What happens if permits aren’t pulled on kitchen remodel?
SB Friend asked:
We want to remodel our kitchen and want to move a low bearing wall 17 inches, apparently we need a struc engineer for that so we are thinking of just not getting a permit.
We want to remodel our kitchen and want to move a low bearing wall 17 inches, apparently we need a struc engineer for that so we are thinking of just not getting a permit.
Does anyone know what happens if we get “caught”?
A new beam will be put in place to support the new structure and new footing. The house is in Northern CA and is ~45 years old. From the reads of answers it seems there’s always the risk of not “following” the rules.
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October 31st, 2008 at 12:25 pm
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dont get a permit. unless you have a struc engineer around the houses near by.
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
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If it goes up for sale they will know by the homes that were built originally and you will be fined not to mention that if it is not done by code you will have to re do it.
November 5th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
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depends what state yo live in . here in ma i believe you get fined double the cost of the permit and everything has to be redone to code with permits pulled. You better really trust your contractor if you are moving a load bearing wall. as the name implies, it holds up a floor of the house or the roof. Permits aren’t that costly here just 10 bucks per thousand of renovation but they do hold up the schedule sometimes. it may be worth pulling one. If you don’t it would be hard to prove to a potential buyer down the road that the work was done to code.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:39 am
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As mentioned above usually the fine is 100% of the permit cost -i.e. double. But permits are cheap in relation to building costs. The only reason I would side-step the permit process is that unfriendly and “hard ass” inspectors can be more than a nuisance. They may discover something - anything - that may be subject to new or updated code.
And of course you might have to satisfy (do additional work for) him before you get your final.
Now that being said…you don’t want to play around with load bearing walls. Perhaps you can find an alternative to moving the entire wall. Steel beams are relatively inexpensive and they can ’span’ the entire width of most rooms.
So if you just want to open the view and create additional access or foot traffic then you can achieve that by replacing the stud wall with a steel beam with support columns on either end. It can be finished like any other wall and perhaps may aid in enhancing the design by giving a little space you can decorate with a little shelf for your stuff.
Now. Will the column greatly interfere with your plans? I don’t know the layout.
But if you don’t know what you are doing then be sure to find the right person to help you.
Aloha
November 10th, 2008 at 6:47 am
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Depends on where you live. First off I have to ask you a question. You want to move a “low” bearing wall. Are you sure that you do not mean a “load” bearing wall? Sounds like you may need a little professional help. Having said that, I am so against permits for doing work in my own residence that it is hard to give you a good answer. My problem is that for the most part inspectors are so unqualified for their jobs. My experience, 45 yrs. in construction, is that the majority of inspectors are people that could not make it as a good craftsman and had some political connections. The old buddy system is alive and well in most inspection departments.
If you are doing the work yourself, in 99% of the cases the homeowner meets or as a general rule, exceedes code requirements when doing the work. The reason, he is unsure of exactly what is required so he goes the extra mile to insure that he is not doing anything that will damage his home. The one exception is electrical where I really suggest you have someone with a good knowledge of electrical installations assist you or if necessary hire a contractor. However, when you hire an electrical contractor you have automatically let the inspector in the door. That smell sometimes never goes away.
November 12th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
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Getting ‘caught’ could be very expensive when you plan to sell the house.
In Calif, extensive disclosure forms must be filled out and given to the buyer, including info on remodelling and repair work as to whether it was done to code. You can answer yes, no or don’t know, but if you lie and the seller finds out, (checking permits at City Hall, by asking neighbors when the work was done, etc.,) you can be sued for fraud.
There is no statute of limitations on fraud, so you can be sued years in the future by a determined homeowner - for as much money as it takes to fix the problem correctly.
How lucky do you feel?