What happens if you build without a permit?

Building without a required permit is a code violation. When it is found, by an inspector, a neighbor’s complaint or a buyer’s inspection, the department can stop the work, charge extra fees, fine the owner and require the work to be permitted, opened up for inspection, corrected or removed. The rules below are each city’s own.

Last checked November 8, 2026

On this page

Extra fees for work started without a permit
Fines and criminal penalties
Stop-work orders, removal and liens
Sources

Extra fees for work started without a permit

Most cities charge an investigation fee or a multiple of the normal permit fee when the permit is obtained after work started.

City	Consequence	Applies to	As the city states it
New York City, NY	Higher permit fee	One- or two-family dwelling¹	Six times the permit fee¹
New York City, NY	Higher permit fee	Buildings other than one- or two-family dwellings¹	21 times the permit fee¹
Los Angeles, CA	Investigation fee	Work commenced without a permit or application for inspection that violates LAMC Ch. IX Arts. 1-8²	Double the permit/inspection fee, minimum $400²
Chicago, IL	Higher permit fee	–	Permit fee tripled (in most cases) after a stop work order³
Houston, TX	Investigation fee	Work commenced prior to issuance of permit⁴	$333.42⁴
Phoenix, AZ	Investigation fee	Work commenced without a required permit⁵	$250 or the permit fee, whichever is greater, up to $2,500 per day⁶
Phoenix, AZ	Higher permit fee	Work commenced without a required permit⁵	2 times the Table A permit fee (except residential demolition permits)⁶
San Antonio, TX	Higher permit fee	Work commenced before obtaining permits⁷	Double permitting fees⁸
Dallas, TX	Investigation fee	Work commenced without a required permit⁹	Investigation fee equal to the permit fee plus $100 per hour per trade review (1-hour minimum)⁹
Jacksonville, FL	Higher permit fee	Electrical permits (late)¹⁰	Double fee¹⁰
Jacksonville, FL	Higher permit fee	Right-of-way construction started before permit¹⁰	Right-of-way permit fees doubled¹⁰
Fort Worth, TX	Investigation fee	Work commenced without a required permit¹¹	Equal to the permit fee¹¹
Charlotte, NC	Higher permit fee	Work started without a permit (Mecklenburg County permits, incl. City of Charlotte)¹²	Original permit fee times 3.75¹²
Charlotte, NC	Investigation fee	Expired permits and notices of violation¹²	$35.00 administration charge¹²
Columbus, OH	Investigation fee	Work performed without the required permit (violation of Columbus Building Code Ch. 4113)¹³	Working Without a Permit: Level 1 $200; Level 2 $750; Level 3 $1750; Level 4 $4000¹⁴
San Francisco, CA	Investigation fee	Work without permit: Building, Electrical, Plumbing or Mechanical Code violations¹⁵	Nine times the Permit Issuance Fee plus the original permit fee¹⁵
San Francisco, CA	Higher permit fee	Exceeding the scope of an approved permit¹⁵	Two times the Permit Issuance Fee¹⁵
Seattle, WA	Investigation fee	Work started before a permit (special investigation), value $0–5,000¹⁶	1 x base fee (value $0–5,000); 3 x (5,001–50,000); 5 x (50,001–100,000); 10 x (100,001–500,000); 50 x (500,001–5,000,000); 100% of permit fee over 5,000,000¹⁶
Seattle, WA	Investigation fee	Plumbing/gas work done without a permit (Public Health – Seattle & King County)¹⁷	$273 plus $55 per Fixture/Outlet¹⁷
Denver, CO	Higher permit fee	Work started without a permit¹⁸	Double the standard permit fee, minimum $100¹⁸
Denver, CO	Investigation fee	Work commenced without first obtaining a permit¹⁸	Investigation fee equal to the late permit fee¹⁸
Nashville, TN	Higher permit fee	Electrical work commenced before a permit is issued¹⁹	Permit fees tripled²⁰
El Paso, TX	Higher permit fee	Homeowner starting work without a permit on own residence²¹	Double the permit fee plus applicable technology fee²²
El Paso, TX	Higher permit fee	Contractor starting work without a permit on a residential building or system²¹	Triple the permit fee plus applicable technology fee²²
El Paso, TX	Investigation fee	Special investigation inspection prior or subsequent to commencement of work²¹	$150 plus applicable technology fee²²
Las Vegas, NV	Higher permit fee	Work commenced before the required permit was obtained²³	1st offense: double permit fees plus an investigation fee²³
Las Vegas, NV	Higher permit fee	Work commenced before the required permit was obtained²³	2nd offense: up to triple permit fees plus an investigation fee; possible complaint to the Nevada State Contractors Board²³
Las Vegas, NV	Higher permit fee	Work commenced before the required permit was obtained²³	3rd and later offenses: up to quadruple permit fees plus an investigation fee; possible NSCB complaint and referral to Code Enforcement for citation²³
Boston, MA	Higher permit fee	Work started without required permit, or undervalued estimated cost²⁴	Double fee²⁴
Detroit, MI	Investigation fee	Failure to obtain permits²⁵	Contractors "Per Occurrence" Flat $351²⁵
Detroit, MI	Investigation fee	Failure to obtain permits²⁵	Homeowners "Per Occurrence" Flat $176²⁵
Louisville, KY	Higher permit fee	Starting work without a permit (all permit types)²⁶	Penalty equal to the standard permit fee, paid in addition (electrical minimum $1,000)²⁶
Louisville, KY	Higher permit fee	Electrical work started before permit²⁷	$1,000 first offense; $2,000 subsequent²⁷
Portland, OR	Investigation fee	Commencement of work before obtaining a permit²⁸	Hourly Rate - per hour or fraction of an hour $167.00²⁸
Memphis, TN	Higher permit fee	Building work started before a permit is obtained²⁹	Double the normal fee²⁹
