Detached room and deck with no permit

[Jieying Fu]

Hi! We’re interested in a single family house property. However it has a detached room that is permitted as storage room but listed and used as an office/den/gym. And the detached room has an attached deck that has no permit recorded.

I’m wondering what’s the potential risk if we purchase this property as primary residency property?

Thanks so much!

[Bruce Woodruff]

How is it permitted as a storage room? Is there an actual permit that you have seen, or is it just under the min SF for the area? It is doubtful that it has the proper foundation to qualify as 'living space' other wise it would be legal already. You are probably facing an uphill battle to get it retroactively permitted at this point, and you do not want to use it as living space illegally, way too much liability.

The deck may not be an issue, you generally don't need a permit for a deck that is less than 18" off the ground.....but if it is higher than that at any point, then you must tear it down to comply. If someone falls off after you own it, you're screwed....

Get (hire) a GC to look at this and advise you before going to the City and stirring things up. Once you open the box it can be hard to close, if you know what I mean....