One of the most common surprises that come up on title searches is the discovery of open permits for work that was completed years ago.

From the property owner’s perspective, the project was finished, the contractor was paid, and the work has been in use ever since. Unfortunately, that does not always mean the permit was properly closed with the Department of Buildings.

Open permits will remain on a property’s record for years and often go unnoticed until they create a problem. When a buyer, lender, title company, or attorney begins their due diligence review, they often uncover issues that the owner was completely unaware existed. Unfortunately, these discoveries frequently occur when there is significant pressure to close quickly.

Resolving old permits can sometimes be straightforward, but other situations require additional inspections, documentation, or corrective filings. The longer a permit remains open, the more difficult it can become to track down records and obtain the necessary approvals.

The takeaway: Just because the work is complete does not mean the DOB considers the job closed. Periodically reviewing your property’s permit history can help identify issues before they affect a future project or transaction.

If you are unsure whether your property has open permits, we can perform a review and help determine what steps may be needed to close them out.