Permitting can be a tricky and complicated process, full of numerous regulatory hurdles.  It becomes especially complicated if you hire someone to do Remodeling or Renovation work and they are unlicensed, or fail to properly document the permit with the local building department.  Given the fact that the building, energy, and mechanical codes have changed several times over the last 5 years, we cannot stress the importance of having your project properly permitted.  There are still many contractors on Cape Cod who will bid on a project, and then ask the homeowner to obtain their own permit. This is a huge red flag and indicates one of the following problems:

- The contractor is not licensed do do the work

- The contractor does not have workman's compensation insurance

-The contractor has lost his license for violations reported to the state

In Massachusetts, the law is very clear about doing any work in a home, and basically, unless you are re-painting, you need to obtain a permit for most work.  So if you would like your next  Remodeling, Renovation, or New Home project to be done right, and you don't want to worry about permits, hire a licensed, reputable contractor, and please check their references.

Here is an article from the Wall Street Journal about permitting mistakes: Avoiding Pitfalls of Remodeling Permits.  We have also put together a guide for hiring a general contractor that provides a checklist of things you should be looking for when you hire a contractor, click below to download: