Toledo, OH - Licensed Contractors not pulling permits

[Kim Heretick]

I flip homes in the area by doing "minor" renovations. I don't do complete gut jobs.  I stick to tasks I am allowed to do (patch drywall, paint, replace fixtures, flooring, tile, and cabinets) and hire licensed contractors to do the rest.

I've noticed only 1 out of 6 licensed contractors I've hired in the past (HVAC / plumber / electrician / roofers) actually pull a building permit for the work they've been hired to do.  These are contractors that are licensed by the city, bonded, and insured (I've verified this)... name companies with excellent reputations.  From online searches, it seems like most don't pull unless it's a commercial project.  There's no way these companies have only worked residential a couple times in the past 6 months.  They've hardly pulled any residential permits.

On my latest flip, I am currently having AC installed in the upper floor.  I just realized they haven't posted a building permit and nothing is showing for it on the City of Toledo' s online building permit search.  They've done 2 days of work.  They'll be done this week.

Next week, I have a licensed electrician coming to rewire the kitchen and get rid of the old fuse boxes.  They plan to pull permits.

I don't know what to do now about the HVAC people not pulling a permit.  What do I do at this point?!  Is an inspector going to come in for the electrcial and see the HVAC work done and have an issue?  It's hard enough not being able to pull my own permits because I'm not an owner-occupant or licensed GC, but when the contractors I'm paying top dollar for don't I'm worried it may get me into a Stop Work Order.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?  What happened?  From now on I will insist that it needs to be pulled but this is frustrating because licensed contractors are supposed to do this for their jobs anyway.  Shouldn't they be losing their licenses or does the city just unofficially allow them to work without permits once their licensed and do enough "good work"?  Only THREE Residential HVAC Alteration/Addition permits have been applied for in the city so far this year and it's almost March!  There's no way so few residential jobs have been done in the whole city.

I'm studying to get my Remodeling Contractors License so I can pull permits and manage more of the work.  This will help.  Until then, I need help!