You’re getting ready to sell your house, everything seems to be moving in the right direction, and then an old permit shows up.
Maybe you replaced a roof years ago. Maybe a contractor started a renovation but never scheduled the final inspection. Maybe you inherited the house and didn’t even know there was an open permit until someone searched the property records.
Whatever the reason, discovering an open permit can make homeowners nervous.
The good news is that an open permit doesn’t automatically mean you can’t sell your house. But it is something you’ll want to understand before getting too far into the selling process.
After more than 20 years of buying houses in Kenner and all throughout the Greater New Orleans area, I’ve learned that permit issues come in all shapes and sizes. Some are relatively simple to clear up. Others can turn into a much bigger project.
Here’s what you should know.
What Is an Open Permit?
A building permit is issued when certain types of construction, renovation, repair, or other work are performed on a property.
In Jefferson and New Orleans, building permits are handled through the Department of Safety & Permits. The city requires permits for many types of construction and alterations, and permits can involve inspections as the work progresses.
An open permit generally means the permitting process was never fully completed or closed out.
Maybe the work was finished, but nobody scheduled the final inspection.
Maybe the contractor stopped halfway through the project or never even started the project at all.
Or maybe additional documentation or corrections were required and nobody followed up.
Sometimes homeowners don’t find out about an old permit until years later.
Does an Open Permit Prevent You From Selling?
Not necessarily.
The bigger question is what the permit is for, what work was completed, and what still needs to happen.
There’s a big difference between an old permit that simply needs a final inspection and a renovation where significant work was never completed or approved.
An open permit can create questions during a traditional sale. A buyer, home inspector, lender, title company, or insurance company may discover it and want more information.
That can slow things down, especially if everyone is expecting to close quickly.
This is why I’d rather know about the issue early than discover it a few days before closing.
How Do You Find Out If You Have an Open Permit?
For a property in New Orleans, you can search the City’s One Stop App. For Jefferson Parish or the city of Kenner, you can call down to the building department.
One Stop allows you to search permits and violations using the property address, permit number, or a person’s name. If you’re searching by address, the city recommends entering only the house number and street rather than the city, state, and ZIP code.
Once you find the permit, look at what it was issued for and its current status.
You may discover that the problem is much simpler than you expected.
One thing to keep in mind is that New Orleans building permits generally expire six months after issuance unless inspections have occurred during that period.
If you’re unsure what a particular status means, contact Safety & Permits rather than guessing.
What If the Work Was Already Completed?
This happens more often than you might think.
A contractor finishes the job, gets paid, and everyone moves on.
Years later, somebody realizes the permit was never properly closed.
Depending on the circumstances, you may need to provide documentation, schedule an inspection, make corrections, or take other steps required by the permitting authority.
The city explains that final inspections and certificates can be part of completing permitted work, depending on the project.
The important thing is not to assume that because the physical work is finished, the permit issue is automatically finished too.
What If the Contractor Is Gone?
This can make things more frustrating.
Maybe the contractor retired.
Maybe the company went out of business.
Maybe you bought or inherited the house after the work was performed and have no idea who did it.
This was a huge problem after Hurricane Katrina because so many contractors came from all over the country for work and only stayed for a year or 2 then hit the road.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the problem can’t be resolved, but you may need help figuring out what the city requires to close the permit.
Depending on the work involved, that could mean bringing in another licensed contractor, architect, engineer, or other professional.
Before spending money, find out exactly what is required.
Should You Close the Permit Before Selling?
If the permit can be resolved relatively easily, taking care of it before listing may make the traditional selling process smoother.
But every situation is different.
I wouldn’t recommend spending thousands of dollars simply because you assume you have to.
First, find out what the permit involves.
Then figure out what it will cost to resolve.
If you’re already dealing with a house that needs major repairs, an inherited property, deferred maintenance, or unfinished renovations, closing out old permits may become one more project you don’t want to take on.
That’s when it makes sense to look at all of your options.
Can You Sell a House With an Open Permit As-Is?
Depending on the circumstances, an as-is sale may still be an option.
This is where working with an experienced cash home buyer can make a difference.
We’ve looked at plenty of houses with unusual issues attached to them—unfinished renovations, code problems, unpermitted work, open permits, title issues, and properties that simply need a lot of work.
Those situations don’t scare us away.
What matters is understanding the issue before closing and determining what will need to happen after the purchase.
With a traditional buyer using financing, an unresolved permit issue may create additional questions or requirements. A local company that buys houses for cash may have more flexibility because there isn’t a mortgage lender involved.
That doesn’t make the permit disappear. It simply means there may be another way to structure the sale.
Don’t Ignore the Problem
One thing I wouldn’t recommend is hoping nobody notices.
Permit information in New Orleans is searchable through the City’s system.
If there’s an issue, it’s usually better to understand it upfront.
Find out what the permit was for.
Find out whether the work was completed.
Find out what the city says is still required.
Then you can make an informed decision about whether it makes sense to resolve the permit yourself or sell the property in its current condition.
Final Thoughts
So, can you sell a house with an open permit?
Potentially, yes.
An open permit doesn’t automatically mean you’re stuck with the property, but it can complicate a sale depending on the work involved and what remains unresolved.
Sometimes closing the permit is relatively straightforward.
Other times, it can involve inspections, contractors, additional repairs, or paperwork that a homeowner simply doesn’t want to deal with.
If you have a house in the Greater New Orleans area with an open permit, unfinished renovation, unpermitted work, or other property issues, I’d be happy to take a look and help you understand your options.
At NOLA Buys Houses, we buy houses as-is and in all kinds of conditions. You don’t have to make the house perfect before giving us a call.
There’s never any pressure or obligation—just a straightforward conversation about the property and what makes the most sense for your situation.
504-264-1407