Home renovation - what requires permits? (hardwood floors, inspectors, taxes)

[Clint.]

I'm wondering if people ever do relatively inconspicuous interior work in their old Pittsburgh homes that technically requires a permit but don't get one, and then just attribute the work to some guy who lived there before they bought it if anyone ever asks. I woudl guess some of it depends on what your neighbors are like.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by Clint.

I'm wondering if people ever do relatively inconspicuous interior work in their old Pittsburgh homes that technically requires a permit but don't get one, and then just attribute the work to some guy who lived there before they bought it if anyone ever asks. I woudl guess some of it depends on what your neighbors are like.

Just be aware that unpermited work can cause you problems down the road. If you have an insurance claim it may not be covered. When you sell your home, the buyer may not be able to get financing until unpermited work is brought up to code. If accidents or injuries occur as a result of unpermited work you will be liable. Permits aren't required simply to generate revenue, they are there to insure that your home and the homes around you are safe and sound. Get permits. You'll be protecting yourself, your family, your neighbors, and your investment.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by Clint.

I'm wondering if people ever do relatively inconspicuous interior work in their old Pittsburgh homes that technically requires a permit but don't get one, and then just attribute the work to some guy who lived there before they bought it if anyone ever asks. I woudl guess some of it depends on what your neighbors are like.

To directly answer your question: Yes, this happens all the time.

You'd be running a bigger risk of being caught since you'll have the dumpster outside, though.

[Bluto123]

Originally Posted by juliegt

Just be aware that unpermited work can cause you problems down the road. If you have an insurance claim it may not be covered. When you sell your home, the buyer may not be able to get financing until unpermited work is brought up to code. If accidents or injuries occur as a result of unpermited work you will be liable. Permits aren't required simply to generate revenue, they are there to insure that your home and the homes around you are safe and sound. Get permits. You'll be protecting yourself, your family, your neighbors, and your investment.

The OP (me), wasn't talking about doing anything without a necessary permit? I'm investigating what work can be done without one, legally.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by Bluto123

From what I have read, permitting is much more lax for homeowners, different for contractors.

I don't know if that's really true. But on some of the things it would be hard to enforce permits if you didn't hire a contractor or otherwise have any obvious indications that work was being done. If the code says you need a permit and inspections (which is typically the point of the permit, to have an inspector come and check out the work) then you need them even if you are the homeowner.

Something like rewiring and significant moving of plumbing in your list are the most likely to require permits. Windows maybe, but sometimes not. Anything that's considered emergency repair you can start work without permit but should still get one if it is otherwise required for that type of work. Someone above said drywall needs permit in the city, which is crazy, but hey. If you are in the city proper then this is your info: Pittsburgh Bureau of Building Inspection There is a list of residential stuff that doesn't require permits, and it is small. You might need a permit for everything but the brick, gutter and flooring.

[Velvet Jones]

Originally Posted by juliegt

Just be aware that unpermited work can cause you problems down the road. If you have an insurance claim it may not be covered. When you sell your home, the buyer may not be able to get financing until unpermited work is brought up to code. If accidents or injuries occur as a result of unpermited work you will be liable. Permits aren't required simply to generate revenue, they are there to insure that your home and the homes around you are safe and sound. Get permits. You'll be protecting yourself, your family, your neighbors, and your investment.

Please STOP spreading this lie. Insurance is not nullified by unpermitted work. This has been debunked by numerous insurance companies over and over again, but it springs up in every discussion about permits. As one insurance agent put it, "if we didn't cover for peoples stupid behavior that would eliminate 95% of our claims". Also, do not equate unpermitted with out of code. Under PA law, even if a permit is not required you still have to follow the current code. That said, if you don't know what you're doing that is where a permit can help. You should never make changes that violate the building codes as that can cause problems with resale and be dangerous.

Also, spare us "it's not for revenue" spiel. You must work for the city. Many townships and cities, especially Pittsburgh, require permits for things that have nothing to do with either safety or code. Upper St. Clair requires an electric permit to install a satellite dish. Minneapolis requires a permit to replace a toilet.

[Scott2187]

Originally Posted by Velvet Jones

Please STOP spreading this lie. Insurance is not nullified by unpermitted work. This has been debunked by numerous insurance companies over and over again, but it springs up in every discussion about permits. As one insurance agent put it, "if we didn't cover for peoples stupid behavior that would eliminate 95% of our claims". Also, do not equate unpermitted with out of code. Under PA law, even if a permit is not required you still have to follow the current code. That said, if you don't know what you're doing that is where a permit can help. You should never make changes that violate the building codes as that can cause problems with resale and be dangerous.

Also, spare us "it's not for revenue" spiel. You must work for the city. Many townships and cities, especially Pittsburgh, require permits for things that have nothing to do with either safety or code. Upper St. Clair requires an electric permit to install a satellite dish. Minneapolis requires a permit to replace a toilet.

Pittsburgh requires a $80 permit to hang holiday lights. Even though people are dumb enough to plug 18 cords into one outlet and require supervision, this is a definite revenue generator. If it were for serious reasons, it would be a federal requirement across the entire country.

Is there any way one can look up past permits pulled for their residence? I'm just curious what kind of stuff was done on my house in the past.

Also, while reading the Pittsburgh BBI page about retaining walls, is anyone with experience able to clarify this statement:

Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.

I'm confused as to what they mean by "supporting a surcharge"

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by Scott2187

Pittsburgh requires a $80 permit to hang holiday lights.

Does anybody actually pay that? Is it residential or only business? I've never heard of it, but I've never put out holiday lights because I'm too lazy.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by Bluto123

The OP (me), wasn't talking about doing anything without a necessary permit? I'm investigating what work can be done without one, legally.

Sorry if I jumped on you. I thought you were trying to do work without getting permits. Just call the building department and ask. Their website should have a lot of the info you need. I work for a construction company that plays by the rules. We've seen scary stuff done by people who didn't get permits. Glad to know you're not one of them.

[Q-tip motha]

Originally Posted by Pghuser

City of PGH you need a permit to do drywall. Crazy, I know.

I'll get a permit to drywall when they pry the joint compound from my cold dead hands!


Seriously though. I'm not paying for a permit to work on the interior of my house, especially when its aesthetic in nature. What the city doesn't know won't hurt them.