Selling a House With Open Permits in Florida

Selling a House With Open Permits in Florida can create confusion and stress when trying to sell a house. Many Florida homeowners don’t realize there is an issue until they attempt to sell, refinance, or pull records from the city or county. In some cases, the work was done years ago and the permit was never finalized, expired, or properly closed.

Even with open permits, selling your house may still be possible — and in many situations, selling as-is is the most practical option. Below you will find a real case study of selling a House With Open Permits in Florida.

What Are Open Permits?

An open permit typically means construction, renovation, or repair work was started but never fully inspected, approved, or closed out by the local building department. This can include projects such as roofing, electrical work, plumbing, additions, remodels, or structural changes.

Open permits can remain on record for years and are often discovered during a title search, inspection, or pre-sale review.

Can You Sell a House With Open Permits in Florida?

Yes, selling a House With Open Permits in Florida is often possible. However, open permits can make traditional sales more difficult because buyers and lenders may require permits to be closed before approving financing.

The ability to sell depends on the type of permit, the work involved, and the buyer’s comfort level with taking responsibility for resolving the issue. Back in 2022, we bought a house with an open permit in Naples located in Collier County Florida. The prior owner was in the process of converting his garage into liveable space. He ran out of money and needed to sell. We bought the property quickly, transferred all the open permits, completed the conversion and resold the house.

Why Open Permits Can Delay a Traditional Sale

Traditional buyers often rely on mortgage financing, and lenders typically want properties to comply with local building requirements. Open permits can raise concerns about safety, liability, and unknown repair costs.

Closing permits may require inspections, corrective work, updated plans, or bringing older work up to current building codes, which can lead to delays, unexpected expenses, and failed contracts.

Selling a House With Unpermitted Work

In some cases, work was completed without a permit at all. Unpermitted additions, conversions, or renovations can create similar challenges as open permits, especially when discovered late in the selling process.

Selling as-is can allow homeowners to avoid reopening walls, hiring contractors, or navigating permitting requirements before selling.

Selling As-Is vs. Closing the Permits

Closing open permits can be time-consuming and costly. The process may involve inspections, rework, fines, or bringing improvements up to current code standards. For homeowners who want to sell quickly or avoid additional investment, selling as-is can be a more realistic solution.

An as-is sale focuses on transferring the property without requiring the seller to resolve permitting issues beforehand.

How Selling for Cash Can Simplify an Open Permit Sale

Cash sales can simplify transactions involving open permits because they reduce lender-related requirements. Without financing contingencies, the sale can move forward without the delays commonly caused by permit issues.

This approach often provides greater flexibility with timelines and fewer last-minute surprises.

What Happens After You Decide to Sell

Once you decide to sell, the property is reviewed based on its condition and the specific permit situation involved. An offer is made, and the closing process can proceed without repairs, permit closures, or commissions. This allows homeowners to move forward without managing inspections or city approvals.

Get a Cash Offer for a House With Open Permits

If your house has open permits or unpermitted work in Florida, you still have options. Selling may help you avoid delays, reduce stress, and move forward without dealing with the permitting process yourself.

Explore Other Home Selling Situations

Open permits are just one of many challenges homeowners face when selling a property. Some homes also involve code violations, major repairs, foreclosure, probate, inherited ownership, tenants, or title issues. Learn more about selling a house with problems and explore options based on your specific situation.