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Can you skip permits if the homeowner asks you to?

Short answer. No. COMAR 09.08.01.08 makes pulling permits your duty as prime contractor, whatever the homeowner wants. Skipping them risks license revocation, lawsuits, and criminal liability if something fails.

  • COMAR 09.08.01.08

Work it through

You're the contractor. Pick what you'd do, then see how each choice plays out.

Dave Kowalski

Homeowner who wants a deck and basement finished fast

Dave Kowalski calls about a deck build and basement finish. He's upfront: "Look, I don't want to deal with permits. My buddy built his deck without one and nobody said anything. Just give me a good price and let's skip the red tape."

He's offering a $35,000 job.

  1. Correct

    A deck requires a building permit (structural, footings, railings) and a basement finish requires building, electrical, and plumbing permits. COMAR 09.08.01.08 makes it your duty as prime contractor to pull permits. No amount of money is worth your license. Dave's buddy got lucky — or hasn't been caught yet.

  2. Wrong

    You just committed a serious violation for short-term cash. If anything goes wrong — a deck collapse, a basement flood, a fire from improper wiring — you're facing criminal liability, civil lawsuits, and guaranteed license revocation. The $35K isn't worth the $500K lawsuit and the end of your career.

All 26 permits, inspections & building codes questions

  1. Who is responsible for permits on a Maryland home improvement job?
  2. Can you skip permits if the homeowner asks you to?
  3. How do you build permit costs into a contract?
  4. Which home projects need a permit in Maryland?
  5. Do cosmetic bathroom refreshes in rentals need permits?
  6. What happens when an inspector finds work without a permit?
  7. What is your liability when unpermitted work fails?
  8. How should you handle a problem the inspector finds?
  9. Why do building inspections happen in stages?
  10. How do you get a building permit approved faster?
  11. Where is fire blocking required under IRC R302.11?
  12. When does a basement bedroom need an egress window?
  13. Where are smoke alarms required after a renovation?
  14. Can a homeowner refuse GFCI outlets in the kitchen?
  15. When does a deck stairway need a handrail?
  16. Does a bathroom need an exhaust fan under the IRC?
  17. How must a deck ledger be attached to the house?
  18. How is energy code compliance checked on an addition?
  19. Does the ADA apply to a single-family bathroom remodel?
  20. When does a retaining wall need an engineered design?
  21. What is required before removing a load-bearing wall?
  22. Can you build a deck over a utility easement?
  23. When does a patio trigger stormwater management in Maryland?
  24. Does a building permit override HOA approval?
  25. How do you take over a job another contractor abandoned?
  26. How do you assess a homeowner's failed DIY renovation?