What are the Benefits of Your Contractor Pulling Construction Permits?
Contributed By: Louie Martini
It’s a burning question that a number of homeowners seem forget to ask their hired contractor. Will my home remodel project require pulling a permit? Most people either don’t know to ask, or perhaps just don’t think to ask whether or not their project will require getting the local town inspectors involved. Sure, there are a few drawbacks to having permitted work done on your home, but the benefits tend to far outweigh those drawbacks.
We won’t go too in depth into when it’s actually necessary for your contractor to pull a permit for a remodel project. That will be reserved for another post. However, as a basic reference, the most common projects requiring a permit include the relocation of existing electrical and plumbing fixtures as well as the running of new wiring for new lights or electrical fixtures. Towns will also require permitting for the digging of deck footers as well as construction of a new deck. Let’s check out three benefits of making sure that your contractor is pulling permits when required.
1. Prevent Unnecessary Project Delays
The first benefit of making sure your contractor is pulling necessary permits for your home remodel or renovation project is avoiding unnecessary project delays. If a contractor decides to begin a project without first procuring the necessary permits, he’s running the risk of being caught in violation of specific local construction codes. Not only can this lead to potential fines (see Benefit #2), it almost certainly will result in work stoppage. Towns typically will not allow a project to continue until the proper permits have been applied for, paid for and approved. This could lead to extensive delays in the construction phase.
Most towns don’t take too kindly to a contractor trying to skip out on pulling permits, and for good reason. Their job is to make sure that the work being performed is up to code and not done in a shotty or potentially dangerous manner. If the town discovers a contractor to be under violation of working without a permit, you can expect delays in the process of the town granting that permit. It’s all part of the game. If you’d like for your project to stay on schedule and to remain in good standing with your town officials, it may be a good idea to make sure your contractor is pulling permits for your project. If you’re unsure as to whether or not it’s necessary, it doesn’t hurt to ask and do a little research on your own.
2. Avoid Potential Fines
Along with the delay of a project timeline, another pitfall of a contractor not pulling permits when necessary is facing potential fines. That goes for both the contractor AND the homeowner. Don’t think that because the contractor is considered the professional that you can’t be held liable for him skipping out on permits. Depending on your town, you and the contractor could both be looking at up to $500 per day until the correct permits are issued. I think I just heard your wallet say “OUCH.”
3. Keep from Working with Questionable Contractors
Because permitting has become a necessary part of most home remodel and renovation projects, whether or not your contractor chooses to procure those permits can say a lot about him. If he chooses not to, it can lead to the question of ethics and the legitimacy of that company. Although pulling permits means that the town and its inspectors get involved in the project, I’ve always found that doing the right thing prevails in the end. To guarantee the highest quality workmanship, it pays to get the permits. If your contractor either doesn’t mention it or puts up a deck and no one from the town shows up to inspect it, you may have an issue on your hands.
Even though permits cost the contractor money and mean that the town will be involved in the project, it’s important to ensure that your contractor is doing the right thing. You may want the job to get done quickly and without the town knowing what’s going on, but the temporary inconvenience of periodic inspections tends to be much preferred over the dreaded work stoppage and potential fine situation. Remember, it doesn’t hurt to ask before the project gets underway!
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