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Most cities require that homeowners obtain a building permit before making modifications to their residence. Which modifications require a permit vary by city. Also, some cities are more vigilant than others in enforcing permit laws. The city of Alameda is becoming very difficult regarding homeowners who have not taken a permit for repairs. They are not working with the homeowner or their contractor. Instead the city is making it more difficult for the homeowner. It is all about money. Money the city does not have so they are trying to get it from the homeowners. I have lost a listing because the city was being unreasonable with my clients. The homeowners wanted to make improvements on their home and the city said they would have to replace the stairs in the front of the home to the original way it was built even though they did not change the front, owners from way back made the changes. Now my clients are stuck because they cannot afford to change the front of the home. They now cannot make the repairs and upgrades they originally wanted to do.
In order for the homeowner to receive a permit, the homeowner or his/her designee are required to file plans and pay fees to the city. In addition, the improvements are given a value. If they increase the value of the property, this may result in an increase in property taxes. Inspections are often required, and this means having to schedule and then wait for inspectors to approve the work to be done. This process can be time consuming and inconvenient in the short run. It is for this reason that some homeowners skip the permit process.
If a permit is needed and you fail to get one, the city may discover this at some time in the future and getting a permit retroactively can frequently be significantly more expensive and much more problematic than having obtained the permit before work commenced. If work is not done in accordance with city procedures or if the inspector is unable to determine if the work has been done properly, the homeowner could be required to open walls, tear up floors, so that the inspection may take place. In addition, by law, work not permitted where a permit was required must be disclosed to any prospective purchaser. This may cause the owner to discount their sale price or perform costly or time-consuming repairs before title can be transferred.
For prospective buyers of a property, save yourself the future hassle and loss of money by researching whether all work on the premises has been done according to code and with the proper permits. You may obtain these permits by going directly to Building & Safety in the municipality in which the property is located. Your Realtor can also help .
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