Memphis, TN	Higher permit fee	Mechanical work started before a permit is issued³⁰	Double fee³⁰
Memphis, TN	Higher permit fee	Electrical work started before a permit is issued³⁰	Double fee³⁰
Memphis, TN	Higher permit fee	Gas work started before a permit is issued³⁰	Double fee³⁰
Memphis, TN	Higher permit fee	Plumbing work started before a permit is obtained³¹	Triple the normal permit fee³¹
Memphis, TN	Higher permit fee	Signs installed without a permit²⁹	Triple fees²⁹
Milwaukee, WI	Higher permit fee	Work started or premises occupied without a required permit³²	Fees may be quadrupled³³
Albuquerque, NM	Higher permit fee	Work started without a permit³⁴	Double permit fee³⁴
Albuquerque, NM	Investigation fee	Work commenced without first obtaining a required permit³⁴	Equal to the permit fee (in addition to the permit fee)³⁴
Tucson, AZ	Higher permit fee	Work started without required permit³⁵	100% of permit fee (penalty in addition to the permit fee)³⁵
Fresno, CA	Higher permit fee	Working without required permit³⁶	Working without required permit / per permit fee 4 times (max.)³⁶
Sacramento, CA	Higher permit fee	Work for which a building permit is required started without first obtaining a permit³⁷	3X the building permit fee (when the building permit fee is under $250), plus the standard fee³⁷
Mesa, AZ	Higher permit fee	Non-licensed homeowners doing work on their own property without contractor³⁸	50% of appropriate Building or Civil Engineering Permit Fee³⁸
Mesa, AZ	Higher permit fee	Non-Residential Building Owners, Licensed or Registered Professionals³⁸	100%³⁸
Mesa, AZ	Investigation fee	Work commenced prior to obtaining the required permit³⁸	Unauthorized work within the Right of Way: 200% of appropriate Civil Engineering Permit or Non City Utility Permit Fees³⁸
Kansas City, MO	Higher permit fee	Work requiring a permit started before the permit is obtained³⁹	3 times³⁹
Raleigh, NC	Higher permit fee	Any person performing work without a required permit⁴⁰	Administrative fee equal to the permit fee, paid in addition to the permit fee (effectively 2x)⁴⁰
Raleigh, NC	Investigation fee	Work without a required fire code permit (Raleigh Office of Fire Marshal)⁴¹	$359.00 per inspection (FY27)⁴¹
Colorado Springs, CO	Investigation fee	Work commenced without a required permit⁴²	Equal to two times the Permit Fee⁴²
Miami, FL	Higher permit fee	Work commenced before obtaining a required permit; Homestead vs. non-Homestead/commercial⁴³	2x (Homestead residential) or 4x (other/commercial) plus $110.00 base fee⁴⁴
Miami, FL	Investigation fee	Work without a permit and unsafe structures cases after notice of violation⁴³	$500.00 case initiation fee⁴⁴
Virginia Beach, VA	Investigation fee	Beginning work without a permit (building, electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, demolition, elevator permits)⁴⁵	$250.00 administrative fee⁴⁵
Long Beach, CA	Investigation fee	Work for which a permit is required, commenced without a permit⁴⁶	100% of permit fee, minimum $482, in addition to the permit fee⁴⁷
Oakland, CA	Higher permit fee	Work commenced without a permit (Oakland Building Code, Sign Code, Window Bar Ordinance)⁴⁸	Double all fees⁴⁸
Oakland, CA	Higher permit fee	Work commenced and completed prior to inspection⁴⁸	Quadruple all fees⁴⁸
Oakland, CA	Investigation fee	Work commenced without a permit⁴⁸	$402.97 per inspection⁴⁸
Oakland, CA	Higher permit fee	Demolition without a permit⁴⁸	10X all fees⁴⁸
Minneapolis, MN	Higher permit fee	Construction work begun before getting a permit⁴⁹	Fees may be doubled⁴⁹
Tulsa, OK	Higher permit fee	Work started before issuance of any required permit⁵⁰	$214.00 or 3x the regular fee, whichever is greater, in addition to the regular permit fee⁵⁰
Arlington, TX	Higher permit fee	Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work started without a permit (residential and commercial)⁵¹	Penalty equal to the permit fee, in addition to the permit fee charged⁵¹
Arlington, TX	Investigation fee	Work begun before obtaining the required permit⁵²	Investigation fee of the site, in addition to the permit fee (amount not stated in § 4.09)⁵²

Fines and criminal penalties

City	Consequence	Applies to	As the city states it
New York City, NY	Civil penalty	Major violations¹	$1,000-$10,000 per violation, plus up to $250 per month uncorrected¹
New York City, NY	Civil penalty	Immediately hazardous violations¹	$2,500-$25,000 per violation, plus up to $1,000 per day uncorrected¹
New York City, NY	Civil penalty	Lesser violations¹	Up to $500 per violation¹
Los Angeles, CA	Criminal penalty	Knowingly procuring a building/grading permit without the owner's consent⁵³	Misdemeanor: fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 6 months in County Jail (unless the Code provides otherwise)⁵⁴
Chicago, IL	Civil penalty	–	Administrative enforcement case or lawsuit to recover penalties³
Phoenix, AZ	Civil penalty	Any person who causes, permits, aids or abets a violation of the code⁵	$500 to $2,500 civil sanction⁵
San Antonio, TX	Criminal penalty	Any violation of Chapter 10 or ordinances enforced by the Building Official⁷	Fine not to exceed $500 per violation; each day a separate offense⁷
San Antonio, TX	Civil penalty	Moving into a new residence without a certificate of occupancy⁸	Residential Construction moving in without a Certificate of Occupancy $345.00⁸
San Diego, CA	Criminal penalty	Violations of the Land Development Code (including Building Regulations)⁵⁵	Fine up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in County Jail⁵⁶
