Home renovation question

[Doggiedog]

If you are going to renovate your home, such as adding new kitchen cabinetry, retiling bathrooms and floors, installing new bathroom sinks, things that do not touch the sewer plumbing, structure or foundation of the house, do you need a construction permit in general?

I know it may differ from municipality to municipality but I just got fined for having renovation work done on my house without a permit. My contractor has never heard of such a thing. I understand if you are adding to a house but just doing internal work that doesn't involve ripping down walls or installing new plumbing shouldn't require a building permit I am told.

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
If you are going to renovate your home, such as adding new kitchen cabinetry, retiling bathrooms and floors, installing new bathroom sinks, things that do not touch the sewer plumbing, structure or foundation of the house, do you need a construction permit in general?

I know it may differ from municipality to municipality but I just got fined for having renovation work done on my house without a permit. My contractor has never heard of such a thing. I understand if you are adding to a house but just doing internal work that doesn't involve ripping down walls or installing new plumbing shouldn't require a building permit I am told.

Whatever municiplaity fined you is likely right. I would chew the contractor out for not being aware of the codes.

 

[Toasthead]

Pretty much everything requires a permit. Whether or not you get one is up to you.

 

[Zrom999]

It is usually require for outdoor work. It is not usually enforced aggressively but jackass neighbors can give the local gov't a call and get you fined. Internal (non structural) work that is out of plain sight should be ok. If no one sees it they can't report you.

 

[amdskip]

Who is pissed at you and turned you in? Do you have a dumbster sitting out front or construction trash?

 

[CPA]

Your situation is why I moved out of the big city and out to the country. Much less building restrictions out in the countryside and less money I have to fork over to the city just to do something in my own home.

And, yes, the fine is most likely legit and you will need to get a permit.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: amdskip
Who is pissed at you and turned you in? Do you have a dumbster sitting out front or construction trash?

No dumpster outside but who knows, maybe we pissed off somebody with all the noise but then again, there is a huge development 15 feet away that makes tons more noise than me.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Armitage]

Yep, many places you need a permit for damn near anything above a certain dollar figure or involving plumbing or electrical. But alot of people blow it off and get away with it for anything not visible from the street. As somebody else suggested, most likely someone was an asshole and turned you in.

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: amdskip
Who is pissed at you and turned you in? Do you have a dumbster sitting out front or construction trash?

No dumpster outside but who knows, maybe we pissed off somebody with all the noise but then again, there is a huge development 15 feet away that makes tons more noise than me.

Thanks for the advice.

If you have a development off your back steps then the inspectors are onsite and noticed your construction and subsequently fined you. Don't build something without a permit when the inspectors will be at the property next door.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: rahvin

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: amdskip
Who is pissed at you and turned you in? Do you have a dumbster sitting out front or construction trash?

No dumpster outside but who knows, maybe we pissed off somebody with all the noise but then again, there is a huge development 15 feet away that makes tons more noise than me.

Thanks for the advice.

If you have a development off your back steps then the inspectors are onsite and noticed your construction and subsequently fined you. Don't build something without a permit when the inspectors will be at the property next door.

Good catch ... I bet that was it. Just saw a contractor's truck in front of your house and checked it out.

 

[Doggiedog]

Before I started the work, I wasn't sure if I needed a permit and asked my contractor. He said I didn't so I took his advice. This work was supposed to be finished in 2 weeks but like a typical contractor dragged out to 6. If he had finished on time, it wouldn't have happened.

My wife spoke with someone whose husband works at a buildings department and she said they get calls all day from old people who have nothing better to do than to report these things. Probably some old fart that did it.

Oh well, $150 fine + application fees and it sets work back 2 days.

 

[BooGiMaN]

this used to happen to my parents.
inspectors would come out all the time asking for this and that finally i got tired of them nagging my parents so i called and demanded and explanation.

turns out they were gettign calls from someone who was calling them about anything and everything he thought was 'suspicious' an not just on us but about the whole neighborhood and they said it was their duty to investigate...

I think it was the grumpy old couple that lives in front of my parents..but im not sure

anyways they said theyd flag our address and not bother my parents anymore even if they called again

never seen the inspectors again after that.

some people just wont live and let live.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Your contractor is LYING to you. What else is he lying about? Fire him.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: yamahaXS
Your contractor is LYING to you. What else is he lying about? Fire him.

I agree.

Anyone in the business would know what you need a permit for.


BTW-in my city just about everything more than repainting requires a permit, but I seldom get one.