Legal Question in Construction Law in California

Dear Concerned: Normally, a non-load bearing (non-structural) wall - essentially a remodeling addition, does not require a building permit. If you wish to verify whether a permit was ever applied for, contact your municipal building department and request a copy of the Building Card, which is an electronic record of every construction event in connection with your property, beginning with the original construction. But, don't exp[lain why you need the information except for insurance purposes, or you'll raise a nasty spectre!

Good luck!

Sincerely,

J. Norman Stark,

Attorney / Architect Emeritus

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�WHERE EXPERIENCE COUNTS, COUNT ON MY EXPERIENCE�

J. NORMAN STARK, ATTORNEY*

ARCHITECT EMERITUS (Ohio) A.I.A., N.C.A.R.B.

1109 Carnegie Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44115

(216) 531-5310 x7100 Cel.:(216) 310-7100 Email: [email protected]

*Author: The Construction Claims Investigation Worklist�

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In CA the lack of a permit for minor work is virtually a non-issue. The worst that happens is that if you go to do additional work that requires permits, the inspector for the permitted work will see there is unpermitted work when he pulls the file on the property. At that point, they will ask you to pay for a permit and inspection and anything not to code will have to be corrected. If and when you ever go to sell, you are under no obligation to tell the buyer whether the wall was permitted or not, only that you were never told either way when you bought.