San Diego, CA	Civil penalty	Any violation of the Municipal Code or applicable state codes⁵⁷	Daily rate up to $10,000 per violation; max $500,000 per parcel or structure per calendar year (CPI-adjusted, plus 5% admin fee)⁵⁷
San Diego, CA	Daily fine	Administrative citations, each violation observed on a property⁵⁸	Any amount up to $10,000 per day⁵⁸
Dallas, TX	Criminal penalty	Any person who violates Chapter 52 or the construction codes⁹	Fine not to exceed $2,000 per offense; each day a separate offense⁹
Dallas, TX	Civil penalty	Person violating Chapter 52 or the codes (civil action under Tex. Loc. Gov't Code ch. 54)⁹	Civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 per day⁹
Jacksonville, FL	Civil penalty	Starting work without first applying for a permit⁵⁹	$250 fine⁵⁹
Fort Worth, TX	Criminal penalty	Any violation of the ordinance¹¹	Up to $2,000 (fire safety, public health and sanitation); up to $500 (all other)¹¹
Fort Worth, TX	Daily fine	Each day a violation continues¹¹	Each day a separate offense¹¹
San Jose, CA	Civil penalty	Unpermitted work⁶⁰	$1,000 citation⁶⁰
Columbus, OH	Civil penalty	Occupying without a Certificate of Occupancy¹⁴	$2500¹⁴
Columbus, OH	Criminal penalty	Violations of the Housing, Zoning, and Environmental codes (code enforcement notices)⁶¹	Fines up to $1,000 plus court costs and 180 days in jail⁶¹
Columbus, OH	Daily fine	Continued non-compliance with a code enforcement Violation Notice⁶¹	Daily fines up to $250 per day⁶¹
Indianapolis, IN	Daily fine	Construction without a required building permit⁶²	Not less than $100; each day is a separate violation⁶²
Indianapolis, IN	Civil penalty	Violations of Chapter 536, Chapter 875 or any building standard⁶²	Up to $2,500⁶²
Indianapolis, IN	Civil penalty	Failure to obtain a required Improvement Location Permit (zoning)⁶³	$250 first offense in a calendar year⁶⁴
San Francisco, CA	Daily fine	Open code enforcement cases moved to a Director's Hearing (abatement fees accrue)⁶⁵	Abatement fees accrue until the problem is fixed; Building Official's Abatement Order Hearing $595 per hour (minimum two hours); in-house violation monitoring $152 per month¹⁵
Seattle, WA	Civil penalty	Building without a permit⁶⁶	Up to $500 per day⁶⁶
Seattle, WA	Criminal penalty	Violating a notice of violation or order of the building official⁶⁷	Fine of not more than $5,000 and/or up to 365 days imprisonment per violation⁶⁷
Denver, CO	Criminal penalty	Any violation of the Denver Building Code without a specific penalty¹⁸	Fine and/or imprisonment within D.R.M.C. Sec. 1-13 limits; each day a separate violation¹⁸
Nashville, TN	Daily fine	Property standards violations heard in Environmental Court⁶⁸	Up to $50 a day for each violation⁶⁸
El Paso, TX	Criminal penalty	Any person violating the Administrative Code or technical codes²¹	Misdemeanor, fine not to exceed $2,000; each day a separate offense²¹
Boston, MA	Civil penalty	Starting work before permit issuance⁶⁹	Charge double the permit cost, or issue a building code violation⁶⁹
Detroit, MI	Criminal penalty	Violating the code or doing regulated work contrary to it⁷⁰	Misdemeanor: fine up to $500, up to 90 days imprisonment, or both⁷⁰
Portland, OR	Civil penalty	Contractor or person responsible for carrying out the work⁷¹	Fine of up to $1,000 for each citation issued⁷¹
Portland, OR	Civil penalty	Property where the 30-day response period after a notice of violation has passed⁷¹	1 - 2 Units - per month $394.00⁷²
Memphis, TN	Civil penalty	Electrical code violations⁷³	Up to $50 per violation, each day separate⁷³
Memphis, TN	Daily fine	Plumbing code violations³¹	Not more than $50 per day per violation³¹
Baltimore, MD	Civil penalty	Permit issued for work begun or completed without a permit, beyond its scope, or during suspension/after revocation⁷⁴	Greater of $1,000 or 50% of the permit fee⁷⁴
Baltimore, MD	Civil penalty	Demolition without the proper permit⁷⁴	50 cents per cubic foot of the structure⁷⁴
Baltimore, MD	Criminal penalty	Violation of the Code, a permit, plan or order⁷⁵	Fine of not more than $500 per offense⁷⁵
Baltimore, MD	Daily fine	Equity proceedings⁷⁵	Civil fine up to $500 per day the violation continues⁷⁵
Milwaukee, WI	Daily fine	Owner, operator or occupant in violation of the code, or anyone building contrary to approved plans⁷⁶	$150 per violation per day to $5,000 per premises, plus costs⁷⁶
Albuquerque, NM	Civil penalty	Failure to cure violations after notice³⁴	$200 first / $300 second / $500 third or subsequent failure to cure³⁴
Tucson, AZ	Criminal penalty	Owner/Builder Affidavit completed to evade state contractor licensing laws⁷⁷	Class 2 misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 13-2704)⁷⁷
Sacramento, CA	Civil penalty	Work for which a building permit is required started without first obtaining a permit³⁷	$500 penalty fee (when the building permit fee is over $250), plus the standard fee³⁷
Kansas City, MO	Criminal penalty	Any conviction under Chapter 18 except the repeat-violation offenses in 18-15(b)⁷⁸	Fine of not more than $500.00, by imprisonment of not more than 180 days, or by both⁷⁸
Kansas City, MO	Criminal penalty	Failure to obtain a permit, or working without a permit (repeat-violation schedule)⁷⁸	Second conviction: $250.00 to $500.00⁷⁸
Kansas City, MO	Daily fine	Each day a violation continues⁷⁸	Each day is a separate offense⁷⁸
Raleigh, NC	Civil penalty	Second work-without-permit violation within 12 months⁴⁰	$100.00 per trade plus the administrative fee⁴⁰
Raleigh, NC	Civil penalty	Third and each subsequent work-without-permit violation within 12 months⁴⁰	$500.00 per trade plus the administrative fee⁴⁰
