What Happens If You Don't Get the Permits Required?

If you are undertaking a home improvement project—a kitchen remodel, a new deck, a bathroom remodel, or a basement finish—you have probably heard that you will need a permit. It is tempting to think, "Permits are a hassle. I'll just skip it and save money and time."

But here is the truth: Not pulling the required permits can have disastrous consequences—and those consequences tend to cost homeowners more than permits ever would.

Let's walk through what can happen if you skip the permits—and why it's always best to do things by the book.

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1. Penalties and Fines

Along the Front Range of Colorado, building departments are serious about permits. If you do it without one and they find out (which they usually do), you may be liable for:

• Stop Work Orders: The city can close down your project until you obtain the permits.

• Fines: Unauthorized work may result in fines ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

• Back Fees: You will be required to pay double or triple the permit fees as a penalty for not obtaining them in advance.

2. Issues When You Sell Your House

Planning on selling in the future? Unapproved work can derail a sale. In the course of selling:

• Inspectors will mark unapproved work.

• Purchasers can back out or insist on expensive repairs.

• Appraisers can lower your house's value.

• You may need to cut open walls or pull off completed work to demonstrate things were done safely.

Bottom line: Skipping today can cause a legal and financial headache when you do want to move on.

3. Insurance Issues

Let's say you finish your basement illegally and a couple of years down the line, there is a flood or fire. Your insurance company comes to inspect the claim, notice the work wasn't permitted, and they decide:

They won’t cover the damage.

Insurance policies usually contain fine print that excludes coverage for work done without a permit. You foot the bill for repairs or replacement that would otherwise have been covered if you had obtained the permit.

4. Safety Hazards

Permits are there for a reason: to help keep you safe. If you circumvent permits, you circumvent inspections. That means no one has looked at your wiring, plumbing, structural elements, or HVAC systems to ensure they're up to safety codes.

This can result in:

• Electrical fires due to damaged wiring

• Water damage resulting from malfunctioning pipes

• Structural problems if the load-bearing walls or framing were not constructed to code

Skipping permits puts your family at risk.

5. Paying to Fix It Later

Here's the worst part: if the city finds out about unpermitted work—whether it's today or years down the line—they can have you:

• Expose ceilings or walls for inspection

• Re-work portions of the job to make it meet code

• Employ experts to correct errors

• Pull retroactive permits (with additional fees usually)

This "fix it later" scenario is typically much more expensive than if it were accomplished properly the first time.

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How to Avoid Problems

If you're unsure if your project requires a permit, call your local building department. You likely will need a permit for:

• Electrical work

• Plumbing work

• Structural changes (like removing walls)

• Additions or major remodels

• Decks above a specific height

• New doors or windows

• Finishing a basement

And here is the best part: when you hire a licensed contractor (such as Alpine Home Repairs), we obtain permits for you. We'll ensure that everything is up to code, inspected, and safe—so you can simply sit back and enjoy your upgrades worry-free.

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🏡Have Questions About Permits or Your Next Project? Call Alpine Home Repairs today. We'll guide you through the permitting, deal with the paperwork, and do the job correctly the first time. Let's create something beautiful—and safe—together!

Alpine Home Repairs