Anonymous wrote:It isn't hard to get a permit. It take a few weeks, but for a licensed contractor and the trades, it isn't difficult -- and if it is too difficult for them, you should use someone else.

Anonymous wrote:If an HVAC company pulls a permit to install a new HVAC system in DC, what was the inspection like? We have some unpermitted work that I worry would be spotted if we had them come by.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't hard to get a permit. It take a few weeks, but for a licensed contractor and the trades, it isn't difficult -- and if it is too difficult for them, you should use someone else.

Its not hard for anyone and this! It took me two hours in the office to get a permit for our basement. The only issue was the ceiling height as it wasn't on the plans and I didn't know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't hard to get a permit. It take a few weeks, but for a licensed contractor and the trades, it isn't difficult -- and if it is too difficult for them, you should use someone else.

Its not hard for anyone and this! It took me two hours in the office to get a permit for our basement. The only issue was the ceiling height as it wasn't on the plans and I didn't know.

Agreed. It’s just some paperwork, a few hundred bucks, and then scheduling an inspection. Any contractor who would cut corners on this would have me questioning what else they’re willing to cut corners on. And I’m not sure why anyone licensed and insured would risk their livelihood by not doing things on the books.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If an HVAC company pulls a permit to install a new HVAC system in DC, what was the inspection like? We have some unpermitted work that I worry would be spotted if we had them come by.

No big deal, they just come in for 5 minutes and check the electric, gas and make sure nothing stands out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't hard to get a permit. It take a few weeks, but for a licensed contractor and the trades, it isn't difficult -- and if it is too difficult for them, you should use someone else.

Its not hard for anyone and this! It took me two hours in the office to get a permit for our basement. The only issue was the ceiling height as it wasn't on the plans and I didn't know.

Agreed. It’s just some paperwork, a few hundred bucks, and then scheduling an inspection. Any contractor who would cut corners on this would have me questioning what else they’re willing to cut corners on. And I’m not sure why anyone licensed and insured would risk their livelihood by not doing things on the books.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't hard to get a permit. It take a few weeks, but for a licensed contractor and the trades, it isn't difficult -- and if it is too difficult for them, you should use someone else.

Its not hard for anyone and this! It took me two hours in the office to get a permit for our basement. The only issue was the ceiling height as it wasn't on the plans and I didn't know.

Agreed. It’s just some paperwork, a few hundred bucks, and then scheduling an inspection. Any contractor who would cut corners on this would have me questioning what else they’re willing to cut corners on. And I’m not sure why anyone licensed and insured would risk their livelihood by not doing things on the books.

This is what I worry about. If the homeowner ends up posting for the extra time and work to get permitted, why are so many contractors willing to avoid it?

Anonymous wrote:Most people who don't get permits do so to save a small amount of money and time. Whether any risks associated with doing that outweigh the savings is a judgment call.

When permits are required, the process is meant to ensure that the work meets the requirements of applicable construction codes. That is, the work being done implicates safety and/or habitability issues which are addressed by the codes. Otherwise, no permit would be required.

Another consideration is that when selling a home buyers or their inspectors may check that any work done was permitted. In the current real estate market that might not be much of a concern, but in the future it could pose a real obstacle to a sale.

Mdmom22 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people who don't get permits do so to save a small amount of money and time. Whether any risks associated with doing that outweigh the savings is a judgment call.

When permits are required, the process is meant to ensure that the work meets the requirements of applicable construction codes. That is, the work being done implicates safety and/or habitability issues which are addressed by the codes. Otherwise, no permit would be required.

Another consideration is that when selling a home buyers or their inspectors may check that any work done was permitted. In the current real estate market that might not be much of a concern, but in the future it could pose a real obstacle to a sale.

But if neither are those are concerns, why bother? For example, a contractor I use goes above and beyond code, years of experience, and countless happy customers. But I can definitely understand if you're using someone who you have not used before and don't quite trust, the permitting process def is your friend. I don't think unpermitted work in this area is a real obstacle to a sale. There's too much demand in this area. Out of curiosity, I looked up whether the houses on my block has pulled permits (for renos that I'm aware of and which I'm sure would have required a permit) and one has. But a few of those houses have sold recently for crazy amounts despite no work permitted on the renos.

I think one poster was right in that the difficulty of getting permits vary in our area. A contractor I have used who hates dealing with permits tells me a story of a client who was adamant about getting her renovation permitted and ADA compliant and the process took 7 months, lots of time, and money, and sadly, the person who was supposed to benefit from the renovation, passed away shortly after the reno passed inspections and was completed. I'm sure this is an extreme case but I don't doubt the permitting process can be quite difficult, particularly in DC. The DCRA does not make things easy.

I think the biggest obstacle that unpermitted work creates is when you want to airbnb or rent out your space. Your ability to rent out a room in your house requires those spaces to be up to code so you would likely face an inspection. Also if you want to advertise your home with certain rooms, you would not be able to advertise a room as a bedroom if it was not code compliant.

Anonymous wrote:Have you had work done on your house that was unpermitted? If yes, where in the house and why?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you had work done on your house that was unpermitted? If yes, where in the house and why?

Nice try, Mr. Inspector.