Consequences of Remodeling Without a Permit in St. Louis, MO

Overview on Remodeling Permits

Decades of remodeling experience have taught us that many homeowners do not agree with the concept of permits. However, it’s important to realize why they exist in the first place prior to deciding whether or not you wish to pursue them (I recommend that you obtain permits).

Building and remodeling permits are what differentiate us between unsafe, less fortunate countries and the country that we are today.

Permits are intended to ensure both commercial and residential building safety. Due to permits and the resulting inspections, you need not worry about buildings collapsing and electrical fires, to name a few risks that permits help to mitigate.

Below, we cover the most significant consequences that can occur when deciding to undergo remodeling without permits.

Stop-Work Orders

The county and/or city in which you reside can issue a legal instruction called a stop-work order (SWO) should they discover you performing non-permitted work.

A stop-work order is a valid legal order that instructs the property owner, and contractor, to stop performing work on the property.

This SWO can be lifted once retrospective permits are obtained, which will require inspections to be done if necessary. Sometimes, in order to properly assess work, demolition must take place, which takes us to our second point.

Demolition of Completed Work

If your governing authority wishes to conduct inspections, or if they deem it unsafe, they may order your project to be demolished either partially or completely.

For example, a non-permitted finished basement may need to have its drywall and insulation removed in order to assess proper waterproofing and fire-blocking.

Another example would be a deck that wasn’t built with respect to structural building code, requiring a complete tear down.

Your Municipality May Issue Fines

Both you and your contractor may be subject to fines issued by your municipality for failure to obtain proper permits.

These fines may take the shape of daily fines until proper permits are obtained, or a single lump sum fine to be paid to the municipality.

Such fines are legally-binding, and your municipality can potentially seek liens on your home/assets should they not be paid.

You May Void Your Home Insurance

You and I both know insurance companies are always looking for a reason not to pay-out.

In the event that you seek to file a homeowner’s insurance claim, your insurance company can use a lack of permit as a reason not to cover the damages that occurred to the portion of the property in question.

Thus, a non-permitted remodeling project can result in the voiding of your homeowner’s insurance.

Occupancy Permit Issues When Going to Sell

Your local municipality may require you to obtain an up-to-date occupancy permit prior to you listing your home for sale. This will require a home inspection to ensure your home is safe for the general public to occupy.

If your inspector notices a newly updated space that didn’t have permits pulled for the work, they may deny you an occupancy permit until retrospective permits are pulled and passed. As we discussed earlier, a retrospective permit may require you to demolish the work in order for it to be inspected.

When Do I Need Remodeling Permits?

The best way to find out if you need remodeling permits is to contact your municipalities building department.

A fair amount of counties within the Greater St. Louis Area contract with St. Louis County in order to oversee building enforcement. If your county does so, you will want to reach out to the St. Louis County building department. For those residing outside of St. Louis County, you will want to contact your relevant county’s building department.

In general, any structural changes will require permits, as will most electrical and plumbing work. For instance, many counties require permits to be pulled simply for an electrical outlet connection or kitchen sink hookup.

It’s Getting Late, Let’s Conclude

In this article we have covered the possible repercussions of remodeling in St. Louis, MO without having obtained permits. While these consequences are not guaranteed to happen, they are entirely possible and should be weighed as such.

I strongly encourage you to seek permits during your remodel, as doing so ensures you are getting the quality work that you are paying for due to the inspection process. Failure to do so could put you and your family at risk of poor electrical, structural, or plumbing work.

I hope that this article was beneficial to you. If you are considering remodeling and live within the St. Louis, MO area, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!