My family is currently living in my grandmother-in-law's house while she stays in our smaller place. I've discovered some subfloor rot caused by a leaky shower drain. Unfortunately, her insurance company denied a claim for repairs and is now demanding that we fix the issue immediately or risk cancellation of her policy. This situation is particularly tough since we just welcomed a baby and my grandmother-in-law is an elderly widower who's in the early stages of moving to assisted living. My father-in-law recently had a stroke and lost his job, so we can't cover the $2,500 to replace the subfloor or $10,000 to make the bathroom usable right now. I plan to tackle the repairs myself by replacing the subfloor, shower, and tile flooring. When I contacted the city about permits, they mentioned I wouldn't need one if the project cost is under $40,000 and there's no structural work, but indicated I would need a plumbing permit since I'm not listed as the homeowner on the tax record. I'm trying to figure out if this work qualifies as plumbing and if I actually need a permit for it.
4 Answers
I get that this is frustrating. Just to clarify, while basic repairs can sometimes be done without a permit, your situation of living there but not being on the tax record makes it a bit tricky. They are following the laws as they should. Have you considered discussing a home equity loan or other financing methods to manage these repairs? That might give you some peace of mind during this hectic time.
In many areas, the homeowner can do their own plumbing work, especially if they’re just fixing something. The key rule is no major changes—just repairing what's broken. If you stay within those boundaries, you might be in the clear without needing a permit. Still, if plumbing is involved, be cautious. Since you're not officially the homeowner on record, that could complicate things a bit. It's good to clarify this with your local regulations before diving in.
Typically, as long as you're just directly replacing what's already there, you shouldn't need a permit. However, if you're altering anything from the original design, like adding new fixtures or changing the layout, that usually calls for a permit. Insurance generally doesn't require a permit for this kind of repair—they may just want a receipt from a licensed professional if it's complicated. It's worth checking the specifics with your city and maybe getting a second opinion on the permitting issue.
I understand you're in a tough spot, but in your case, it sounds like getting a permit is necessary, especially for plumbing. Even though you might feel you can handle the work, insurance and legal requirements could be strict. If you're unsure about doing it yourself, it might be prudent to consider getting some help or looking into financing options for these repairs. Sometimes local assistance programs can help too.
But what about simple fixes? Can’t I just change a faucet or a toilet filler without it being a legal issue? That seems to vary by location. I just don't want to get into trouble for doing basic repairs.
Yeah, I thought about that but there's a lot of pressure right now from the insurance side, especially when they expect the work to be done immediately. I'm just trying to figure things out on such short notice.