My grandparents have a couple condos on Miramar Beach, I try to make it out once a year for some family time and vacation when work permits.

If the tenant wants to use it as another bedroom, you'd better make sure that's permitted/inspected, and there are two means of egress from the basement.That's a major health/safety issue not to be ignored.

It took a long time to receive the demolition permit.

However, I pulled my own permits as the owner so still no need to pay a contractor to be the middle man. 

Permitting data does indicate a slowdown of new constructions. 

Do I need a building permit for a non-slab construction?

Our Initial projected rehab cost was 90K with Secondary being like in-law unit but we got permit from city to build full fledged unit with Full Kitchen and 1 bed and bath.

Did you pull permits for some of the jobs you did? 

Timeline will also be a function of who your contractor is, how much work they are subbing out, how well you do with obtaining/passing permits, etc, how old the home is, etc.

Is it too soon to show on tax record or is it not permitted?