I see this issue often in Florida and in most cases it's an occupancy issue. Owner can pull the permits if they sign a letter stating they will not sell or rent the home for 1 year afterwards. As a State Certified Residential Contractor, I have been hired on several cases by owners that were caught and received a stop work order. This usually results in higher fees (double in many cases) and a "lets make an example out of this flipper" mentality from the municipality. These higher and unplanned fees, delays, plus the additional work sometimes required can break your budgets and make deals unprofitable. I encourage all investors to learn what requires a permit and what doesn't. If it does, then work with a local certified contractor and get it done right, by the book, and on budget. The municipality will see you as a professional as well. It's a great business relationship to build and will benefit you in the long run.