Raleigh, NC	Civil penalty	Violations of the building code as adopted by the City⁷⁹	$50.00 civil penalty; additional $25.00 if unpaid within 48 hours and a civil action is instituted⁷⁹
Raleigh, NC	Daily fine	Continuing violations not corrected after written notice⁷⁹	$100.00 per day⁷⁹
Raleigh, NC	Civil penalty	Occupying or allowing occupancy without a Certificate of Occupancy or TCO⁷⁹	$250.00 initial, then $100.00 per day⁷⁹
Raleigh, NC	Criminal penalty	Violations of the UDO⁸⁰	Misdemeanor or infraction per N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-4 (maximum allowed by law)⁸⁰
Colorado Springs, CO	Criminal penalty	Any person violating the Building Code⁸¹	Fine not more than $500, or up to 90 days jail, or both; each day a separate offense⁸¹
Colorado Springs, CO	Civil penalty	Persons/entities doing construction or construction consulting work in violation of the Code⁸¹	Administrative fine up to $1,000⁸¹
Virginia Beach, VA	Criminal penalty	Any USBC violation⁸²	Fine of not more than $2,500⁸²
Virginia Beach, VA	Civil penalty	Locality civil penalty schedule (optional local ordinance)⁸²	Not more than $100 initial summons; not more than $350 each additional⁸²
Long Beach, CA	Criminal penalty	Violations of LBMC Title 18⁴⁶	Subject to penalties as prescribed by law⁴⁶
Long Beach, CA	Civil penalty	Code Enforcement administrative citations, incl. illegal garage conversions⁸³	Not exceeding $100 / $200 / $500 per violation within one year; up to $1,000 for illegal garage conversions⁸³
Oakland, CA	Criminal penalty	Violations of the Oakland building code (OMC ch. 15.04)⁸⁴	Maximum fines and county-jail sentence prescribed by law⁸⁴
Minneapolis, MN	Criminal penalty	Unlicensed residential contracting, remodeling or roofing (state law, acknowledged on city application)⁸⁵	Misdemeanor; fine of up to $10,000⁸⁵
Tulsa, OK	Civil penalty	Work covered/concealed, placed in operation, or occupied without code official approval⁵⁰	$100.00 civil fine per occurrence; each day a separate offense⁵⁰
Arlington, TX	Criminal penalty	Any violation of the Construction Chapter; each day a separate offense⁵²	Fine not to exceed $500.00 (no culpable mental state); up to $2,000.00 for fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation offenses⁵²
Arlington, TX	Criminal penalty	Owning/occupying/controlling premises where unpermitted work was performed, until the permit is obtained; each day a separate offense⁵²	Unlawful to own/occupy/control the premises until any required permit is obtained (penalty per § 20.01)⁵²
Austin, TX	Civil penalty	Construction without a permit⁸⁶	Enforcement action (amount not stated)⁸⁶

Stop-work orders, removal and liens

City	Consequence	Applies to	As the city states it
New York City, NY	Stop-work order	Work executed in violation of the code, zoning resolution or DOB-enforced laws, or in a dangerous or unsafe manner¹	All work must stop immediately¹
Los Angeles, CA	Removal order	Permitted work suspended 12 months or more (unfinished buildings)⁸⁷	New permit within 90 days of notice, or removal/demolition within 180 days⁸⁷
Chicago, IL	Stop-work order	Unpermitted work³	$1,000+³
Chicago, IL	Removal order	–	Correct violations or remove work at owner's expense³
Chicago, IL	Permit revoked	–	Existing permits may be suspended or revoked when work exceeds permit scope⁸⁸
Phoenix, AZ	Stop-work order	Cited work⁸⁹	Work must stop immediately; continuing after a stop work order brings fines and fees⁵
Phoenix, AZ	Lien or recorded notice	Recorded notice of violation runs with the land⁵	Notice of violation may be recorded with the County recorder⁵
San Antonio, TX	Stop-work order	Work contrary to Chapter 10 or unsafe⁷	Cited work must immediately cease⁷
San Antonio, TX	Permit revoked	Permit issued in error or on incorrect information, or in violation⁷	Suspension or revocation⁷
San Diego, CA	Stop-work order	Work contrary to the Land Development Code⁵⁵	Stop Work Order (no fine amount)⁵⁵
San Diego, CA	Removal order	Permit void after suspension/abandonment with no extension⁹⁰	New permit within 90 days or removal/demolition within 180 days of written notice⁹⁰
Dallas, TX	Stop-work order	Work done contrary to the codes⁹	Written stop work order⁹
Jacksonville, FL	Removal order	Not requesting a required inspection, or covering up a failed inspection (unlawful)⁹¹	May be required to remove portions of construction so the inspector can see the required elements⁹²
Jacksonville, FL	Permit revoked	Failure to obtain required inspections (property lockdown)⁹³	Property lockdown preventing future permits⁹³
Fort Worth, TX	Stop-work order	Work contrary to code or unsafe¹¹	Work must cease immediately¹¹
Fort Worth, TX	Permit revoked	Permit issued in error or in violation¹¹	Suspension or revocation¹¹
Indianapolis, IN	Stop-work order	Construction proceeding without a required permit⁶²	Violating a stop-work order: $250 (Class 2 structure); $750 (Class 1 structure)⁶⁴
Indianapolis, IN	Permit revoked	False statements, code non-compliance, zoning non-conformance⁶²	Permit may be revoked⁶²
San Francisco, CA	Lien or recorded notice	Violations not corrected by the date in the Director's Order of Abatement⁶⁵	Lien recordation charges: $1,711 or 10% of the unpaid balance including interest, whichever is greater¹⁵
Seattle, WA	Stop-work order	Starting a building, addition, or remodeling project without a permit⁶⁶	Stop work order⁶⁶
Denver, CO	Permit revoked	Permits issued in error, misrepresentation, violations, dangerous work¹⁸	Suspension or revocation; unlawful to proceed after notice¹⁸
Oklahoma City, OK	Permit revoked	False information on the Property Owner Insurance Exemption Certificate⁹⁴	Permit suspension/revocation and/or penalty under OKC Code Chapter 12⁹⁴
