If you’ve been considering home renovations recently and you’ve been thinking of going forward without a permit, you should think again. While home renovations are commonly conducted without a permit, there are serious consequences if things go wrong. Permits can be costly and timing consuming, sometimes delaying the completion of your project, but proceeding without proper permits can also be a costly mistake. Still, it can be tempting because you probably have several friends or family members who have done some remodeling without a permit, maybe because they didn’t know permits were required or because they wanted to save time and money. Nevertheless, these friends and family members were breaking the law.
Indeed, of the most severe consequences to renovating without a permit are the penalties imposed by your local municipality. Penalties range from fines to the requirement to remove structures to condemning your property. So while most of us are aware that major renovations or additions of buildings to a property require permits, it is also important to attain proper permits for even the most minor renovations. Many small jobs including finishing basements, improving plumbing or electrical, constructing a patio or deck, and even installing a wood burning stove require permits.
Sometimes homeowners discover well into the renovation permis de construire en ligne process that the project does not meet building codes and that the structure of a newly renovated home is unsound. Even if h you are shopping for homes, you should ensure that the previous homeowner has all the proper permits for any renovations. As the homeowner, the municipality can require you to remove walls, ceilings, cabinets, and other finishes during inspections to ensure work complies with building renovations regardless of whether you conducted the renovations or not.
Certainly, getting the right permits can be a hassle. You’ll have to provide the municipality with detailed project plans and additional documentation may also be required. An inspector will be required at various stages of the project to make sure the work is done properly and meets building codes and regulations. Still, despite the hassle, homeowners are also protected by these permits. Renovations conducted without a permit can make it difficult to sell your home in the future or even to refinance your home, but permits also protect you against dodgy or inexperienced contractors. When you work with permits, you know that the contractors work will be regularly inspected by professionals for quality and adherence to building standards.