Advice from someone familiar with code enforcement/permits
Chicle
,
Sunday, 8th of August 2010 01:13:45 AM
l bought a duplex in Virginia that l am renovating with a friend. We are Chicle doing EVERYTHING ourselves. We tore out every wall (loadbearing walls we Registered User supported with steel posts until they were replaced) and are changing the Joined: Monday, 3rd of May 2010, 05:26:45 floorplan. We plan to do all electrical, plumbing, framing ourselves with Posts: 1746 some oversight from my uncle who is a licensed new construction plumber, a Viewed 11676 times good family friend who has worked as an electrician for years, and another
good family friend who is a builder in a nearby town. During demo we had
neighbors tell us that there was a city inspecter snooping around. We
havent planned on getting any permits in order to save time, money on the
permits themselves, all the drawings necessary, and not being sure whether
the city would let us do some of the things we wanted to do since we are in
a historic disctrict. We both have full time jobs so we only do work after
5pm and on weekends. All of the windows in the house are covered and we
havent heard anything from the inspectors since they came a few months
ago. We plan to rent this place once we are finished and probably wouldnt
sell the house for many many years. Before we sheetrock the walls we plan
to make sure that EVERYTHING is done 100% to code.
What is the
worst case scenario if we get caught? Is it possible that the inspector
knows what is going on and is just waiting for us to finish in order to
screw us even more? If we take detailed pictures of EVERYTHING we have
done...claim ignorance (we are 24-25 year old kids and l honestly did not
know how many things we needed permits for until just recently) do you
think if they can tell things are to code by the pictures they would not
make us tear everything out? If they did make us tear everything out would
it just be drywall so they could see?
l assume at worst...we
get caught towards the end and have to rip out a bunch of drywall and pay
3-4 times the normal permit costs. Is this accurate?
Bitsy
,
Monday, 9th of August 2010 04:33:15 PM
First of all the building inspector has the authority to post a Bitsy cease & desist order. If you violate that you could actually be arrested Registered User and/or fined. And yes, they can make you tear down everything to the Joined: Friday, 18th of June 2010, 01:39:34 framing & start over. If I were you, I'd get the required permits before Posts: 819 you proceed. Viewed 3206 times The reason you haven't heard from them yet is probably due to the fact
that they are searching at the courthouse to determine the owner.
You are taking a huge financial risk to save a minimal amount of money.
Time isn't really an issue or you'd be working on this full time.
You'd be smart to go to the inspectors office now & get things
straightened out. Pleading ignorance will not impress these guys & will
probably only serve to make them mad!
Petals
,
Tuesday, 10th of August 2010 11:54:33 AM
My guess is, they will allow the work if it meets local code. Petals You will probably get fined. The fine is usually much greater than the Registered User cost of the permit, for obvious reasons. To prevent this, or minimize Joined: Friday, 14th of May 2010, 17:30:28 this, you should go to your township supervisor, and plead your case. They Posts: 406 want improvements to the community, but they want it done correctly. Good Viewed 6935 times luck.
Big Head
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Wednesday, 11th of August 2010 02:45:31 PM
You are wise not to sheetrock. Big Head Registered User Joined: Thursday, 22nd of April 2010, 14:24:34 Posts: 1015 Viewed 6574 times
Love Bug!
,
Thursday, 12th of August 2010 08:41:13 PM
You will be alot better off just getting all the nessacery Love Bug! permits. Duplexes,and such all have to have fire walls & inspectors can Registered User cost you tons of money in this alone.All the permits combined won't cost Joined: Monday, 24th of May 2010, 16:12:16 you near as much as tearing out & fixing after the fact.Worse case They Posts: 2002 can come & shut the whole process down until you do get permits,they also Viewed 5277 times have the power to place fines on you that can compound daily.Dealing with
City inspectors can be quite the process,and costly if you make them mad.
Bubby
,
Friday, 13th of August 2010 09:47:34 PM
1 Fines Bubby 2. Forced to tear down the unpermitted construction. Registered User Joined: Tuesday, 4th of May 2010, 05:55:55 You could lose your shirt. Posts: 504 Not a good place to skimp on money. Viewed 7744 times
Cuddle Bug
,
Saturday, 14th of August 2010 09:04:28 PM
You will never be able to sell it. Cuddle Bug Registered User Joined: Saturday, 5th of June 2010, 12:37:52 Posts: 336 Viewed 18424 times
Uffie
,
Sunday, 15th of August 2010 08:43:38 AM
You should definitely get a permit!!!!!! You will run into Uffie allot of problems if you don't. If you plan on renting it out, they city Registered User will require it to meet their codes. The only way to find out if it does, Joined: Saturday, 22nd of May 2010, 11:12:33 is to have it inspected and passed. Get the permit and save yourself allot Posts: 1981 of head aches. Viewed 15747 times
Pinky
,
Monday, 16th of August 2010 11:08:18 AM
rip out drywall?. keep going. they can make you take out Pinky everything, the plumbing, the wiring, everything.. very, very foolish to Registered User not get permits first.. sorry for what is coming your way..... Joined: Friday, 7th of May 2010, 20:01:16 Posts: 2023 Viewed 7388 times
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