Hello,

We purchased a foreclosure home which had some complete and partially complete remodeling. In particular, a bathroom was was added, and the kitchen appliances were updated. No permits were pulled according to the records.

My question is, how can we get our home legally up to date with permits? Can we retroactively get a permit for the work that was done? We aren't having any problems with the added bathroom, and we don't want to have to tear anything out, but we don't want any legal troubles if we ever try to sell, either.

Has anyone applied for retroactive permits with FFX county? How does it usually go?

I don't have any first hand information, but from what I've heard you would have to at a minimum take down any new drywall or anything covering any new framing, wiring, or plumbing. If the plumbing is under concrete that would have to come up too. Don't be surprised if there are major problems with the work that has been done, even though it appears to be working properly. You don't need a permit to install new appliances in the old appliance locations. If something was moved or added, I would have a professional look at it, but not worry about a permit for it.

I wouldn't worry about it...your future buyer won't think to pull permits as they will be from some 3rd world savage nation where you don't need permits. Have a good one!

Turn yourself into the closest police station tonight. You're going to prison for a long, long time!

You don't need a permit to replace the appliances. So what if the bathrooms were remodeled. Ffx only keep building permit records around for 5 years unless it is a addition to the house. Chill out. You can't find records because the records don't exist. If your parinoid about it check the date on the electrical wire. If it even has a date on. That's the only way a inspector can figure it out. The home inspector never checks if permits were pulled. If that was the case it would have been a major issue when you bought the place.

Hello. I was doing some research on retroactive permits in Fairfax County and came across your post. We are in a similar situation and would like to get a permit on a basement bathroom that was built without one. Did you go through the process with Fairfax County? If so, how did it go? Thank you.

* sell it in forclosure, the way you got it

* get a legal waiver of the items , an agreement both parties sign waiving them

* pay an inspector who has a wall/optic scope to learn what is pass/fail

there are many options

asking on ffu - just a troll post pretending to be an owner

You've come to the right place. We at ffu issue inspections. What is your phone number?

Building in error permit and it takes 6-8 months and is a pain in the nuts so good luck. Herrity building, 8th floor I think permit planning zoning.

Augiedog Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Building in error permit and it takes 6-8 months
> and is a pain in the nuts so good luck. Herrity
> building, 8th floor I think permit planning
> zoning.

it also depends on the item. home-owner's insurance, which the buyer "has the right to secure upon buying the home - at standard rate" (unless waived as describe above) COVERS MINOR REPAIR (home depot repair like chaning an outlet). also the insurance company, for a price and with their own inspection, insure anyway.

--------------------

let's be specific

chaning an applicance is "legal" for a homeowner to do, it's the same as changing a light fixture. (you said changing not re-locating)

inspector coming out (up to year 2000's) was only say $75

a bathroom might be inspected with very little effort - though it depends on the building itself how much an inspector can see (ie, from other floors, through wall)

assuming $75 is not a cost concern

it's a matter of what can be seen or not and how big the hole

------------------------
you only mentioned the bathroom as possibly difficult to inspect

------------------------
Q: Can we retroactively get a permit for the work that was done?

yes, everyone said yes above

But ask your home insurer what they want done, do what they ask or your insurance is worth nothing.

Aside from your home insurer, leave it as-is (if you are comfortable with it) until time of sale - then order the work done... no point in getting permits that you dont need at the moment.

wcU9k Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Augiedog Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Building in error permit and it takes 6-8
> months
> > and is a pain in the nuts so good luck. Herrity
> > building, 8th floor I think permit planning
> > zoning.
>
> it also depends on the item. home-owner's
> insurance, which the buyer "has the right to
> secure upon buying the home - at standard rate"
> (unless waived as describe above) COVERS MINOR
> REPAIR (home depot repair like chaning an outlet).
> also the insurance company, for a price and with
> their own inspection, insure anyway.
>
> --------------------
>
> let's be specific
>
> chaning an applicance is "legal" for a homeowner
> to do, it's the same as changing a light fixture.
> (you said changing not re-locating)
>
> inspector coming out (up to year 2000's) was only
> say $75
>
> a bathroom might be inspected with very little
> effort - though it depends on the building itself
> how much an inspector can see (ie, from other
> floors, through wall)
>
> assuming $75 is not a cost concern
>
> it's a matter of what can be seen or not and how
> big the hole
>
> ------------------------
> you only mentioned the bathroom as possibly
> difficult to inspect
>
> ------------------------
> Q: Can we retroactively get a permit for the work
> that was done?
>
> yes, everyone said yes above
>
>

> But ask your home insurer what they want done, do
> what they ask or your insurance is worth nothing.
>
> Aside from your home insurer, leave it as-is (if
> you are comfortable with it) until time of sale -
> then order the work done... no point in getting
> permits that you dont need at the moment.
>

chaning? Wtf is that?

Too bad for you Rakesh Kapoor got caught taking bribes in the code office. However since it is clear he was not working alone you ought to be able to find someone to fix this for you for a small fee.

Question

How would they ever know there's a permit problem? I thought no permit improvements were something that got discovered by the county during the sale and it had to be remedied before the sale.

Rakesh Kapoor has probably been doing this his whole career. He just got caught this time.

FFU - I am looking to get a retroactive permit issued for some work done in a bathroom. My phone number is 404-913-3924.

77chrysler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello,
>
> We purchased a foreclosure home which had some
> complete and partially complete remodeling. In
> particular, a bathroom was was added, and the
> kitchen appliances were updated. No permits were
> pulled according to the records.
>
> My question is, how can we get our home legally up
> to date with permits? Can we retroactively get a
> permit for the work that was done? We aren't
> having any problems with the added bathroom, and
> we don't want to have to tear anything out, but we
> don't want any legal troubles if we ever try to
> sell, either.
>
> Has anyone applied for retroactive permits with
> FFX county? How does it usually go?


I did some follow up on this home. The owner was arrested, and the home was razed.

He is scheduled to be released September 2025