If you’re buying or selling property in Florida, knowing how to deal with code violations and open permits is important. For home sellers, these legal challenges can impact your property’s value and your ability to sell or refinance. For home buyers, unknown code violations and open or expired permits may lead to unexpected costs after the purchase. If you are a real estate agent, you should be checking the property for any open or expired permits and code violations as well to provide the best service to your customers.
What Are Open and Expired Permits?
In Florida, a local building department issues permits for new construction or renovation projects on a property to ensure compliance with building codes and regulations. The permits remain open if a project is incomplete or if a final inspection hasn’t been conducted.
Furthermore, permits come with expiration dates. If a building project is not completed within 180 days, the permit expires. To resolve an expired permit, a homeowner may need to hire a new contractor to complete the associated construction work, schedule inspections, and obtain the necessary approvals from the building department to officially close the permit.
Impact on You and Your Home
Having open permits can have significant implications for homeowners:
- Sale and Refinance: Open permits can hinder the sale or refinancing of a property, as potential buyers or lenders may be rightfully reluctant to proceed without construction issues being resolved first.
- Financial Penalties: Municipalities may impose fines for unresolved permits, adding financial burdens to homeowners.
Resolving Open Permits
If you discover an open permit on your property with the help of a company that specializes in open permit searches, such as Florida Lien Search, taking prompt action is important:
- Contact the Contractor: Reach out to the contractor involved in the project to understand why the permit is open. Sometimes, the contractor may have completed the work, but the building department failed to update the status.
- Contact the Building Department: Reach out to your local building department to obtain information on the open permit and the necessary steps to close it.
- Complete the Construction: If the permit is open due to incomplete construction, work with licensed contractors to finish the project. Schedule inspections to ensure compliance with building codes.
- Obtain Final Inspection: Request a final inspection from the building department to officially close the open permit, demonstrating that the construction meets all required standards.
Dealing with Code Violations
Code violations require swift action because homeowners are often given only 30 days to ensure their property’s compliance with local codes.
- Home Buyer Responsibility: Homebuyers are responsible for ensuring the property they purchase is free from code violations. A company that specializes in searching for code violations can help you.
- Addressing Violations: If you are a homeowner who has been issued a code violation, act promptly to correct it within the specified timeframe. Failure to do so may result in daily fines and legal proceedings. Consider hiring a permit consulting company with expertise in resolving code violations. Their staff can guide you through the process and ensure compliance with regulations.
As a real estate agent, make sure that your client is fully aware that the property they are planning to buy has code violations or open/expired permits.
Do not let code violations and open or expired permits hinder your or your client’s real estate journey. At Florida Lien Search, we conduct violation and open/expired permit searches in Florida. Contact us today.