# Get building permits for a bathroom remodel? Yea or Nay? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2012, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-building-permits-for-a-bathroom-remodel-yea-or-nay/611519 "2012-02-02T07:10:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-building-permits-for-a-bathroom-remodel-yea-or-nay/611519/21 "2012-02-03T06:16:08Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Ditto on future re-sale value. A friend has just listed her home for sale, and the pre-sale homeowner inspection revealed that major electrical work had been done by the previous owner without a permit, and it was not up to code. She and her husband will have to put out about $2500 to get that fixed. > > Playing by the rules just makes life easier. > > ~VOW +1. We know someone who had a lot of work done by unlicensed contractors without permits. When it came time to sell, they had to spend a lot to get it right. In my experience licensed contractors will get permits, because they don’t want to put their licenses at risk to save you money. In Fremont, up north from SJ, it hasn’t been a big problem. Sometimes it will seem to be a pain. When we had new windows put in we had to make the one in my wife’s office bigger, so she could get out of it in case of a fire. A pain, but if there ever is a fire it might come in handy. I have no idea if the renovations in the OP need a permit, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-building-permits-for-a-bathroom-remodel-yea-or-nay/611519/22 "2012-02-03T08:29:23Z")
The work, as described, requires a permit because of the plumbing work and the fact that you’re improving the value of your home (potential property reassessment). You won’t need to draw up any architectural plans since nothing structural will be done. Now, this is not to say you can’t try to do the work without a permit. You can find contractors who would be willing to do the work without a permit. Here’s the risk you take … there will be hammering and other noise going on in your house. Contractors will be going in and out of your house. Their trucks will be parked outside your house. If a neighbor reports on this (only takes a phone call!) a city inspector may show up unannounced and you’ll be cooked. Not only will you have to go get the permits, but there could be a fine. Also, as mentioned, there’s the downstream potential problem when you sell the house. I just went through a very similar remodel and opted for the permits. That’s my recommendation. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-building-permits-for-a-bathroom-remodel-yea-or-nay/611519/23 "2012-02-03T18:32:02Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > \ > > Sometimes it will seem to be a pain. When we had new windows put in we had to make the one in my wife’s office bigger, so she could get out of it in case of a fire. A pain, but if there ever is a fire it might come in handy.\ That’s the risk when you start messing with an older house - once you start doing something, you have to update to current code. We’ll probably be facing this on any number of fronts, too. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-building-permits-for-a-bathroom-remodel-yea-or-nay/611519/24 "2012-02-03T18:49:16Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > That’s the risk when you start messing with an older house - once you start doing something, you have to update to current code. We’ll probably be facing this on any number of fronts, too. Our house is about 55 years old - the house my wife grew up in is about 130 years old. It is just a matter of how the code has changed since the last time you did a change. The new one is that CO detectors are now required, but that at least is a cheap and easy thing to fix. ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-building-permits-for-a-bathroom-remodel-yea-or-nay/611519/25 "2012-02-03T23:05:41Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > If you don’t get along with your neighbors, get a permit. All it takes is one pissed off neighbor calling the city to report you after seeing the work crews coming in and out of your house. It happened to a neighbor of mine who got crossways with his neighbor, the next thing he knew, he had a big orange stop work order pasted to his front door. This happened to my brother’s girlfriend as well. Go to your local municipality, tell them what you’re doing, and if they say you need a permit, just get it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-building-permits-for-a-bathroom-remodel-yea-or-nay/611519.md?page=1)