How many house renovations are permitted? (sales, buyers, contractor)

[kletter1mann]

We all know that an enormous amount of the older SLC area housing stock has been extensively renovated. You know, walls knocked out to create open plan, baths expanded etc etc etc.

I've noticed that sometimes a listing will highlight that the work was done by a licensed contractor, permitted and inspected by the municipality. Such listings are actually pretty rare, rare enough that they stand out. This is the "proper" way to do it, of course, but it raises a huge question. The fact that a listing highlights that it was all done legit suggests that this is something specially worth noting, and not the norm. The implication of that would be that the vast majority of the renovation work is not permitted and not inspected.

I'm not talking about paint or new tile here, I'm taking about interior changes - moving walls and electricals, major bath expansions with attendant plumbing work, etc. I assume that anything that changes the footprint or adds a floor is big enough that nobody could get away with not getting it permitted.

Can anybody comment? Does unpermitted work ever boomerang and interfere with the sales process? Thanks!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

I had my stamped working copy of the plans out for buyers to see. Not all agents are aware of the impact on buyers' state of mind. While there are plenty of good agents, there are some dumb ones. My neighbor across the street thought she knew a lot. She did most of the work herself with no permits.

[irman]

Does anybody know a quick way, without checking the official resource
(like talking to a building permit know-it-all), what is permitted and what is not ?
For instance:
I know that *some* electrical rewiring, in a house needs to be *according to code*,
and some of that wiring needs to *inspected* by an official.

I am saying this, because anybody can rewire a lamp for instance,
and you can do it haphazardly (which could be downright dangerous !),
or according to *code*.
This *work* however, rewiring just a lamp, does NOT have to inspected by an official !!
Same with plumbing.
I can change the hoses on the washer, and I can do it haphazardly (using inferior materials),
or I can use the proper hoses !
NO need to have it checked afterwards, by an inspector !!.

I started, just out of curiosity, to find out about remodeling.
As usual, it often does not make sense at all ...
For instance, I find this:
http://www.slcdocs.com/building/b-si...y-bathroom.pdf
Single Family Bathrooms
Design Guidance
OK ... , *Single Family* means to me *private homes*, no ?
Not according to the official codes ... but I am not surprised !
When you read it, they talk about *unisex bathrooms*,
assembly and mercantile occupancies, recreational facilities !
All this, in a single Family whatever ???

So ... I asked for a *quick way*.
I know by asking our friend Google who knows almost everything,
one can dig thru umpteen links until you finally find what you are looking for.
Oh well ...

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

My neighbor across the street thought she knew a lot. She did most of the work herself with no permits.

She *thought* she knew a lot.
Did she or did she not ?
This words *she thought*, implies that it backfired on her !
Most of the work she did herself.
Who did the rest ?

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Her father helped her. Last I heard, no problems yet. But creating living space in a basement requires at least an electrical permit.

[CCSLC]

If you're looking at a home in SLC proper that has obviously had extensive renovations done, you can search the address on the city's permit database to see if the work was permitted and therefore done to code by a licensed professional. The database is completely public and goes back a while---I've found permits from the 1980s.

[kletter1mann]

Originally Posted by CCSLC

If you're looking at a home in SLC proper that has obviously had extensive renovations done, you can search the address on the city's permit database to see if the work was permitted and therefore done to code by a licensed professional. The database is completely public and goes back a while---I've found permits from the 1980s.

Awesome link, thanks. I'm going to play with this.