PERMITS!!!!!!!

I found a great article that talked about something that I’ve overlooked before and been burned a teenie bit on before so I thought I’d share this insight with you. Be careful when it comes to permits. Depending on the city, it can be a bear if you “Forget” to do it when you should have.
By Leslie Barrie | Yahoo! Homes – Mon, Jan 28, 2013
Planning to tackle some home remodeling projects? Before you get out your tool belt, you may want to do some prep work.
Why? Because doing your pre-project homework will help you avoid any slip-ups down the line, says Aaron Gordon, a licensed contractor in San Francisco, Calif., and owner of Aaron Gordon Construction, Inc.
"Rushing a remodeling project before you have thought through all the details is one of the biggest renovation mistakes you can make as a homeowner," Gordon says. What kind of mistakes are we talking about? Anything from higher costs to project delays, notes Gordon.
Worried you could be a little underprepared for your big remodeling project? Keep reading to learn how to avoid these six remodeling mistakes, so your home improvement project can run smoothly.
Mistake #1: Not Getting a Permit
Sure, "going rogue" and building without a permit may save you money up front, but most likely it will end up turning into a big mistake down the line.
"If you don't build to code, you'll end up stuck with fees and fines (numbers vary, depending on the city, but could be hundreds more than the cost of the permit), and you'll most likely have to redo it if you're found out by a city home inspector," says Gordon.
Not only that, but if you add on another room to your house and don't get a permit, it can't be factored-in as part of your home's square footage, adds Gordon. For example, if the additional bedroom is 1000 feet, that's 1000 feet that the appraiser may not include in the total square footage, which means you'll be losing money on your home's total value when you try to sell.
The bottom line is you should absolutely talk to your city's Buildings Office or your contractor about any permits you may need before starting a project.