residential build permits

[mepstein]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

This may vary from state to state... When we bought, we got saddled with $8000 in fines over non permitted work, which we - the buyers - had to pay. Seller didn't...

Right. I was a real estate agent in a past life. I was licensed in PA & DE. The laws were different in each state. Sometimes the exact opposite. Delaware says you need a permit to finish a basement but thousands of homeowners have finished their basement without permits and - usually- have no problem. But some do, and then sometimes the county doesn't have a problem but the buyers insurance company does. No insurance, no settlement.

There were a couple houses that I sold multiple times and sometimes what didn't need a permit or closed without one suddenly needed a permit 2 years later. The seller would look at me since I helped them buy the house. I'd have to explain that I wasn't the one who made the rules, enforced the rules or could get around the rules. They still blamed me. :-).

[T77911S]

I would wait and see if it goes away. either way the end result could be tearing it down. at best they forget about it,

[dad911]

It's not going away.

When OP goes to sell the house, buyer will need a survey for bank. Then it's a big problem, with closing delays and lawyers involved.......

[island911]

Not that big of a problem. The buyer may want to bulldoze the place and put in a parking lot. Or, just not care that a porch was not blessed by the city.

[island911]

The first house I considered buying had an unpermitted addition. I asked the seller, he had just purchased and received the permit for the 8 y/o addition. At the time I did not know one could do that. --yeah, it's more money grab.