Building Permit Question
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Freshman User
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Building Permit Question
I've got a question for anyone that has had experience with DIY remodeling projects.
My wife and I recently purchased a home with an unfinished basement. Last week my father-in-law and I put in a new bathroom and I plan to finish off the rest of the basement. Because this is my first home it didn't even occur to me to get a building permit until a friend of mine who is also finishing his basment mentioned it.
My question is this? What can happen if I finish the rest of the basement without getting a permit? I'm concerned that I may have problems when it comes time to sell the house.
My wife and I recently purchased a home with an unfinished basement. Last week my father-in-law and I put in a new bathroom and I plan to finish off the rest of the basement. Because this is my first home it didn't even occur to me to get a building permit until a friend of mine who is also finishing his basment mentioned it.
My question is this? What can happen if I finish the rest of the basement without getting a permit? I'm concerned that I may have problems when it comes time to sell the house.
Guest
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: north west new jersey
every state and town are different. you put in a bath that could be a problem along with the wireing, for reasons of safety and your home owner insurance and later sale for a new c/o . its something you have to look into from your local level.
here in nj it would a problem on resale. or if you heven forbid have a electric fire and they find no permit was issued. no coverage pay out.
play safe . look into it and the local laws. good luck.
here in nj it would a problem on resale. or if you heven forbid have a electric fire and they find no permit was issued. no coverage pay out.
play safe . look into it and the local laws. good luck.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,619
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From: Forest Hill MD
In MD you need a permit to change the toilet paper. lol Seriously though your insurance Co may not cover a loss if no permit from what I understand. Most Countys and inspectors are very helpful to homeowners (not builders like me). I would call your local office and ask. If you need a permit they will work with you to inspect what is already done.
Chris
Chris
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: NY and VA
Where in VA? I have found out over the years that it is better working with the building dept (esp in NY). Down here in Stuart, VA the County personel are very easy to work with, and eager to give out helpful advice. Usually if you go to the build. dept and explain the situation there should be no problem. The plumbing and electrical will have to be inspected, don't forget gfi outlets. Good luck, George
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Magrath
There is two issues with working without a permit. One, like what has already been said, if electrical and plumbing are not inspected, your home owners insurance may not cover any problems that arise from your work.
The other that can happen where I live is if they find out it is finished, they can back tax you to the date that they deem fit for the finished work and double the permit fee for a fine. If you have all the reciepts for the matierals, you would have an argument that they cannot tax before that.
If you just have the bathroom done and you can still see the plumbing through the back wall, I would just get the permit and you should be fine. If you explain that you forgot and you want to set thing right, I can't see any issues.
As for selling it later, if you finish you basement without a permit, technically you cannot say the basement is finished.
The other that can happen where I live is if they find out it is finished, they can back tax you to the date that they deem fit for the finished work and double the permit fee for a fine. If you have all the reciepts for the matierals, you would have an argument that they cannot tax before that.
If you just have the bathroom done and you can still see the plumbing through the back wall, I would just get the permit and you should be fine. If you explain that you forgot and you want to set thing right, I can't see any issues.
As for selling it later, if you finish you basement without a permit, technically you cannot say the basement is finished.
Last edited by couleeman; Jan 9, 2005 at 12:21 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
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From: Atlanta GA
There might be some issues you are not aware of such as having to enclose any of the oil/gas fired applicance inside their own fireproof room with a double wall of sheetrock and metal door. Along with a hard wired fire detector. You really need to first get the permit, THEN, have a code inspector over.
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Thanks for all the responses. GLR I live in Warren County, VA. I'm still not sure what I am going to do. The house is all electric so I don't have to worry about enclosing a gas furnace or anything like that. I'm not worried about the wiring either. The bathroom was wired by my father-in-law who is a licensed electrician. He is licensed in the state of New Mexico but I don't have any doubts about his skills. The rest of the basement was already wired with outlets when I moved in so I shouldn't have to add any more electrical. Smoke detectors are already installed in the basement as well. My concern is that everything is all covered up and painted now so it isn't possible for an inspector to look at it and I really don't want to have to undo all the work that I have put in up to this point.
