How can I sell my home if I didn’t get permits for my renovations?

by David Van Benthem, Realtor | July 8, 2025

So, you’re a homeowner excited about making changes to your home! Whether you're tackling a large project like finishing your basement or a smaller upgrade like adding pot lights, there's one important step that often gets overlooked: permits. Pulling the right permits and making sure they’re properly closed, protects you legally, safeguards your finances, and helps maintain your home’s full market value. In short: permits matter. Don’t skip them!

Municipalities require permits to ensure that renovations meet safety standards and local building codes. Completing work that requires a permit without one is illegal and can result in fines, stop-work orders, or even the removal of unpermitted work. Click here to see a list of projects that require permits.

Beyond the legal risks, unpermitted work can cause serious issues with your insurance. If damage occurs and the work wasn’t permitted, your claim might be denied. Pulling a permit removes that stress, protects you financially, and ensures your home remains safe and secure.

If you’ve completed work without a permit, you can apply for them through the Permit Amnesty Program. The cost to apply retroactively is nearly double so beware of additional costs but this step is essential.

When you're selling your home, it's important to confirm that all necessary permits are in place and that they’ve been properly closed. If any are still open, make sure you know the timeline for final inspection and closure.

Checking the status of your permits is simple. Click here to check your permit status.

Closed permits shows prospective buyers that the home has been properly maintained, giving them confidence and helping your transaction go smoothly.

From experience, we’ve seen buyers request price reductions or demand that work be retroactively permitted, which can be costly, time-consuming, and may require opening walls to inspect the quality of the work.

Unpermitted work is a red flag. In some cases, buyers have walked away from making an offer altogether. Fewer offers often mean a lower sale price.

On the other hand, closed permits serve as proof that the renovations were done properly and inspected. Buyers feel more confident, and sellers benefit financially.

At the end of the day: Get permits. Protect your investment and enjoy peace of mind knowing the work in your home was done correctly. If your not sure about the status of your permits, or thinking of selling but haven’t gotten permits, give me a call at 204-960-8414.