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Finishing attic -- building permit

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01-14-04, 08:31 AM

mlandman

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Finishing attic -- building permit

Hi,

I went to the town hall today to get the permit.

Said I was adding 2 bedrooms and a bonus room. (600 sq ft or so). They pull up the plans, septic system was only designed for a 3 bedroom house.

They said I would need to get a new design done before I could get a permit, and said it would likely be around 500-600$. (he said I would just need the redesign, not the actual work done/implemented, so that the design would be 'ready' if there really WAS a problem, so that they could put in the new system right away).

Youch!

If they are just offices / rec room, etc, then I don't need a redesign.

So... questions...

(1) What is the advantage for doing it this way? Is the advantage that I can list my house as a 5 bedroom house when I go to sell it, but could otherwise not claim it is a 5 bedroom house?

(2) What if I don't get the redesign done, and then tell the town hall it will be an office / recroom, but then make it a bedroom later? Big trouble?

Thx,

-mike

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01-14-04, 08:28 PM

bungalow jeff

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You can not list the house as a 5 bedroom without the redesign listed on the permit. If and when you do sell the house, if the tax assessor determines the house was used as a 5 bedroom, you may be charged fees and possibly back taxes. Depending on the state you are in, the disclosure laws may require that you inform potential buyers that the rooms are not legal bedrooms.

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01-15-04, 04:24 PM

Jack the Contractor

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My best advice to you is to do the redesign and pay the fee. It may seem like alot now, but who knows what lies down the road of life, and I can guarantee you this is one snake that will bite you in the YOU KNOW WHERE at about 3 or 4 times that amount. I have seen your same situation many times. Good Luck

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01-15-04, 04:29 PM

mlandman

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Thanks for the advice, guys, I appreciate it.

-m

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