El Paso, TX	Permit revoked	Contractors: permits revoked for work not in conformity, false statements or failure to complete; ineligibility periods follow²¹	Ineligibility 3 months (1 revocation), 6 months (2), 1 year (3) within 12 months²¹
Las Vegas, NV	Stop-work order	Work in violation of the Administrative Code or adopted technical codes²³	Notice of violation ordering discontinuance and abatement; referral to city legal counsel if not complied with²³
Las Vegas, NV	Permit revoked	Permits issued in error, on incorrect information, or in violation of codes²³	Permit may be suspended or revoked in writing²³
Boston, MA	Stop-work order	Work contrary to 780 CMR or dangerous/unsafe⁹⁵	Continuing after stop work order: penalties under M.G.L. c. 143, § 94(a)⁹⁵
Portland, OR	Stop-work order	Work commenced without a required permit⁷¹	Stop Work Order Penalty $763.00⁷²
Portland, OR	Lien or recorded notice	Assessed noncompliance fees and penalties, with a 10 percent charge added⁷¹	Total recorded as a lien in the Docket of City Liens⁷¹
Memphis, TN	Stop-work order	Plumbing work contrary to code or unsafe³¹	Work must immediately cease³¹
Memphis, TN	Removal order	Work installed in violation of the Technical Codes²⁹	Removal in its entirety on written order²⁹
Memphis, TN	Permit revoked	Permits issued in error or used in violation²⁹	Suspension or revocation²⁹
Baltimore, MD	Stop-work order	Cited work⁹⁶	Written, posted order; work must stop immediately⁹⁶
Baltimore, MD	Removal order	Work without a permit or beyond its scope⁷⁵	Must stop work, obtain permit and pay fees and penalties, and restore original condition unless the work conforms and the Building Official allows it to remain⁷⁵
Baltimore, MD	Permit revoked	Owner, agent, contractor or design professional who violated the Code or failed to pay citations/fees⁷⁵	Revoke existing permits without notice; refuse further permits for up to 5 years⁷⁵
Baltimore, MD	Lien or recorded notice	Unpaid penalty surcharge⁷⁴	Lien placed for unpaid surcharge⁷⁴
Milwaukee, WI	Removal order	Unpermitted work on homes⁹⁷	Work may be subject to removal⁹⁷
Milwaukee, WI	Permit revoked	Permits, certificates and approvals on violation or danger³²	Commissioner may revoke and stop construction³²
Milwaukee, WI	Lien or recorded notice	Unpaid reinspection fees⁹⁸	Reinspection fees become a lien on delinquency⁹⁸
Albuquerque, NM	Stop-work order	Any work done without a required permit⁹⁹	Stop work order; final letter gives 10 days; then pre-criminal summons with 10 business days before court action⁹⁹
Albuquerque, NM	Lien or recorded notice	Unpaid civil fines³⁴	Lien on the property for unpaid fine³⁴
Albuquerque, NM	Permit revoked	Owner or contractor with a violation³⁴	Revocation of permits until corrected; refusal of further permits³⁴
Kansas City, MO	Stop-work order	Work pursued contrary to the Code of Ordinances or in an unsafe manner⁷⁸	Written stop work order⁷⁸
Kansas City, MO	Permit revoked	Permits issued in error, on incorrect information, or in violation of code⁷⁸	Suspension or revocation in writing⁷⁸
Raleigh, NC	Removal order	Property in violation of the UDO (court order of abatement)⁸⁰	Court order of abatement (closure, demolition or removal); City lien for costs⁸⁰
Colorado Springs, CO	Stop-work order	Non-permitted work reported or observed¹⁰⁰	Stop work order until proper permit is obtained¹⁰⁰
Colorado Springs, CO	Lien or recorded notice	Work requiring a permit for which no permit is obtained¹⁰⁰	Certificate of Alleged Non-compliance recorded against the property¹⁰⁰
Miami, FL	Stop-work order	Property where work without permit is found after a complaint inspection¹⁰¹	Violation issued; all work must stop until properly permitted¹⁰¹
Long Beach, CA	Removal order	Unpermitted structures⁴⁶	Prosecution to restrain, correct or abate, or require removal⁴⁶
Oakland, CA	Stop-work order	Stop Work / Activity Order issued during regular working hours⁴⁸	$1,343.22 each (regular hours)⁴⁸
Tulsa, OK	Stop-work order	Continuing work after being served a stop-work order⁵⁰	$1,000.00 civil fine per occurrence; each day a separate offense⁵⁰
Tampa, FL	Stop-work order	Work found without required permits¹⁰²	$339.00 Citation/Stop Work Order Release fee¹⁰³
Tampa, FL	Lien or recorded notice	Violations not corrected within the Notice of Violation timeline¹⁰²	Special Magistrate / court action; Order to Abate may lead to a special assessment lien (amount not stated)¹⁰²
Arlington, TX	Stop-work order	Contractor discovered working without a permit¹⁰⁴	Stop work order; work may have to be uncovered and redone; owner ultimately responsible¹⁰⁴
Arlington, TX	Permit revoked	Permit issued in error, on incorrect information, or in violation of law⁵²	Suspension or revocation in writing⁵²
Aurora, CO	Removal order	Work started before the building permit is issued¹⁰⁵	Fines and court appearances; if plans are rejected, removal of all work at the owner's expense¹⁰⁵
Aurora, CO	Permit revoked	Construction supervisor/contractor who allows occupancy without a CO¹⁰⁶	Supervisor certificate and contractor license may be suspended or revoked¹⁰⁶
Philadelphia, PA	Stop-work order	Work being done without required permits¹⁰⁷	Stop Work Order; violating it may lead to arrest, citation and summons¹⁰⁷
Austin, TX	Stop-work order	Failure to provide erosion and sedimentation controls (LDC 25-8-181)¹⁰⁸	Stop Work Order and/or legal action including criminal charges and fines of up to $2,000.00 per day¹⁰⁸

To fix it, see how to legalize unpermitted work. If you are selling, see selling a house with unpermitted work.

