Renovation 101
Permits and Plans: What Your Contractor Should Be Handling
Skipping permits rarely causes problems on demo day — the consequences show up during a home sale, insurance claim, or city inspection. This lesson explains what needs a permit and why your contractor should pull it.
Skipping permits doesn't usually create problems on demo day. The problems show up months or years later — during a home sale, an insurance claim, or a city inspection. This lesson explains what work typically needs a permit, who should pull it, and how inspections protect your project.
What You'll Learn
- Why unpermitted work creates real risk long after the project is finished.
- Which types of work typically require permits in most jurisdictions.
- Why the contractor, not the homeowner, should pull the permit.
- How rough and final inspections protect both you and the contractor.
- Why permits are proof — not just paperwork.
Key Takeaways
- Permit exposure follows the property, not the person who did the work.
- Your contractor pulling the permit means they take on code compliance responsibility.
- Structural changes, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC nearly always require a permit.
- Inspections give you documented evidence that the work passed code.
- Unpermitted work can affect homeowner's insurance coverage and resale value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of renovation work require a building permit?
Structural changes (removing walls, adding openings), electrical work (new circuits, panel upgrades), plumbing (moving or adding lines), HVAC modifications, additions, and finished basement conversions typically require permits in most jurisdictions. Check with your local building department for your specific project.
Should my contractor or I pull the building permit?
Your contractor should pull it. When a licensed contractor pulls the permit, they are legally responsible for code compliance on that work. If you pull the permit for a contractor's work, you assume that liability — and some jurisdictions do not allow it for work performed by contractors.
What is the difference between a rough inspection and a final inspection?
A rough inspection happens before walls are closed — it verifies that structural, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough work meets code while it is still visible. A final inspection happens at project completion and confirms the finished work is safe and code-compliant.
Series Outline
- 1. Before You Tear Anything Down
- 2. How to Get Bids That Actually Mean Something
- 3. Reading a Contractor Agreement (Without a Law Degree)
- 4. Permits and Plans: What Your Contractor Should Be Handling
- 5. Managing the Job While You're Living in It
- 6. Change Orders: Why Your Project Costs More Than the Quote
- 7. The Final Walkthrough: How to Inspect the Work Before You Pay
- 8. When Things Go Wrong: Your Options Before, During, and After
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