Unpermitted structures—additions, decks, pools—carry legal and financial risks. Smart buyers investigate before offering.
Permit Record Searches
Request the property's complete permit history from the City of Simi Valley Planning & Building Department. Permits show what work was approved and inspected. If you see additions that lack corresponding permits, you've identified unpermitted work. Unpermitted structures may violate setbacks, height limits, or parking requirements. They represent code violations and potential liabilities for new owners.
Identifying Common Unpermitted Improvements
Detached accessory structures (pools, sheds, guest houses) commonly lack permits. Additions to existing homes, second stories, and garage conversions are frequently unpermitted. ADUs (accessory dwelling units) were historically impossible to permit; some grandfathered illegal units exist. Window replacement, roofing, and foundation work sometimes skip permits when owners do minor work without professional contractors. Look for structural inconsistencies—mismatched foundations, different roof heights, newer portions adjacent to older—suggesting unpermitted additions.
Remediation Options and Costs
Unpermitted structures can be legitimized through retroactive permitting if they comply with current codes. Costs include engineering verification, permit fees, and inspection. Non-compliant unpermitted structures must be removed unless code variances are obtained. This is costly and uncertain. Request the seller remedy unpermitted structures before closing or negotiate price reductions compensating for remediation costs. Title insurance sometimes won't insure properties with significant unpermitted work.