at what point does work need a permit
At what point of complexity does renovation work need a permit in theory (goodie two shoes), and in practice (pragmatic, common approach)?
At what point of complexity does renovation work need a permit in theory (goodie two shoes), and in practice (pragmatic, common approach)?
Legally speaking if the work done exceeds $500 you need a permit. And obviously if you are moving plumbing or electric lines or moving walls around, you also need a permit whether you are paying $500 or not.
Check the DoB website. There are numerous brochures that clearly state what you can and can’t do with or without a permit. Basically, painting, maintenance and cabinetry are the only things allowed without a permit. If you are moving any doors, walls or plumbing, you must get a permit. If you do not, you can be fined and possibly have civil action brought against you.
Now, having said that, as one poster above said, this all depends on how loud the work is and how well you are liked by your neighbors.
And if something happens and someone gets hurt on the jobs site and you do not have both a permit and insurance, kiss your apartment or brownstone goodbye.
never mind the last post/question, i found lots of good info here
http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forum/archives/permits/
Ok so if one is going to demolish some non load bearing walls, and rip out a kitchen, and pay a company to take everything away.. is the process of filing a permit onerous? i see there are permit expediting companies around – that worries me, as if there is a business in expediting permits it sounds like they are non-trivial to get for small jobs?
depends on how gutsy you are and how visible/audible the work is to your neighbors. I have done tons of work, moving bathrooms, moved a wall or 2, moving kitchen, making a window into a door etc…and never got a permit.
To address above response: legally, if you are having 3 rooms in your house painted by an outside company, would you need a permit? I always thought that if you are simply doing cosmetic work, like painting, re-tiling, putting in new faucets, etc., that you don’t need a permit, but if you are changing anything currently there, you do.
For example, if you have a plumbing problem, and call in an outside plumber (see above), and he needs to fix some pipe, I don’t think that would require a permit. But if you are moving all the fixtures in the bathroom, that would.
However, maybe you technically need a permit for anything (in case someone gets injured on the job) although that seems over the top to me.
I can only speak to the pragmatic approach.
Once you get someone else involved (plumber, contractor, architect) you need permits.
If you have nosy uptight neighbors, you need permits.
If you are going to cause your neighbors any woe, you need permits.
If you are doing the work yourself, have spoken to your neighbors, who understand and are down because they’ve gone through it themselves, and aren’t doing some asshole thing like making a big view-obstructing deck or something, then you don’t need a permit.