Plumbing permit

[jpdx]

Let's say, hypothetically, I recently replaced all the supply lines in my house with PEX. And I had no idea a permit was required but now I see the city's website says this:

"A plumbing permit is needed to repair, replace, relocate or add to the piping system"

What should I do?

[paddedhat]

Let's say, hypothetically, I recently replaced all the supply lines in my house with PEX. And I had no idea a permit was required but now I see the city's website says this:

"A plumbing permit is needed to repair, replace, relocate or add to the piping system"

What should I do?

Do what I have done for the last thirty years, and follow a rule that is strictly observed by the majority in my little town. If it happens inside of the house, it's your business and nothing more. Our town's website makes it very clear that anything beyond changing a light bulb needs a permit and inspections. However, I don't care if you talk to the little old Mennonite ladies on my street, or ask one of the town cops, you will get the same answer. What happens inside, stays inside. Now I guarantee that you will see a few more responses that will warn you of the horrors of not being a good little comrade, and how you will suffer when you get caught. In reality, in 99.9% of cases, this type of thinking is nothing but fear and noise. Personally, hell would freeze over before I pulled a permit to replace supply lines.

[ncornilsen]

Let's say, hypothetically, I recently replaced all the supply lines in my house with PEX. And I had no idea a permit was required but now I see the city's website says this:

"A plumbing permit is needed to repair, replace, relocate or add to the piping system"

What should I do?

Unless you're going to sell it in the next 6 months, I'd not worry about it.

If you are going to sell it in the very near term, be prepared for a savvy inspector to mention "new piping without permits" and a realtor to try to use it as leverage... Or if you post that you did this job on a facebook and some union fuck "friend" of yours gets butthurt that you didn't pay $$$$ for someone to do it for you, and reports you... Seen that happen once.

[jpdx]

I don't plan on selling this house for many, many years. But what's to stop an inspector/realtor issue from arising years down the road? Shouldn't I just take care of this now to cover my ass? The permit fee is only around $100, I just don't want to open a can of worms because the new plumbing system is working just fine.

[bacchi]

I don't plan on selling this house for many, many years. But what's to stop an inspector/realtor issue from arising years down the road? Shouldn't I just take care of this now to cover my ass? The permit fee is only around $100, I just don't want to open a can of worms because the new plumbing system is working just fine.

If you wait long enough, it might be grandfathered. :)

Is there a home owner's permit in your town? You could pull that, wait a week, and declare it done. If you're sure it'll pass.

[paddedhat]

I don't plan on selling this house for many, many years. But what's to stop an inspector/realtor issue from arising years down the road? Shouldn't I just take care of this now to cover my ass? The permit fee is only around $100, I just don't want to open a can of worms because the new plumbing system is working just fine.

Cover your ass from what exactly? A home inspector looking at a well done supply system, done with modern materials? A home inspector has zero interest in who inspected what, years, or decades ago. Realtors are also a non-issue. The only time I ever saw an issue with this was in a town just outside of NYC, when a friend sold a house. In that bureaucratic hell-hole, you had to get a permit to resell a home, and the town building inspector would walk through, and search for un-permitted work. It was just a money grab. My buddy had done a full basement build out without permits, fifteen years before, and they "caught" him. They inspected what they could see, made him add two receptacles, and charged him a few hundred in fees. Big deal.

Whatever floats your boat. I literally explained how 95% of all competent DIYers would handle the situation. If you want to pay a fee, to have a government employee digging through your place, and coming up with God only knows what, in the way of real, or imagined issues, go for it. This reminds me of a neighbor who wanted to do a small job at his house. I gave him the exact advice I gave you. He didn't listen, pulled a permit, and dealt with a township inspector who was a total dick, made his life hell, and red flagged him a few times (at $75 per re-inspection, to look at imaginary issues) The same neighbor calls in a panic and says his inground septic system is failing, and there is sewer water pooling in the back yard. I then asked if he wants to listen, and fix the problem, or call the township again, and spend $20K for a new elevated sand mount system that will take up most of his back yard? He listened, I got a contractor to show up on a Sunday morning, with a small machine and discretely repair and extend his existing system, for about $800. You can lead a horse to water...................................

[KarefulKactus15]

The only thing I pulled a permit for was natural gas installation.   They won't hook it up without a verified pressure test. 


I also called my local office, they said technically I only need a permit for jobs over 1000$.     So guess what, the entire house remodel has been done in a serious of jobs less than 1000$ each....

Depends on the area too, the inspector I met with was super nice.  I passed but he also offered good suggestion s for other projects I had going on.

[lthenderson]

I have fixed up several houses and sold them and never had an inspector discover/point out that permits were not issued. They don't care at all about permits. Some inspectors (sadly not all) do care that work is done to code. Realtors are even less concerned about those things than inspectors.

[Fire2025]

The only thing I pulled a permit for was natural gas installation.   They won't hook it up without a verified pressure test. 


I also called my local office, they said technically I only need a permit for jobs over 1000$.     So guess what, the entire house remodel has been done in a serious of jobs less than 1000$ each....

Depends on the area too, the inspector I met with was super nice.  I passed but he also offered good suggestion s for other projects I had going on.

Our area is the like this.^^^ As long as each job is small they don't make you get permits.  So we're cutting all the electrical and plumbing into small jobs.  Plus we work small and slow in general, LOL!!!