Full gut rehab; who to handle Permits required?

[Arthur Lyons]

What is a good resource for me to find out/ learn what permits are required for my gut rehab. And at which states the permits are required? What's my exposure if everything was not properly permitted? It's a 3bed 1.5 bath row home in North Philadelphia. New everything plumbing, electrical, windows, roof... full rehab.

[Robert Rayford]

Go to your local City Building Dept. Ask for a list of permit requirement exemptions, maybe available online.  Some Cities or Counties will exempt certain building items like a small re-roof, fence, shed,  drywall repair or small service repairs. Whatever is on not on the list will need a permit. Do not give the clerk your address they can flag it as a possible site for investigation. Just ask for the list for future info. Some jurisdictions require each trade to pull their own permit and others allow the homeowner to pull a remodel permit with the cost based on the total value of the remodel project .If you remodel without a permit and get caught before drywall installation then most likely you will just need to pull a permit and get inspections. If you get caught after the drywall installation  then plan on removing all the cover areas for inspections. The same with roofing. Also, a smart investor during your resell would wait for the signing acceptance of the offer and during their due diligence period bring up the lack of permit and ask for a credit. Once this is out in the open the agent will have disclose any future buyers of the "work was done without a permit". Hope this helps.