Sources

2022 NYC Construction Codes, General Administrative Provisions (Admin. Code Title 28), Chapter 2 EnforcementCity of New York, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
LAMC Ch. IX, Art. 8, Div. 4 (incl. SEC. 98.0402 Code Enforcement Costs Incurred)City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing)Checked November 7, 2026
What happens if I start work without a required building permit?City of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
City Fee ScheduleCity of Houston, Finance Department (City-Wide Fee Schedule)Effective January 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
2024 International Building Code Administrative Provisions (IBC Chapter 1), Phoenix amendmentsCity of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentEffective August 1, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
PDD Fee Schedule, Phoenix City Code Chapter 9, Appendix A.2City of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentEffective January 20, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Chapter 10 Building-Related Codes (2024 International Building-Related Codes), City Code of San AntonioCity of San Antonio, Development Services DepartmentEffective May 1, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
FY 2027 Development Fee ScheduleCity of San Antonio, Development Services DepartmentRevised October 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Chapter 52: Administrative Procedures for the Construction Codes (City of Dallas booklet, current through April 23,…City of Dallas, Planning & Development DepartmentLast updated April 23, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
City Fees (Categorized by Departments)City of Jacksonville, City Fees page (Building Inspection Division - Section 320.409)Checked November 7, 2026
Fort Worth Administrative Building Code, Ordinance No. 25387-03-2022City of Fort Worth, Development Services DepartmentAdopted March 8, 2022Checked November 7, 2026
Mecklenburg County Government Fee Ordinance, Land Use and Environmental Services (revised July 1, 2026)Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners / Land Use and Environmental Services Agency (LUESA)Revised July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Affidavit Working Without A PermitCity of Columbus, Department of Building and Zoning ServicesRevised March 2026Checked November 7, 2026
2026 Combined Development Related Fee ScheduleCity of Columbus, Department of Building and Zoning ServicesPublished 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Fee Schedule Table 1A-K: Penalties, Hearings, Code Enforcement Assessments (July 2026)City and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionEffective July 12, 2026Checked November 6, 2026
2026 Fee Subtitle and related documents (SMC Chapter 22.900)City of Seattle, Seattle Department of Construction & InspectionsEffective January 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Plumbing and Gas Piping Program fees (through 2026)Public Health – Seattle & King County (King County)Effective January 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
2025 Denver Building Code (2nd Printing, November 2025)City and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentPublished November 2025Checked November 7, 2026
Codes Fee Schedule (Building-Permit-Fee-Scheudle-2025.pdf)Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Department of Codes and Building SafetyPosted December 2025Checked November 7, 2026
BL2022-1215: fee schedules for building, gas/mechanical, plumbing and electrical permitsMetropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Metropolitan Council (Legistar legislation record)Effective July 1, 2022Checked November 7, 2026
Ordinance 019528 adopting the 2021 International Building Codes (text as introduced; executed Aug. 1, 2023)City of El Paso, City Council (Planning & Inspections agenda item)Published June 20, 2023Checked November 7, 2026
City of El Paso FY2026-2027 Adopted Budget, FY 2027 Schedule C Departmental Fee ListCity of El Paso, Office of Management & BudgetAdopted August 18, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
City of Las Vegas Administrative Code, 2019 EditionCity of Las Vegas, Department of Community Development, Building & Safety DivisionPublished 2019Checked November 7, 2026
Building Fees 5 15 23 (ISD fee schedule)City of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
City of Detroit BSEED Fee Schedule, Effective January 1, 2024, Modified 7/18/2025City of Detroit, Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED)Revised July 18, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
LMCO Chapter 150.096 Promulgated Fees & Regulations, Construction Permits and Inspection Fees (Revised 2/6/2024)Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, Department of Codes and Regulations, Office (Division) of Construction ReviewRevised February 6, 2024Checked November 7, 2026
Electrical Permits | LouisvilleKY.govLouisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, Department of Codes and Regulations, Office (Division) of Construction ReviewChecked November 7, 2026
Exhibit A, Building and Other Permits Fee Schedule, Effective Date: July 10, 2026 (Ordinance 192193)City of Portland, Portland Permitting & Development (Council Ordinance 192193, City eFiles record)Effective July 10, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
2021 Memphis and Shelby County Building Code (joint ordinance and local amendments)Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code EnforcementChecked November 8, 2026
2022 Fee Schedule, Building Section FeesMemphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code EnforcementPublished 2022Checked November 8, 2026
2022 Joint Plumbing CodeMemphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code EnforcementChecked November 8, 2026
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances ch. 200 subch. 4 PermitsCity of Milwaukee, Code of Ordinances (City Clerk, Legislative Reference Bureau)Revised December 18, 2018Checked November 8, 2026
Plan Review and Permit FeesCity of Milwaukee, Department of Neighborhood ServicesLast updated March 6, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
2024 City of Albuquerque Uniform Administrative Code (Exhibit A)City of Albuquerque, Planning Department, Building Safety DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
