It is not uncommon for homeowners and/or sellers to skip the building permit process when remodeling their home or preparing it for sale. But before you consider taking this route, consider the following:

1. Every city has its own permit requirements, but in general any project that involves plumbing, wiring, or structural changes (including the reinstallation of water heaters, sheet rock, roofing, etc.) requires a permit. The reason for the permit process is to ensure that the improvements you add to your home are safe and installed according to current building code.

2. If you proceed without a permit and then sell the house, you must (in California at least) disclose that to the buyers. They will immediately question whether the work was done correctly, and this may devalue your property or even scare off some buyers, especially first time buyers.

3. If you add a room or convert a garage into living space without a permit, the appraiser cannot count that when he or she appraises the property. You may have sold the property as a 4 bedroom home, but it may end up being appraised as a 3 bedroom. So, the house may not appraise for the contract price and the entire transacton may be in jeopardy.

4. Even if you hire a licensed contractor to do the job for you, the codes change constantly and that contractor may not be aware of recent changes. By obtaining the required permit (and inspections) you and the buyers can be confident that the work is done according to the code in effect at the time of the project. 

Many contractors do not like undergoing the permit process. There are sometimes delays when an inspection is required, and if the work is not done correctly the contractor may have to tear it out and redo it. But wouldn't you rather deal with the delays and the inconvenience than deal with an irate buyer whose roof leaks the thrid day after they move in?

If a contractor tells you a permit is not required, it is best to check with the city yourself to make sure that is really the case. As I said earlier, every city has its own requirements and your contractor may not be familiar with the specific requirements in your particular city.

Also, don't forget that the permit itself is useless unless the project is inspected as required and "finaled" after the project is completed. That means the building inspector is convinced that the job has been done correctly.

Even if you are not preparing to sell your home, remember that the permit process is a means to ensure that the installation is safe and that it will endure because it has been done according to the most modern standards. And you can never tell for sure that will not be selling your home. Sooner or later your circumstances may change and you may decide to sell your home after all. In any case, it is definitely worth doing the job right in the first place. And that includes getting a permit whenever one is required.