Make sure you have a 203k expert doing the loan or Flagstar bank who a lot of people sell to have a department that takes it and runs.

There is nothing pretty about dealing with a pissed off city planning department and building inspector. 

I wanted to know which county department I contact to purchase vacant land.

Go to the building department of the city and ask specifically what's the current occupancy of that property?

I'd check with the city planning and zoning department if there is one. 

@Vincent DeAngelis I would look up the building code requirements on the building department website of the jurisdiction where your property is located in.The most important thing that putting a bedroom in a basement needs is a method of egress to get out of the bedroom in case of fire.

Check with the city and building department on a certificate of occupancy, building violations and complaints.

The prior owner had been on a limited income and the local grants department had spent about $20,000 in improvements over the last 5 years.

A GC manages and pays all of the subcontractors and suppliers, works with the architect/engineer, coordinates permitting and inspections with local building departments, does accounting and billing, and works with the client to make sure the project meets their expectations.  

It's a non-stop complaint department.