Hey folks! I had a contractor replace my exterior railing recently, and he informed me that I needed a permit after an inspector stopped by. I told him to go ahead and get it. The next day, I was hit with a surprise: the contractor said the permit would cost an additional $700 on top of what we originally agreed on. Naturally, I was shocked! So, I checked with my city hall, and they confirmed the permit fee was only $100. Because of this, I'm wondering if it's legal or reasonable for my contractor to charge me $700 for a permit that only costs $100. Is this typical for contractors to mark up permit fees like this, or should I challenge this charge?
3 Answers
The contractor should have accounted for the permit in the original quote. I’ve had contractors tell me they’d handle all permit stuff without adding it to the bill. Plus, you should definitely consider checking your contract—hopefully, it covers these situations.
Exactly! If they didn’t mention additional permit costs upfront, you might have grounds to dispute this.
The cost of permits varies significantly based on location and the specifics of the job. It's not just paying the $100; getting the permit usually involves paperwork, wait times, and maybe even extra drawings. However, a $600 markup seems excessive unless they had to do a ton of extra work or something. It might help to detail all the involved steps they took to justify that price.
Right! It does take time and effort, but they should be upfront about their pricing beforehand.
Yep! A proper breakdown would be a good way to challenge the cost if needed.
Legally, they can charge whatever they want, but that doesn’t mean it’s fair. It sounds very shady to me—especially considering how huge the markup is. You definitely have the option to push back and refuse to pay that amount. You might want to ask for an itemized bill and see what justifies that extra charge.
It’s scary when they mention a lien! You might want to consult a legal expert to know your rights.
They threatened to put a lien on my house if I don’t pay them. That’s why I’m feeling pressured.
Good point! It makes a big difference to know what’s included in the contract from the start.