[Porsche-O-Phile]

To restate and expand a little bit on what's been said, check FIRST. Either call the city yourself, go down there and ask them over the counter or have an architect or construction manager (owner's rep) go down there and do it for you. On a small job like this, it's probably easier to just go down and ask the questions yourself. DO NOT have a contractor do it for you and simply take their word for it, ESPECIALLY one that is not licensed, bonded and well-established with a very long history and stellar reputation (and those are rare in residential work). Although most GCs are honest, there are many (particularly in residential) that will tell you what you want to hear, bang the work out (unpermitted), charge you for it and leave you to deal with the legal ramifications when they eventually catch up with you - and they will. By the time they do, the contractor may be long gone or be in business elsewhere under another name. I've seen this game before several times. Unfortunately you have to be careful to protect yourself from the sleazeballs. Most are great guys, but there is a percentage you need to really watch out for.

Trust, but verify.

Most contractors are good and will tell you the "correct" information but some will not just to get your money. Unfortunately a lot of residential owners simply look for cheapest solution, and that attracts the fly-by-nighters like moths to a flame. Joe Homeowner only hears "yea, you don't need no permit - we can be done in two weeks", with a lowball price tag. Guess who gets handed the mountain of red tape, fines, fees and inspection costs later? Not the contractor, that's for sure. And your likelihood of finding them and getting a settlement against them is virtually zero.