An expired residential permit is the result of an issued permit that has remained inactive for 180 days. In most cases, expired permits are a result of a clinical error.

Perhaps a homeowner did not file the proper paperwork after remodeling their basement. Or, a new addition on a home is taking longer to build than expected. Even if this is the case, it is vital to act quickly and resubmit your permit application before receiving a warning from your local official.

In this article, our team will outline the adverse effects of ignoring citation warnings and continuing to be non-compliant with residential building codes in Miami, FL.

 

1) Receiving a Fine

When someone files a complaint regarding an expired residential permit, homeowners will first receive a warning from the Miami-Dade County municipality. If you do not believe the violation is accurate, it is essential to dispute the claim immediately.

Residential property owners are only given 30-days to resolve the issue listed on the "Notice of Violation" - whether they believe it is justified or not.

If Miami residents cannot obtain a new permit within this timeframe, they are issued a fine. The dollar amount of the citation can begin to increase daily, so it is in the best interest that violators pay this as soon as possible.

 

2) Issuance of a "Notice of Lien"

The longer a homeowner continues to be non-compliant with Miami residential building codes, the more expensive the tickets become. If the initial fine is not resolved within the given number of days, local governments will issue a lien against the property owner.

For residential estates, liens are a common way for creditors to collect the money owed from past due fines. This is not debt homeowners should continue to ignore! Doing so would result in the Miami-Dade County municipality issuing an additional ticketed citation of at least $10,000.

Additionally, there is a clouded title on the home, which hurts both the property's value and marketability.

 

3) Challenges with Selling the Property

While all Miami residential permits need to be up to code, it is especially crucial for those who plan to sell their home. Typically, when someone is looking to purchase a new home, many realtors will check to ensure the property does not have any expired permits.

This is a major red flag for potential homebuyers. If a house is bought with existing expired permits, the new property owners cannot work on the home until the fines are paid. No buyers want to deal with the added stress and costs of resolving this issue, especially when it is no fault of their own.

Even if the new homebuyers or their realtor does not check for expired permits, likely, the sale of the house will still not be approved by the title company.

 

4) Demolished Property

As property owners continue to unfollow residential building codes in Miami, the punishment only worsens. For instance, those who choose to disregard government-issued violations are at extreme risk of their property being demolished.

This is often in extreme cases where homeowners are non-compliant and choose to ignore many citation warnings. If a residential property is destroyed, homeowners are still responsible for paying back its money to bulldoze the structure.

 

Contact Our Residential Permit Experts Today!

There are many instances where homeowners are unaware of an expired permit or are unclear on how to resolve it. Don't worry; our team of experts is ready to help.

Fix My Code Violation is a firm created by Studio Lamas Architects and Three County Construction, both full-service firms specializing in architecture, construction, and engineering. We specialize in correcting all Florida building and zoning code violations, including Miami residential properties.

Learn more about our organization through our website, or contact us to begin the process.