Seller question
Can I sell my house in Florida with an open or expired permit?
Short answer
Yes, you can, but open or expired permits often delay a closing, because buyers, lenders and title companies usually want them closed first. Check for them before you list.
How to check
Permits are kept by the building department of the municipality where the home is. For a home inside a city or town, ask that city’s building department; for unincorporated areas, ask Miami-Dade County.
Make sure you ask the right one: a mailing address or ZIP code doesn’t always tell you which municipality a home is in.
What to do if you find one
- Ask the building department what is needed to close it (often a final inspection).
- Contact the contractor who pulled the permit, if possible.
- Tell your agent early, so it can be planned for instead of discovered during the sale.