You generally need permits when you’re touching:Electrical - i.e New breaker box panelsPlumbing - i.e removing cast iron pipes and replacing with PVCHVACStructural elements (walls, beams, load‑bearing anything)Roof workAdding square footage - i.e addition to the home or conversionAnything that changes the home’s layout or safety profileThose items can impact insurance, inspections, and liability, so pulling permits protects you long‑term.Cosmetic work usually doesn’t require permits, like:PaintFlooringCabinetsFixturesTrimAppliances (unless rewiring or re‑plumbing is needed)Another thing to factor in is your exit strategy.

I understand that the City of Anaheim is no longer issuing new STR permits, so one option is to buy a property that already has an existing STR license.

When linking BP National Account to your HD Pro Extra account does your status actually change to Elite, or do you just receive Elite pricing on certain items?

I currently have a total of 6 extra lots on houses that i have bought in a class b-c neighborhood.

If your contractor knows what they're doing and submit the permit correctly should be just a couple weeks (sometimes even sooner actually).

Great topic — ground-up projects can produce strong margins, but execution risk is where many investors get caught off guard.From the builder/developer side, the biggest challenges we consistently see are:1️⃣ Site Work UnknownsFill, compaction, drainage, and soil conditions can shift budgets quickly — especially in markets where lot conditions vary significantly.2️⃣ Utilities & Impact FeesWater/sewer access, well/septic requirements, and local impact fees are often underestimated during underwriting.3️⃣ Environmental FactorsProtected species, wetlands, and flood elevation requirements can affect both timelines and build costs.4️⃣ Permit TimelinesApproval periods — particularly when civil or environmental reviews are involved — can extend holding costs beyond initial projections.5️⃣ Builder Execution CapacityProject success often comes down to the operator’s systems, trade relationships, and cycle times — not just the numbers on paper.Because of these hurdles, we’re seeing more investors lean toward ready-to-build projects — where feasibility, plans, and permitting are already in progress or completed — as a way to reduce entitlement risk and shorten timelines.Ground-up can be extremely rewarding, but the upfront diligence and execution planning are what ultimately determine outcomes.Always happy to compare notes with other investors and builders working through similar projects.

Your problem is that now your in-law apartment needs 200 amp service (don't bother with 150 or 160, the marginal cost of 200 amps is a trifle over those and saves you a lot of grief) for the heat and the stove.I sincerely doubt your electric service can handle the extra load without extensive modifications, rewiring, and increased service from ComEd.

I am unaware of any actual friction in permitting in Louisville.

On a C2 parcel with existing occupied income, the lender will care a lot about the as is DSCR on the current triplex plus shop, your plan and budget for the ADU or duplex, and whether the entitlement risk is real since the CUP and planning approval can drag.The actionable step today is to get a lender package together with current rents and expenses, a pro forma rent for the new units, a rough build budget, and your best guess timeline for permits and construction because that determines if you need an entitlement loan first or a true construction draw.

Midterm can be a great strategy, but it's advisable to blend it with STR (by obtaining a permit) so that you can fill in gaps between bookings.