A significant number of clients have asked us the following question over the years. “If our last contractor didn’t pull any permits, can you work with us?” We figured it was about time to answer in the form of a blog article. So, here goes. Yes, we can work with you if your last or previous contractor failed to pull the necessary permits. However, it will most likely cost you both time and money. First and foremost, at DBC Solutions we always take on the responsibility of obtaining the necessary permits. The permitting process in each town, county, and state can be very different and difficult to navigate even for us.
The benefit of having us pull the permits is that you don’t need to deal with the process or the paperwork. In addition, when we pull the building permits it usually speeds up the approval process. Here’s where the problems come into play if you or your previous contractor failed to pull the building permits. When we apply for the new building permits, any prior work may very well be discovered or uncovered by the building inspector. If that happens, the building inspector has the right to both fine the property owner and force any unpermitted work to be demolished and rebuilt.
So, that means it may cost you money in penalties, and the added work of having us demolish and rebuild the previous project or projects. Even if the local building inspector does not force you to have the previous work removed, we will have to correct any mistakes the last contractor made. That includes applying for and receiving the building permits to replace the previously unpermitted work. The reason behind this is based on the fact that any work that is unpermitted can cause issues if you’re making an insurance claim at some point down the road or selling your home at a future date. Building permits are incredibly important because they ensure that home improvements are being done in a proper and safe manner.
In essence, the permitting process provides your local building department with a way to make sure that all of the work is being done correctly. The intent of the building permit is to protect you, the property owner. The bottom line is that you will have an opinion from a third party that the work is being done according to the state building code.
For more information about what to do if your last contractor didn’t pull any permits and if we can work with you moving forward, or questions about our design and build services, or to schedule an initial consultation in Connecticut or Massachusetts please contact us today at 860-341-6373. DBC Solutions takes great pride in providing the highest quality custom carpentry and contracting services in the home improvement industry. Our business model has been the same for 17 years. Doing things the right way the first time every time is the only way to do it.