Work without permit is impermanent work.
Not everybody who put in a 2nd kitchen plans to keep it there permanently especially in a SF without ADU
As eventual resale (afteer moving, died, etc) is expected to be with financing which seems the longtime western standard aka '(north) American Dream' as home prices are widely based on 'the most' much banks will lend out for it, and values for state/county/city tax likewise based on such inflated markets to fatten also those officials' pockets too.
Typical response from inspector will be 'obtain permit' for impermanent work as most always even just demolition requires permit - before beginning 'any work'.
I remember in NYC, people would replace a simple toilet or sink vanity themselves and neighbors would report them the moment they spotted a DIY project - and city would literally come out and issue violation and 'stop all work order' without even getting inside to see if what the tenants and/or neighbors tattled was actually true. Usually money would have to be paid to pull a permit for replacing said toilet or sink etc plus additional fees for each inspector appointment!
Wonder where is the fine line per local code/dept buildings? Ie in one jurisdiction one can change their own toilet or sink without permit while other might even require a permit to change a faucet! Then there's HOAs who are notorious for issuing fines for even just painting or refinishing - yet get away inexplicably for any work they deem necessary on the common areas of a building without even pulling a permit first.
Doesn't property tax permanently go up for each improvement/addition most of the time? Even if you later take out said improvement/addition, unless reassessment actually happens and is successful in bringing the inflated tax assessment based on improvement history back down.
Godspeed.
