Frustrated DIYer with Permit Issues

[Tim Kaminski]

BP,

Located in St. Petersburg, FL.  Am under contract with a single family home that I plan on adding a bedroom to. I work for a construction company and am quite handy, but county is saying I can't do any work on these properties if they are for sale or lease.  I intended to get the work inspected as it would be increasing occupancy of building, but this was my value add! The fact that I can do most of this work myself lets me buy at a different price. This is just making me want to skip permitting altogether, but will I have issues down the road?  Now I have to hire a company to overcharge me?  Just very frustrating.  Rant over.

Would appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

Tim

[David Lee Hall, III]

If you are flipping the house you could run into issues that would require you to rip out everything and redo it. If you are holding it as a rental, then it is more about what you are comfortable with. Note that a nosy neighbor could turn you in, and you could still be forced to redo everything anyhow. That said...

Why can't you just wait until you close to apply for the permit and start construction? I wouldn't be comfortable doing work on a property I didn't own anyhow. I have done this twice and both times lost money in the end. I won't be doing it again.