A-07Service

After-the-Fact Permits

Work already done without a permit. Enclosed patios, converted garages, added bathrooms, unpermitted electrical. It is fixable more often than people assume, and it gets more expensive the longer it sits.

Under contract with unpermitted work? Start immediately, this path is not fast.

Start this Ask a question first

Who it's for

Homeowners, sellers under contract, buyers who inherited a problem, landlords

Turnaround

Assessment in 3-5 days. Legalization commonly 2-6 months depending on scope.

Fee structure

Flat rate, quoted in writing before anything is filed

Cost

Quoted per project once we've seen the scope

01Scope of work

What's included

Honest assessment of whether the work can be legalized as built
Identifying what has to be opened up, changed, or removed
Coordinating the engineer or architect needed to draw and seal existing conditions
Filing the after-the-fact application and handling the penalty fee process
Inspection coordination, including destructive inspection where required
A realistic cost and timeline picture before you commit

What we need from you

Property address and folio
Honest description of what was done and roughly when
Access to the property for assessment
Owner authorization

Missing something on this list? Send what you have. We will tell you what else is needed before you pay anything.

02Sequence of work

How it actually goes

Assessment

We look at what was built and compare it against what current code will accept. This is the step where we tell you the truth, including when the answer is that something has to come out.

Path selection

Sometimes the answer is an after-the-fact permit. Sometimes it is cheaper and faster to remove the work. We do not push you toward the option that pays us more.

Drawings

Existing conditions usually have to be drawn and sealed by a design professional. We coordinate that.

File and pay

After-the-fact applications typically carry a penalty multiplier on the permit fee. We file and manage the process.

Inspect and close

Often includes opening walls so an inspector can see what is behind them. We schedule and attend.

03Questions we get

Straight answers

Will I get in trouble for coming forward?

The realistic outcome is a penalty fee on the permit, not a personal enforcement action, in the ordinary case. The far worse outcome is a code enforcement case or a failed sale. Voluntarily legalizing is almost always the better position.

The prior owner did it. Am I stuck with it?

Unfortunately, yes in practical terms. The obligation runs with the property. That is exactly why a permit history search before you buy is worth the small cost.

Can everything be legalized?

No, and we will say so. Work that violates setbacks, encroaches on easements, or cannot meet life safety requirements sometimes has to be removed. You are better off hearing that from us early than from an inspector late.