so I have met all kinds of inspectors. I always leave something for them to find. But I moved on from that line of work. Where I live now you can’t touch anything at all, everything requires a permit and a licensed contractor. Everything. So when I had my kitchen redone, after the inspections were all done I went in and fixed the three gas leaks (after the appliance shut off valves, so the leak test missed them) and changed a whole bunch of electrical work to meet the version of the NEC they are supposed to be following. Why? Because my family’s safety is my responsibility. Now there is a shortage of tradesmen and the cheapest quote I got for replacing an old gas tank water heater is just over $10k. Replacing a 15×15 deck with stairs, over $20k. That’s what strict requirements and a shortage of the trades can bring. Maybe I’ll go back into the building trades and start my own company.