Where would a contractor go to verify that building permits were issued for all construction work done on a house?

Where would a contractor go to verify that building permits were issued for all construction work done on a house?

• A. Agency that granted the initial permit
• B. Local neighborhood association
• C. Homeowner's bank
• D. Insurance company

Answer: (A)

The place to check is the authority that issued the permits—the local building department (the city or county agency that granted the permit). These offices keep the official permit history for every property, including what permits were issued, the scope of work, dates, and inspection results. By requesting or viewing the permit history for the house, a contractor can verify that all construction work had the proper permits and that inspections were completed. Neighborhood organizations, banks, and insurance companies don’t maintain or verify official permit records, so they aren’t reliable sources for this verification. In many areas, you can search online for the permit history by address or parcel number, or you can visit the building department in person to review records.

The place to check is the authority that issued the permits—the local building department (the city or county agency that granted the permit). These offices keep the official permit history for every property, including what permits were issued, the scope of work, dates, and inspection results. By requesting or viewing the permit history for the house, a contractor can verify that all construction work had the proper permits and that inspections were completed. Neighborhood organizations, banks, and insurance companies don’t maintain or verify official permit records, so they aren’t reliable sources for this verification. In many areas, you can search online for the permit history by address or parcel number, or you can visit the building department in person to review records.