So, I recently did some renovations on my basement (nothing fancy, just drywall, flooring, and stuff) but I skipped getting permits cuz, honestly, seemed like a waste of time and money. Well, city caught wind of it somehow and now I'm stuck paying fines and jumping through hoops. Lesson learned, lol. Next time, I guess I'll have to check city codes first, submit plans, wait for approval, blah blah... Anyone got a simpler way to deal with permits or tips to speed things along?
"Lesson learned, lol."
Yeah, permits are a pain, but skipping them usually ends up costing more time and money in the long run. Couple quick tips from experience:
- Check if your city has an online portal—some places let you submit plans digitally, speeds things up.
- If you're unsure about what's required, call the city building office directly. They're usually helpful and can clarify exactly what you need.
- For smaller projects, sometimes you can get an "over-the-counter" permit same day—worth asking about next time.
Totally agree on checking online portals—saved me a ton of hassle. Couple other things I've learned:
- Historic districts can have extra layers of approval...ask specifically about that.
- Sometimes neighbors report you, so maybe chat with them first to avoid surprises?
