Do you know how much such a permit costs, or whether you would even get City permission?

We called the city to verify it wasn't up to code and found out they never pulled permits to build the basement, and the city views it as a single-family dwelling. 

cost depend on requirements from the state level county level to the local towns, insurance ie work and comp liability and depending may need additional coverage, some municipalities require the company to put up a bond to obtain a license, now the licenses, again depends, some states require town, county and state level license or permit to operate. equipment and tools, you buy the tools you use the most and rent the ones you use ever so often until you build enough capitol to buy them. you can start with as little as a few grand to 10s of thousands, all depends on what your looking to do and what the requirements are to get it going

Sometimes ideas and effort can be valued by a board - or a set formula, with variation permitted by majority consent. 

For me as a PM- feasibility, concept, design, plans and specs, permitting, contract negotiation, and construction administration.

Unless you're able to get the local authorities to issue you the proper permits, it will be very difficult (if not impossible) to build anything in those areas.Will the soil on the property pass a "perc test"? 

You can also try to find homes with board of health complaints, but I have not had any success with them.From the same database, you can also do permit history searches.

Thanks.Any special permits required for properties like this.

@Neal Collins  this type of developing is not for the faint of heart city Of portland has become a nightmare for this stuff.that little 3 lot deal on Ivy we talked about 3 years ago I am finally getting my permits..

Contact Guardian Water & Power, they will help you.Submetering is not permitted in New Jersey for apartment building's built before August 28, 2011