Failing to pull a permit can lead to big problems for your construction project
Permits are usually included in a contractor's bid.
If there are no permits pulled, the homeowner is responsible.
Proper permits are necessary when selling or insuring your home.
If you’re planning a construction or renovation project, pulling permits is an important step in ensuring the job is completed legally and in compliance with local building codes. Who’s responsible for pulling permits can depend on the specifics of the project, but you’ll want to be sure you have the proper permits in place to avoid the expensive consequences of not having them.
Ultimately, the homeowner is responsible for ensuring permits are acquired for construction work, but in most cases, your contractor will complete the steps of pulling the permit from your local building authority. If your contractor says a permit isn’t necessary, cover your bases and protect yourself from costly surprises after the work is complete by confirming with your municipal building commission if you need a permit for your project.
Whether your contractor pulls the permit or you do, making sure this important task is checked off of your project to-do list before construction begins will save you time, money, and a lot of hassle later on.
Most reputable contractors include the price of permits in their bids. However, not all contractors pull permits. If your contractor didn’t get a building permit before starting construction on your home, you’re responsible for securing a permit after the fact.
The cost of pulling a permit gets significantly more expensive if you wait until after the work has started. For any permit pulled after the work is done, you may face a fine that doubles what would have been your initial cost had the contractor pulled it before construction started. Building permits last about six months on average, giving half a year for work to commence after the permit is pulled, so it’s worth it to pull one early rather than missing this vital step and trying to rectify it later.
The building and planning commission will schedule an inspection to see what work your contractor completed. The inspector will only approve modifications that they can visibly see. If the project is more complex, then a visual inspection may not be sufficient. In some cases, you may even need to undo parts of the construction if it does not meet building safety standards.
The inspector must also ensure that your home meets local building codes. The inspector may ask you to provide information about the company that did the work so they can check in and certify with the contractor what work was done. If your contractor is unresponsive, you might need to call in a reputable structural engineer near you who can evaluate the project and share any findings with the commission.
If there’s still ongoing work for your addition, you should pull those permits before the contractor completes any more work. You can have the permits checked off by the inspector for compliance as the contractor completes the project.
The first and most important step in pulling a permit after work is complete is to contact your local building authority and explain the situation. You’ll need to submit details and documentation of the work, including design schematics and any other documents supplied by the contractor.
Depending on the situation, the building authority will advise you of the next steps, which will likely involve an inspection, a fine, and potentially some alterations to the completed work to ensure it meets code requirements.
If you decide to ask forgiveness rather than permission when it comes to building permits, it can cost you. Penalties for building without a permit can range from hefty fines to needing to demolish the work if it isn’t up to code. Unpermitted work can also affect your ability to sell your home or lead to consequences once it’s sold—if you don’t have the proper documentation for completed work, the new owner can take legal action against you for misrepresenting the property.
Unpermitted work can also cause complications with your homeowners insurance. Insurance companies may cancel your coverage if they discover unpermitted work that’s not code-compliant. Work completed without a permit could also pose a safety risk, from structural instability to fire risks and more. Having work completed by a reputable general contractor near you who pulls the proper permits and follows local building codes will help you avoid these serious consequences.
Permits required for home additions include building permits and permits for electric, plumbing, and HVAC work, if applicable. Which permits you need depends on where you live and your specific construction project.
You may have legal recourse if your contract spells out that the contractor is responsible for pulling permits and they don’t. If the contract does not clearly state whose responsibility it is to pull permits, you, as the homeowner, are ultimately responsible for any fines or consequences. Before signing any construction contract, ensure it covers who’s responsible for obtaining the necessary permits.
Permitting regulations and codes vary by municipality, and depending on location, there may be guidelines regarding who’s allowed to and responsible for pulling a permit. However, in most locations, the homeowner is legally responsible for ensuring that the right permits are in place, regardless of who obtains them.
