Should you get a permit?

[Dan Costantino]

The short answer............yes!

Especially, if you're new!  I wish you would just trust me on this, but I'll share a couple of errors I made.

1) Operation shut down.  Most contractors will tell you that you don't need to get an inspection.  That they can get the work done, the right way and you don't have to wait around for inspectors.  Well....I've been shut down a couple times because the inspector caught us or a neighbor called them on us.  

2) Code? Believe it or not, not all contractors know what is code. So, you can pay for a product that will never pass a home inspection, appraisal, or occupancy inspection. FHA!!!! Home Depot's cheapest porch railing is a black metal with twisted balusters. It doesn't meet code. Guess which one my contractor picked. I told my GC to concrete over the gas line tap in. Do you think he put a cap on to access the shut off? Should I have told him? I guess..............

A permit and an inspector are going to help keep you away from crappy contractors and they will help you manage your contractors work.  They will help minimize major short cuts that you wouldn't catch.

So, please, don't waste the money I did.  Just get the darn permit!

[Wayne V.]

My experience has been that it's better to develop a working relationship with the permitting process than to skirt around it. Relationship with a process may seem counter intuitive but the process is what's different in different locations. What's the same is the adherence to the national building code. The "process" will include different people in different agencies, again location dependent. In a large city there may be a Dept of Buildings, while in a small town there may be only one codes enforcement officer. In either case, connecting with them before you start, finding out what's required, and then doing it is by far the most cost effective way to go, and will be the fastest way to getting a building occupied or to market. The last thing you need if you're doing multiple flips is to have inspectors looking for your jobs, knowing that you're doing them illegally. 

As for your GC not knowing and following code. One of the most important parts of their job is to advise you on how to build safe and legal housing. Using inexperienced or shady GCs just doesn't make sense, ever !!!