Overheard a guy at the lumber yard say he never checks for permits on small jobs

I was picking up some plywood last Thursday and this contractor was telling his buddy he never pulls permits for anything under a 10k job, calling it a 'victimless crime'. It made my stomach drop because I've seen what happens when a deck fails. That shortcut puts the whole homeowner at risk, not to mention your license. Has anyone else had to deal with a mess from unpermitted work getting found out later?

3 comments

3 Comments

andrew_walker7713d ago

My neighbor's unpermitted deck collapsed, and the lawsuit cost him triple the repair.

jade54013d ago

Guess he learned the hard way about cutting corners?

grant.sam9d ago

Used to believe permits were just a cash grab for the city. Watching a friend's DIY addition get torn down by inspectors changed my view. The fines and forced rebuild wiped out his savings. Now I see it as cheap insurance against much bigger problems. Getting it done right the first time saves a ton of pain later.