Consequences of Remodeling Without a Permit

You might think that getting a permit in Florida can cost you a great amount of money, or a permit is a useless piece of paper. However, remodeling without a permit can lead to many problems for homeowners or homebuyers. Wondering how? If so, you need to read the article to get a clear idea. Let’s discuss the consequences of not getting a permit.

High Safety Concerns

Safety is the primary reason for the designing permit. Well, it might be challenging for you to understand how remodeling can compromise your safety. Yes, you are not constructing a multi-family building that you have to get a permit. However, the small constructions over the years without a permit may lead to significant safety risks for your family.

Not to mention, it can be hazardous for you when you do upgrades related to electricity. Of course, you don’t want an unqualified and inexperienced person dealing with the wires behind the walls. People who do developments without inspection can never identify the problems. As a result, these remodeling projects can easily lead to electrocution or fire.

No Chances of Getting Coverage

You might not know, but insurance companies don’t give you insurance for a property that doesn’t have a permit from Florida’s government. Generally, insurance companies ask the contractor to give proof of a building permit when applying for the insurance. Only a valid permit can help you get valid insurance.

So, if you don’t get a permit, it means you will not get the coverage to cover any problem or damage to your property.

Reselling Can Be a Problem

If you are planning to sell your house that has undergone several remodeling projects without a permit, then it may be impossible for you to sell your house. Many prospective home buyers will avoid purchasing a house without a permit because of the mentioned reasons. Of course, no one wants to face problems after spending a great fortune on the house.

Not to mention, even if you find a buyer, there are great chances that they will cancel the deal before purchasing your house.

Demolishment of New Project

If your municipal commission finds out that you have done illegal remodeling projects, they can ask you to take down the upgrades so that your house gets back to its original condition. Apart from this, you have to pay the fine, which we will discuss later.

This is not only a headache but also wastes a great amount of time and money that you could have saved if you waited for the permit.

Fines and Penalties

If you practice remodeling without a permit in Florida, you have to pay significant penalties. These penalties are authorized in the Florida Statues 553.80 in Section 109 of the Florida Building Code. Generally, the fees you have to pay for illegal constructions are double the standard permit fee.

You also need to know if a contractor violates the rule more than once, they have to pay for penalties double or quadruple of the cost of the normal permit. Furthermore, if the contractor does illegal construction more than three times, the local government or state will do further investigation against the contractor and give serious punishments. This can lead to possible litigation and inevitable construction delays.

Complications Getting a Loan

If you want to sell your house, but it has a kitchen, bathroom, and other rooms remodeled without a permit, you might not be able to close the deal because of several problems.

Most of the lenders won’t give a loan for the parts of the houses that don’t have improvements with a permit. They can also ask appraisers not to include that space of your house in the overall square footage of a property. Similarly, this leads to problems when getting the loan approval for purchasing your house.

Do I Need a Permit for a Small Remodeling Project?

To determine whether you need a permit, check your local permitting or building department. There are some exceptions for the very small and less harmful projects. When it comes to minor repairs or alterations worth around $6,000 or less in six months, you may not need a permit. Besides that, you need to understand that $6,000 is the limit based on the market value of instruments, things, and labor. This will stay the same even if you do the work by yourself.

It is important to note that you even need permission for small projects that change the building’s load-bearing supports and work that reduces light, egress fire resistance, and ventilation.

Don’t forget that even if you don’t require a permit for your small remodeling work, you will still need to get a permit for the plumbing, electrical, or other things. To get a clear idea about the rules and policies regarding your desired construction project, it’s better to call your local building department. They will guide you whether you need a permit or not and how much it will cost you.

What If I Buy an Unpermitted Renovated House?

In this case, you can contact your city’s permitting authority and discuss your problem. Depending on the remodeling or renovations work, you might have to hire an architect, demolish the work, or open up walls to redo everything with a permit.

Keep in mind, as you have purchased the house, you will be responsible for every penalty or fine of the property. If the sellers don’t disclose the unpermitted work during the selling process, it’s better to file a case against them. But you can only do this if you find out the problem in a couple of years after buying the property.

Bottom Line

In a nutshell, remodeling without a permit in Florida can lead to several problems for homeowners. This is why it’s better to apply for a permit before doing any type of renovation on your property. Not to mention, this way you will be able to save your time, money, and effort.