Verifying permits for work done on house (Oyster Bay, Babylon: rental, attorneys)

[Sheikhspeare]

Assuming TOB, what's the correct way to verify that everything on the property has had the appropriate permits?

I recently bought a home and may be looking to add a dormer but before I commit to something like that I want to verify that everything else is in order so as to not get a surprise ding later.

Thanks in advance!

[RPC324]

Permits are public record. You should be able to obtain a listing of all permits issued on the property at the TOB Building Department. From there, they should have digits records of the contents of the files including construction documents and floor plans. Use those to compare to what is on site.

Side note: this is something that buyers should be insisting on their attorneys to pursue before finalizing the purchase. You don't want to end up buying a house that was built or renovated without permits and end up on the hook for everything. Even if you didn't do the work, you own it now. This could be especially devastating in flood zones where the scope of work would now require elevation of the structure.

[rainroosty]

Originally Posted by Sheikhspeare

Assuming TOB, what's the correct way to verify that everything on the property has had the appropriate permits?

I recently bought a home and may be looking to add a dormer but before I commit to something like that I want to verify that everything else is in order so as to not get a surprise ding later.

Thanks in advance!

What is 'TOB'?

[Elke Mariotti]

Originally Posted by rainroosty

What is 'TOB'?

Either Town of Oyster Bay or Town of Babylon.

My guess is this one refers to Town of Oyster Bay, but it's only a guess...

[openg30]

You bought a house without checking for permits or open violations? You're going to get what you get.
You're likely going to have to submit a recent survey before any permits are issued anyway. Any decks, sheds, pools. fences, etc. will be made known to the town.
Anything an inspector picks up in the course of whatever other work you're doing will be your responsibility to remedy.

I had a rental with electric heat for 12 years. One year the inspector asked me for a boiler inspection certificate. They had it listed as oil heat. Was converted to electric before I bought it. I had to hire an underwriter to sign off on all work before town would issue rental renewal that they had been giving me for 11 years prior.