Permit Required?

FWIW, we've done 2 bathroom remodels and a kitchen--similar to yours without moving stuff--since moving in in 2005 without permits.  We escaped tax hike the first (interior) reval.  The 2nd interior reval. we did get a rate hike, probably because the addition of a first floor powder room, which of course was permitted. 

Tatonka said:

Thanks all, for your input.  My conerns are 1) taxes (incease in property taxes); 2) sale of house; and 3) cost.  I'm not at all concerned about our contractor, or his subs.  No. 2 will trump (which will ultimately be driven by No. 1).

Property taxes will increase.

LOST said:

Why not get a permit? What is the downside?

yahooyahoo said:

Property taxes will increase.

LOST said:

Why not get a permit? What is the downside?

Property taxes are based on the value of your home. If the value of your home increases, your property tax increase. If you don't want to pay higher property tax, don't increase the value of your home.

Its funny how the question isn't really about whether or not a permit is necessary, but if it is possible to cheat on the requirements.

FilmCarp said:

Its funny how the question isn't really about whether or not a permit is necessary, but if it is possible to cheat on the requirements.

funny!  

But, not really cheatin', unless one is flipping  house. Consider 1) the expense you put into it, and 2) when you sell.  Basically, most of us are putting money in to modest updates (cabinets, fixtures, countertops, tile, etc.) in order maintain the value of our homes. (We may rationalize it as "improvement," but barring major work, actually it's maintenance.) My husband and I purchased  at nearly the apex of the last real estate bubble--we paid a little too much for a fixer-upperm and we got barely passable bathrooms.  So we redid stuff, some of it 12 years ago!  So now, the thing we redid without permits, once slick, again "passable."  The "value" of the home after all, is hypothetical.  If you plan to stay a while, and you don't redo your bathrooms to acceptable levels, then when you sell your "okay" bathroom is actually "totally crappy" and you lose "value."

(And, btw, nothing that we did was, technically, cheating.)

If the ordinance says you need a permit for the work, and you don't get one, you are cheating.  Simple enough.  We all make our own calls, but we should at least be honest with ourselves.  I pull permits for almost everything, but I'm willing to admit the almost part.