Ask the Builder: “Do I need a permit to remodel my own home?”

Just about any work that can be done on an existing home will require a permit. Homeowners need to be aware that there is a huge cost associated with remodeling a home without a permit! Sometimes people want to skimp when remodeling their home, especially if the homeowners are doing the remodel themselves. This is understandable, but one area where you cannot cut corners is with permits and inspections.

Some (but not all) of the jobs that require permits are:

  • Home Additions
  • Any Structural Changes
  • Decks
  • New Roofs
  • HVAC Changes (Heating, Venting, Air Conditioning)
  • Adding or Changing a Staircase
  • Adding or Removing Walls

All of these (and more), require building permits before construction begins, and all of them require a permit whether a General Contractor or the Homeowner is doing the work. Construction performed without a permit can result in fines and penalties, and it may void your homeowners’ insurance. It also creates a legal hassles when trying to sell the home. In some cases, if a house is sold with un-permitted work and the new owner finds out after the sale, the homeowner who allowed the un-permitted work may even be subject to a lawsuit by the new owners.

Stauffer & Sons Construction highly recommends pulling all appropriate permits for every construction project, and we do not work without permits. We are qualified to pull every permit necessary to complete a custom home or remodel.

Andy Stauffer is the President of Stauffer & Sons Construction. Andy has been a contributor to Builder Magazine, US News & World Report, Builder & Developer Magazine, and more. In addition, he has been featured in NBC News, the Gazette, the Colorado Springs Business Journal, BuildWithPropane, and Luxury Daily magazines.

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