Planning and Permitting Fee Schedule (Adopted Year 1 Fee Schedule, FY27)City of Tucson, Planning & Development Services Department (PDSD)Effective July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
City of Fresno Master Fee Schedule - Planning & Development Fees (effective 07/01/2026)City of Fresno, Planning and Development DepartmentEffective July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
City of Sacramento Fees and Charges database: Building Permit FeesCity of Sacramento (Fees and Charges database, Community Development Department)Last updated November 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Schedule of Fees and Charges - Development ServicesCity of Mesa, Development Services DepartmentRevised July 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Committee Substitute for Ordinance No. 220612 (final Legistar version text)City of Kansas City, Missouri, Office of the City Clerk (Legistar legislative record)Adopted October 27, 2022Checked November 7, 2026
UDO Sec. 11.4.8. Permit FeesCity of Raleigh, Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), Chapter 11 Building and Housing CodeChecked November 7, 2026
Development Fee Guide July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027City of Raleigh, Planning and DevelopmentEffective July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Fee Schedule - Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (Appendix B: Fee Schedule, 2023 PPRBC)Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD)Effective June 30, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
City of Miami Building Permit Fee ScheduleCity of Miami, Building DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
Exhibit C Fee Schedule, Building, Chapters 10, 17, 20 (File No. 19087, Exhibit C Sub)City of Miami (City Commission Resolution R-26-0200), Building Department fee scheduleAdopted April 23, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Residential Building Permit FeesCity of Virginia Beach, Planning & Community Development, Permits & Inspections DivisionRevised July 2025Checked November 7, 2026
Ordinance No. ORD-25-0019 (amending and restating LBMC Title 18; Long Beach Building Standards Code)City of Long Beach, City Council (Office of the City Clerk)Checked November 7, 2026
Building Plan Review & Permit FeesCity of Long Beach, Community Development Department, Building and Safety BureauEffective October 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026-27 Master Fee ScheduleCity of Oakland (Master Fee Schedule, Planning & Building Department section)Effective July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Permit FeesCity of Minneapolis, Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED), Construction Code Services / Minneapolis Development ReviewLast updated February 27, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Ordinance amending Title 49, Tulsa Revised Ordinances (council item 24-608, as submitted)City of Tulsa, Tulsa City CouncilPublished May 16, 2024Checked November 7, 2026
City of Arlington Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, Effective October 1, 2026 (Resolution No. 26-288)City of Arlington, Planning & Development ServicesEffective October 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Construction Chapter, Code of the City of Arlington (amended by Ord. 24-054, September 17, 2024)City of Arlington, City Council (Code of Ordinances, hosted on arlingtontx.gov)Revised September 17, 2024Checked November 7, 2026
SEC. 91.101. TITLE, PURPOSE, AND SCOPE. (LAMC Ch. IX, Art. 1, Div. 1)City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing)Effective December 31, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
LAMC Ch. I Art. 1, Sec. 11.00 Provisions Applicable to CodeCity of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing)Checked November 6, 2026
SDMC Chapter 12, Article 1, Division 3: General RemediesCity of San Diego, San Diego Municipal Code (docs.sandiego.gov, Office of the City Clerk)Revised March 2021Checked November 6, 2026
SDMC Chapter 1, Article 2, Division 2: Criminal ViolationsCity of San Diego, San Diego Municipal Code (docs.sandiego.gov, Office of the City Clerk)Revised April 2008Checked November 6, 2026
SDMC Chapter 1, Article 2, Division 8: Administrative Civil PenaltiesCity of San Diego, San Diego Municipal Code (docs.sandiego.gov, Office of the City Clerk)Revised July 2026Checked November 6, 2026
SDMC Chapter 1, Article 2, Division 9: Administrative CitationsCity of San Diego, San Diego Municipal Code (docs.sandiego.gov, Office of the City Clerk)Revised July 2026Checked November 6, 2026
Residential PermitsCity of Jacksonville (consolidated City of Jacksonville/Duval County), Public Works Department, Building Inspection DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
Bulletin #202: How to Legalize Unpermitted WorkCity of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement (PBCE), Building DivisionRevised January 25, 2023Checked November 8, 2026
Code EnforcementCity of Columbus, Department of Building and Zoning ServicesChecked November 6, 2026
2016 Building Standards and Procedures of the Consolidated City of Indianapolis (Chapter 536 etc.)City of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesEffective January 1, 2018Checked November 7, 2026
Indianapolis-Marion County Consolidated Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance (August 2026)City of Indianapolis, Department of Metropolitan DevelopmentEffective August 19, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Fee Schedule (as of January 5, 2026) [XLSX]City of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesEffective January 5, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Fix your building and housing code violationCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026
Construction Without a Permit - Construction and InspectionsCity of Seattle, Seattle Department of Construction & InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
2021 Seattle Residential Code, Chapter 1 AdministrationCity of Seattle, Seattle Department of Construction & InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
Codes Violation ProcessMetropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Department of Codes and Building SafetyLast updated April 7, 2021Checked November 6, 2026
Short-Form PermitCity of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentLast updated November 4, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Construction InspectionCity of Detroit, Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED)Checked November 7, 2026
