A converted garage, an enclosed porch, an added bedroom, a roofed terrace or an accessory unit that never went through permitting. It surfaces when you sell, when you refinance, when you file for a new permit or when a code enforcement case arrives. The first step is knowing exactly what is there and how the jurisdiction sees it.
How we start
- The property's permit history and the status of each permit.
- A field survey of what was built: what was done, where and with what characteristics.
- A comparison against the official record and the applicable code.
- Review of code enforcement cases and open or expired permits.
What we deliver
- What can be documented as it stands.
- What requires physical correction before it can be documented.
- What falls outside what the code allows today, and what the alternatives are.
- The order of the filings and the recommended next steps.
When the application requires signed and sealed plans or inspections, we coordinate with independent licensed professionals and handle the permit with the jurisdiction.
What we cannot claim
- No preliminary study, by itself, establishes that existing construction can be legalized.
- The decision rests with the authority having jurisdiction, the applicable code and the conditions verified in the field.
- Some conditions — setbacks, lot coverage, flood zone or substantial improvement — can prevent existing work from being documented.
- Our role is to tell you clearly where you stand before you invest in the filing.
If you are buying a property with unpermitted work, look at the investor evaluation as well: the scope of the correction changes the numbers on the deal.