Do I really need permits to flip a house if only doing cosmetic?

Question

I am ready to pull the trigger on a SFH in Broward. It needs a lot of cosmetic and upgrades ($40k - $60k) worth of flooring, kitchen, gardening, patio floor, pool, etc.

I don't plan on moving plumbing or electrical.

Do I need permits to do this?

Jay Hinrichs · Answer

very jurisdiction specific..  Like in Oregon if your rehabbing a house to sell to another you need a developers license . Even just one a year.

its a money grab  you need a bond  insurance and 300 bucks or so to the state no test .. but you need those things to get the license.

I got nailed on it .. had no clue as an owner there was such thing as a developers license. When i first came to Orygun.

Jonathan Greene · Answer

Most likely no if everything is cosmetic adjustments. If you are replacing or upgrading cabinets, etc. it should be fine, but each area is different. Generally, if you aren't adding or adjust electric, plumbing, or structural component or replacing furnaces or hot water heaters or adding AC, you should be ok. Your contractors will know (hopefully) what you do and don't need a permit for locally.

Account Closed · Answer

You can call someone who does home inspections in the area and get an idea if it's required. Or, you can do the obvious and call city/county building dept. and they will tell you. Some cities/counties list on their websites what permits are needed.

Account Closed · Answer

It depends on what state you are in. In California, you need a permit for almost everything including changing a light fixture, changing a toilet, installing a garbage disposer, changing a wall receptacle or even a light switch. You definitely need a permit to install new kitchen cabinets, to change a sink, install a dishwasher, etc..

I know many people will say what I said is not accurate, but I am licensed in California for 8 specialty trades and those are the requirements. Of course, most contractors don't take out all the necessary permits and they will tell you different. Most cities (and maybe the state) have a requirement that any job more than $500 needs a building permit, but this is not always enforced. It used to be that nobody needed a permit to build a concrete or block wall, but that has changed and permits and inspections are now required for the footing excavation, rebar, etc. to ensure the soil doesn't eventually settle and the walls fall over and kill someone.

Bud Gaffney · Answer

No permit needed! Lucky :)

John Morgan · Answer

I don’t get them for things like that. I just had a city inspector shut down my rehab for a week not having a permit to put up siding on the outside. What a joke. But I played the game and paid for my permit and moved on.

Samuel Morhaim · Answer

Thank you for all the replies.

A trusted inspetor, told me in Miami and Broward, I needed the permits. A trusted contractor said the complete opposite. I've known that if I am not changing plumbing/electrical or move walls around, I didn't need one.

The county site says... I do... But the thing is, how would an inspection catch this? If electrical is in the same place, and the overall structure is the same, I doubt an inspector would claim the toilet looks "newer" than the laet permit...

Either way, a formal inspection is happening tomorrow, plus a formal GC is giving me a full estimate as well. Ultimately, the buyers will probably be cash buyers... so... no bank inspection.

Thank you!

Do I really need permits to flip a house if only doing cosmetic?

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