Chapter 3.30 Portland Permitting & Development (Portland City Code)City of Portland, Portland Permitting & DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
Exhibit D, Enforcement Fee and Penalty Schedule, Effective Date: July 10, 2026 (Ordinance 192193)City of Portland, Portland Permitting & Development (Council Ordinance 192193, City eFiles record)Effective July 10, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
2021 Joint Electrical Code (Published)Shelby County Board of Commissioners and Memphis City Council (joint ordinance, posted by the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement)Checked November 6, 2026
Section 109. Fees (Building Code)City of Baltimore Law Library (Department of Legislative Reference)Checked November 7, 2026
Section 114. Violations (Building Code)City of Baltimore Law Library (Department of Legislative Reference)Checked November 7, 2026
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances ch. 200 subch. 3 EnforcementCity of Milwaukee, Code of Ordinances (City Clerk, Legislative Reference Bureau)Revised February 6, 2024Checked November 8, 2026
Residential Permits City of TucsonCity of Tucson, Planning & Development Services Department (PDSD)Checked November 7, 2026
Committee Substitute for Ordinance No. 200418, Compared Version (Chapter 18 Building and Rehabilitation Code)City of Kansas City, Missouri, Office of the City Clerk (Legistar legislative record)Adopted June 2020Checked November 7, 2026
UDO Sec. 11.4.10. Civil PenaltyCity of Raleigh, Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), Chapter 11 Building and Housing CodeChecked November 7, 2026
UDO Sec. 1.1.10. Penalties and RemediesCity of Raleigh, Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), Chapter 11 Building and Housing CodeChecked November 6, 2026
City of Colorado Springs Ordinance No. 23-16 (adoption of the Pikes Peak Regional Building Code, 2023 Edition, and…City of Colorado Springs, City Council (Ordinance 23-16, PDF hosted by PPRBD)Effective April 10, 2023Checked November 7, 2026
§ 36-106. Violation a misdemeanor; civil penaltyCommonwealth of Virginia, Division of Legislative Automated Systems (Virginia Law, Code of Virginia)Checked November 7, 2026
Code Enforcement FinesCity of Long Beach, Community Development Department, Code Enforcement BureauChecked November 7, 2026
Emergency Ordinance: Local Amendments to the 2025 Edition of the California Model Building Construction Codes…City of Oakland, City Council (Legistar file 26-0024)Adopted September 15, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
Building Permit Application (PDF)City of Minneapolis, Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED), Construction Code Services / Minneapolis Development ReviewRevised October 9, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
Common Austin Code Violations | Austin Development ServicesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
SEC. 91.106. PERMITS. (LAMC Ch. IX, Art. 1, Div. 1)City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing)Checked November 7, 2026
What happens if I do more work than my building permit allows?City of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
Non-Permitted Construction Enforcement Procedures (TRT/DOC/00203)City of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentRevised February 2023Checked November 7, 2026
SDMC Chapter 12, Article 9, Division 2: Building Permit ProceduresCity of San Diego, San Diego Municipal Code (docs.sandiego.gov, Office of the City Clerk)Revised September 2026Checked November 7, 2026
InspectionsCity of Jacksonville (consolidated City of Jacksonville/Duval County), Public Works Department, Building Inspection DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
Residential InspectionCity of Jacksonville (consolidated City of Jacksonville/Duval County), Public Works Department, Building Inspection DivisionRevised January 2011Checked November 6, 2026
Residential (Single Family) Property Owner Obtained Permits: ShedsCity of Jacksonville (consolidated City of Jacksonville/Duval County), Public Works Department, Building Inspection DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
Property Owner Insurance Exemption CertificateCity of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development CenterChecked November 7, 2026
780 CMR Chapter 1 Scope and Administration (10th ed. Base Volume, unofficial copy)Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Building Regulations and StandardsChecked November 6, 2026
Section 115. Stop-Work Order (Building Code)City of Baltimore Law Library (Department of Legislative Reference)Checked November 7, 2026
Resources for HomeownersCity of Milwaukee, Department of Neighborhood ServicesChecked November 8, 2026
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances ch. 200, subchapter 5 (Fees)City of Milwaukee, Department of Neighborhood ServicesRevised November 8, 2024Checked November 8, 2026
Building Safety & Permits FAQsCity of Albuquerque, Planning Department, Building Safety DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
Homeowner Permit Information - PPRBDPikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD)Checked November 7, 2026
Report Work Without PermitCity of Miami, Building Department, Unsafe StructuresChecked November 7, 2026
Stop Work Order NoticeCity of Tampa, Development & Growth Management Department, Construction Services DivisionLast updated October 1, 2023Checked November 7, 2026
General and Administrative Fee ScheduleCity of Tampa, Development & Growth Management Department, Construction Services DivisionLast updated December 11, 2023Checked November 7, 2026
Building Permits / Inspections FAQsCity of Arlington, Planning & Development ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
City of Aurora DIY & Do It Right Home Improvement Handbook (March 2019)City of Aurora, Development Services Department, Building DivisionPublished March 2019Checked November 7, 2026
Checklist for CO or TCO (Revised 06/2025, Form #A115)City of Aurora, Development Services Department, Building DivisionRevised June 2025Checked November 7, 2026
Violation and order typesCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
Residential Pool and/or Uncovered Deck Permit ApplicationCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesRevised April 5, 2023Checked November 7, 2026