All or none need to be up to code?

[jar546]

Most municipal ordinances have verbiage dedicated to letting you know that you can't use any other properties as an example if you yourself are in violation.

 

[Sugee]

Well there's this: So I asked the township office, citing the house behind,

That was an indication of two possibilities. 1. There was no permit. 2. There was a permit and the result violates code. I would not even acknowledge having a neighbor in front of a building official.

I suppose that as a building inspector, I have a jaded opinion of someone mentioning a neighbor; it has seldom been for an innocent motive.

Many have brought up the practice of searching building records during a property sale. Title companies, tax authorities, realtors etc. That almost never happens here.... in fact it is so rare that I can remove the almost and say that it never happens. The sale of so many properties would be upended that nobody wants to know. More than half of all construction work is done without a permit.

Please, did you read my reply to you at all ? "it has seldom been for an innocent motive" I am sorry for your cynicism. There is no point in saying it really was innocent, is there ? This is a house on the street behind me, I know neither the previous nor current owners to have any beef with them. I attend open houses in this area when finished attic or finished basement or extensions is mentioned because I like to get different design ideas. That is how I went to this house during an open house in 2018. The RE agents said that the house was updated the previous year, with permits, a kitchen extension and the attic conversion included. My question to township was if I could have a similar toilet upstairs with similarly wide stairs perhaps they would want some other extra opening or landing space to make up for the safety issues. If I, for a moment, thought that these people, who I dont even know, would not have pulled permits, why would I go put them in trouble ? Was I naïve to believe what the RE agents told me that day in the open house ? Guilty as charged.

 

[Sugee]

Most municipal ordinances have verbiage dedicated to letting you know that you can't use any other properties as an example if you yourself are in violation.

Sir, ordnance or not, I wouldnt tell on another unpermitted work to justify myself. I honestly thought this work had been permitted by the township.

 

[bill1952]

Was I naïve to believe what the RE agents told me that day in the open house ?

With condolences, I think you know the answer to that question.

 

[ICE]

Please, did you read my reply to you at all ? "it has seldom been for an innocent motive" I am sorry for your cynicism. There is no point in saying it really was innocent, is there ?

You asked me why I said what I said. I answered your question. Not withstanding your reply, my cynical nature is resolute.

 

[Sugee]

Many have brought up the practice of searching building records during a property sale. Title companies, tax authorities, realtors etc. That almost never happens here.... in fact it is so rare that I can remove the almost and say that it never happens. The sale of so many properties would be upended that nobody wants to know. More than half of all construction work is done without a permit.

Where I live, I know that people finish attics (with new stairs) and basement - false ceiling, walls and sheet rocking - without permits, convert powder room into a full bath without permit, we dont need permits for kitchen and bathroom remodels, but to my knowledge never a new bath or toilet with new plumbing. This and the fact that we had a building inspector verify the unpermitted porch during our purchase led to my "naivette", if indeed it was. I do know of towns where new bathrooms are added without permits, but to my knowledge not where I live.

 

[ICE]

I do know of towns where new bathrooms are added without permits, but to my knowledge not where I live.

Are you saying that some towns do not require a permit? Required or not, people are pretty much the same here, there and everywhere. Well there is a coastal community in Florida where it’s a felony to do work without a permit.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Where I live, I know that people finish attics (with new stairs) and basement - false ceiling, walls and sheet rocking - without permits, convert powder room into a full bath without permit, we dont need permits for kitchen and bathroom remodels, but to my knowledge never a new bath or toilet with new plumbing. This and the fact that we had a building inspector verify the unpermitted porch during our purchase led to my "naivette", if indeed it was. I do know of towns where new bathrooms are added without permits, but to my knowledge not where I live.

I have no doubt that many people do work without a permit. That doesn't make it legal. From the New Jersey Administrative Code, Uniform Construction Code, Section 5:23, subsection § 5:23-2.2 Matter covered

(b) A building or structure shall not be constructed, extended, repaired, removed, renovated, altered or reconstructed in violation of these provisions, except that no permit shall be required for ordinary maintenance as provided herein, and except further that the raising, lowering or moving of a building or structure on the same lot, as a unit, necessitated by a change in legal grade or widening of a street, shall be permitted, provided the building or structure is not otherwise altered or its use or occupancy changed.

Under the New Jersey Administrative Code, alterations and renovations require permits and must comply with the applicable code(s).