Permits - Yes or No?

[Jabraan Kadeer]

Hello everyone, 

In the process of flipping my first home and had a question regarding permits. I’m planning on adding a window to the front of the house, closing a kitchen door that leads outside and making that area to a pantry, and cutting a square in the wall that separates the family room and kitchen. I spoke to the town building department very briefly and they said I need architectural drawings and permits for all three, but I’ve heard horror stories about inspectors and inspections. I plan on putting in recess lighting, which I will put a permit in for. My question is, how will the town know if I’ve put in permits for the 3 things mentioned above? Can I claim ignorance? Say those things we’re done when I bought the house? How will the inspector know that the wall was opened up or not? Any advice, guidance and tips would be helpful - thanks! 

-Jabraan

[James York]

@Jabraan Kadeer I build new now and have done plenty of rehab before. It’s my opinion that aversion to permits is most often from people cutting corners. Yes, it can be a little aggravating to pay and have to get inspections, but if you’re not sure what you’re looking at, it also protects you from contractors doing bad work. I’ve rarely had inspectors be unreasonable when they believe you’re trying to do the right thing. Also, not sure how big your town is, but kinda hard to hide work being done on the front of a house… Last, if you’re selling the house, most disclosures are going to ask if you’ve done unpermitted work. Will you claim ignorance then too?