How do I check if there are open permits on a house before buying it in Saint John?

Before purchasing a home in Saint John, you'll want to verify there are no outstanding building permits or code violations that could become your responsibility as the new owner.

Contact the City of Saint John's Growth & Community Services department at (506) 658-2835 to request a permit search for the property. You'll need the civic address or PID (Property Identification Number) from the property assessment. This search will reveal any open building permits, stop-work orders, or compliance issues on file.

What the permit search reveals includes active building permits that haven't received final inspection, expired permits for incomplete work, and any outstanding orders to comply with building codes. In New Brunswick, incomplete permitted work can transfer to new owners as a legal obligation, potentially costing thousands to resolve.

Your real estate lawyer should also order a Certificate of Compliance as part of the title search process. This document confirms the property meets current zoning requirements and has no outstanding municipal violations. If the property is in a rural area outside Saint John's municipal boundaries, contact RSC 9 - Fundy at (506) 738-2014 instead, as they handle building permits for the greater Saint John rural area.

Red flags to watch for include basement apartments or secondary suites that may not be properly permitted, electrical or plumbing work that appears recent but has no permits on file, and additions or renovations that don't match the original building footprint. Remember that in New Brunswick, all electrical work requires permits from NB Power (1-800-615-0522) and inspections from Technical Inspection Services (1-888-659-3222).

Protect yourself financially by making your purchase offer conditional on a satisfactory permit search and building inspection. If open permits are discovered, negotiate with the seller to either complete the work properly or reduce the purchase price to cover completion costs. A qualified home inspector familiar with New Brunswick's building standards can spot unpermitted work that might not show up in municipal records.

The small cost of a permit search ($50-$100 typically) is insignificant compared to inheriting someone else's code violations or incomplete construction projects.