I guess I'll call the local building dept and ask them some hypothetical questions and see what kind of answers I get. That may give me a better idea of how to proceed.
I guess I'll call the local building dept and ask them some hypothetical questions and see what kind of answers I get. That may give me a better idea of how to proceed.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Seattle, WA
Me personally from experiences with anything to do with DIY projects is, if the city can't drive by and see what you are doing, don't get a permit. I would say that you wouldn't have any issues with insurance since most companies don't quite know what your house looks like when they insure you. I recieved my policy over the phone and they don't know if I have a finsihed basement or not. I also think that in reselling the house the question of wether a permit was pulled does not come up since the new buyers would not know when it was done. Maybe this theory of non-permit pulling is my way to not give the government my hard earned money!
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Joined: Sep 2003
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I agree with jjf100!
Dont pull permits that is too much red tape & "big brother" for my taste.
Ive done so much work & never pulled permits, Permits waste your time having inspectors trapesing thru your house & it will send your taxes up & the permit fees themselves. This is America & its sad that its come down to having to get a permission slip from the government to make your own house different. They claim its about safty but in reality they just want to get their Mits on your $$.
Remember its easier to make excuses then to get permisson.
Dont pull permits that is too much red tape & "big brother" for my taste.
Ive done so much work & never pulled permits, Permits waste your time having inspectors trapesing thru your house & it will send your taxes up & the permit fees themselves. This is America & its sad that its come down to having to get a permission slip from the government to make your own house different. They claim its about safty but in reality they just want to get their Mits on your $$.
Remember its easier to make excuses then to get permisson.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
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From: Northwest Fl
In my county, in Ga., you only need a permit if the work is over $2,500 in value, that makes me more inclined to believe that the reason for the permit is more to increase your tax base than for safety since a bad $100 wiring job can burn your house down.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 462
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From: Barrington USA
I agree with jjf100 too, my one suggestion is that if you have any doubts about your skills in a certin area call in an expert, better to spend more money and to it right the first time, than to have to do it again
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,202
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From: Mandan, ND
Do you know a local electrician really (really) well? He could look over your in-law's work, look at his license, then sign off on it. That would work for insurance purposes. Sounds kind of unethical, but if a licensed electrician sees your work and it is up to snuff, no problem.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Southern NH
Something to keep in mind.
My mother sold her house just this past year, in Massachusetts. She had owned it for 18 years, and during that time the basement was completely finished. There was a full bathroom and kitchen installed. There were no permits done for this. When it came time for the building inspector to take at look at the house, he pulled the details of the home at city hall. The specifics of the house did not detail a finished basement. So he then checked to see if there were any permits taken out. Because there were no permits, it was done all illegally in the towns eyes. My mother had to pay someone to take out the sinks, bathtub, and appliance electric outlets. We were able to talk them into leaving the toilet in. If she didn't comply with this, she wouldn't have been able to sell her house.
It may not seem like a big deal now. But in the long run, you won't have any big headaches if you decide to sell your home.
My mother sold her house just this past year, in Massachusetts. She had owned it for 18 years, and during that time the basement was completely finished. There was a full bathroom and kitchen installed. There were no permits done for this. When it came time for the building inspector to take at look at the house, he pulled the details of the home at city hall. The specifics of the house did not detail a finished basement. So he then checked to see if there were any permits taken out. Because there were no permits, it was done all illegally in the towns eyes. My mother had to pay someone to take out the sinks, bathtub, and appliance electric outlets. We were able to talk them into leaving the toilet in. If she didn't comply with this, she wouldn't have been able to sell her house.
It may not seem like a big deal now. But in the long run, you won't have any big headaches if you decide to sell your home.