Hello All,

As this is my first post, please excuse my ignornace....

I've recently purchased my first home (built 2001), and the basement is "in-progress" of being finished. The framing is all done, electrical run (w/ 50% activated), and one of the two rooms has drywall up and mudded, the smaller room- a bedroom.

I live in a small town in Wisconsin, where everyone on my block has finished their basements w/o permits. We asked the sellers about "paperwork" and got no reply...and everyone knows what that means-no permit. I'm hesitant to call up the building dept. when the process is so far along. Would they make me rip out the drywall to check the wiring behind it?

So far I've finished up that bedroom and its looking really nice. The basement is walkout and the window is up to code. I'm set to start on the "home theater" next week, drywalling.

What kind of scenario am I looking at if I call the building dept now? What consequences could come about by just finishing up the basement on my own? There is also a bathroom to finish down there...could I just wait and call when the rest is done and I'm ready to start on the bathroom? (which is already framed, shower stall is in, plumbing stubbed)

Thanks all, I appreciate your input.

 

IF you get caught constructing with out a permit, they can [and often will] make you tear everything down. Generally they will only make you tear down enough so all inspections can be made. A lot of counties also charge double for the permit after the fact.
The good aspects of doing things by the book are - not having to worry about getting caught, inspected work often means it was done right, no hassles with insurance if something happens, just to mention what easily comes to mind.
If all your neighbors got by with out a permit it is possible that you might also but even though I might from time to time do things myself without a permit or do more than the permit allows I would be hesitant to advise anyone to do the same.

 

Points well taken.

I have no problem doing things the "right" way, I'm just really dreading losing time waiting on inspections, tearing out walls, drawing up plans, etc.

Should I be prepared to wait weeks on an inspector?

Thanks for the reply!

 

Also keep in mind, that should you have (heaven forbid) an electrical fire or some other disaster that could even remotely be tied to the un-permited work, you probably are going to find that your homeowner's insurance will not pay the claim.

 

well said blizzard.

I'm confident in my ability to lay out some simple circuits, but the ease with which blame could be placed (even without merit) worries me most.

I guess this one is going by-the-book. After all, our home is the our #1 investment, right?

 

Smart thinking Aussiecheezhead. Personally, I would call the Codes department and explain the situation. Tell them that as soon as you realized THE LAST HOMEOWNER didn't get a permit, you wanted to do what was right and fix the situation. Obviously you will have to pay for a permit, but maybe they will be cool about it and work with you to straighten out the mess without too much hassle.

And if you need any free labor, you could always threaten to turn your neighbors in if they won't help you.

Good Luck!

 

HA! free labor is always great.....


I called the building dept and they didn't sound surprised. The town I live in is pretty small (7,000), so hopefully they won't give me the shaft.

Plus, the wife has TONS of other projects for me to work on besides below-grade ones.........

 

Hi All, I live in massachusetts and just bought my first house. The basement is currently finished, but there are mold and moisture issues. So, I'm ripping out the carpet (that was layed right on top of the concrete floor) and the paneling that was installed, which is bubbling and moldy.

I plan on refinishing the basement properly - installing a sub-floor, probably Dri-Core if I can afford it, and putting up mold-resistant, paperless wallboard such as Georgia-Pacific DensArmour Paperless wallboard. I'll probably insulate the foundation walls with some type of polystyrene insulation paneling. I'll also be painting the concrete with Dryloc to keep out moisture.

If anyone can comment on my ideas I'd appreciate it, also, any idea what a building permit would cost for this project? Since the basement is already "finished" the electrical work is already done. I don't think a previous permit was pulled for the original finishing.

Thanks,
Scott

 

In addition to what was already in previous posts, if you only get a permit for the bathroom, the inspector may just perform a search to see if a permit was done for your "now" completed basement.

You get caught later...which is even worse.

 

Just turned in my permit app to the bldg department today.

The ball is rolling!