re: Adding a room to a house without getting a permit

quote:

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they dont just let you pay a fine after the fact, it must be taken down at least to open walls and studs so it can be inspected.

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Who is "they"? The city? I build custom homes and I have never built a single one that finished exactly per city/county/parish submitted and stamped build plan. Even if a city inspector were to have caught someone during the actual unpermitted remodel construction, they would red tag the work, but it is highly unlikely they would ever have someone bulldoze something down. No one at a city (at least the ones I have worked within) level is going to give a shite about a years old addition as long as it doesn't cross property/easement lines or there is a code violation visible from the street. The buyers inspector would be the one to worry about.