Do I need a permit for installing recessed lights? (Fairfax: how much, townhouse)

[carloscbj89]

So I have a townhouse that is in fairfax county by lorton and a few years ago while I was renovating the kitchen I had the contractor add recessed lights in the kitchen, living room and basement.
In the kitchen, the electrician basically installed the recessed lights and used existing wiring that was there from the previous light fixture; the same was done in the basement. In the living room, there was no existing lights, but he basically connected the lights in parallel and to an existing wiring panel for the light fixture by the entrance and the outside light.
I want to sell my townhouse now and started wondering if I actually needed a permit back then. The contractor didn't mention anything about it and I simply didn't think about it. Contractor is gone and I can't find him, so I'm wondering if I might be screwed.
If I do indeed needed a permit back then, is there any way that I can rectify and get this "approved" by the county? I don't care if I have to pay a fee, I just want to make sure I can sell my house.

Thank you
Carlos

[reebo]

We had recessed lights installed from scratch several years ago. No permit needed.

[spencgr]

I do believe a permit is required for any new electrical wiring for Fairfax County. That being said, I can't imagine anyone will question or ask for permits for ceiling fixtures, unless they are hanging out of the ceiling.

[boyd888]

I don't think that you need a permit. I can tell you that electricians are not pulling permits for adding light fixtures to existing circuits, but they definitely will pull one for upgrading your electrical panel or adding something like a tesla charger.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/landde...ermit-required

FFx permits are also like $100 a pop. I sent them an email about replacing fridge/dishwasher and new plumbing (their site says 'new plumbing fixtures' under required) and was told "if you are just replacing what was already there no permit is needed."

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by boyd888

I don't think that you need a permit. I can tell you that electricians are not pulling permits for adding light fixtures to existing circuits, but they definitely will pull one for upgrading your electrical panel or adding something like a tesla charger.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/landde...ermit-required

FFx permits are also like $100 a pop. I sent them an email about replacing fridge/dishwasher and new plumbing (their site says 'new plumbing fixtures' under required) and was told "if you are just replacing what was already there no permit is needed."

Adding new wiring is not just replacing what is there.

[Annandale_Man]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I do believe a permit is required for any new electrical wiring for Fairfax County. That being said, I can't imagine anyone will question or ask for permits for ceiling fixtures, unless they are hanging out of the ceiling.

I replaced a center ceiling fixture with recessed lights in all the bedrooms of my TH and added additional recessed lights in other rooms that already had them. I also moved some existing light switches from poorly placed positions to better positions. No permit because I was not running any new wiring from the panel.

[Ffxdata]

Do homeowners and tradespeople do it all the time without permits? Yep. Are they allowed to? Unclear.

[Rickcin]

The answer is, theoretically yes, will anyone ever know by counting light fixtures or knowing if light fixtures have been replaced, the answer is NO!

[finalmove]

Originally Posted by carloscbj89

So I have a townhouse that is in fairfax county by lorton and a few years ago while I was renovating the kitchen I had the contractor add recessed lights in the kitchen, living room and basement.
In the kitchen, the electrician basically installed the recessed lights and used existing wiring that was there from the previous light fixture; the same was done in the basement. In the living room, there was no existing lights, but he basically connected the lights in parallel and to an existing wiring panel for the light fixture by the entrance and the outside light.
I want to sell my townhouse now and started wondering if I actually needed a permit back then. The contractor didn't mention anything about it and I simply didn't think about it. Contractor is gone and I can't find him, so I'm wondering if I might be screwed.
If I do indeed needed a permit back then, is there any way that I can rectify and get this "approved" by the county? I don't care if I have to pay a fee, I just want to make sure I can sell my house.

Thank you
Carlos

No. The work was routine. Nothing to worry about. This isn't NYC!

[MadeehaAnwar]

And I have a total irrelevant question. How much is your handy man charging you to install the lights. I want get installed in my new place but the labor cost is way too much. Do you recommend anyone for the job?