Sell with Code Violations in the Bay Area

Code violations turn a normal sale into a slog. An unpermitted addition or garage conversion, work that was never finalized, an open permit from a remodel that stalled, a notice from the city about an illegal unit. Once it's on record, traditional buyers and their lenders get nervous, and the deal often dies.

We buy Bay Area homes with code violations and permit problems for cash, as-is. The violation becomes our responsibility after closing.

The violations we see most often

• Unpermitted additions and extra bedrooms. Square footage added over the years with no permit on file.
• Garage and basement conversions. A converted garage or finished basement counted as living space the county never inspected.
• Illegal second units and in-law apartments. A separate unit, kitchen, or entrance the city flags as non-conforming.
• Open or expired permits. A remodel that was started, permitted, and never finalized, so the permit still sits open.
• Electrical, plumbing, and structural work without sign-off. Panels, repipes, decks, and retaining walls done without inspection.
• Active code-enforcement cases. A recorded notice, a citation, or accruing fines from the jurisdiction.

Why violations sink traditional sales

• Lenders may refuse to fund a home with open permits or known illegal work.
• Buyers demand large credits to cover bringing the work up to code, or to remove it entirely.
• California requires you to disclose known violations, which scares off the financed buyer pool.
• Resolving a violation yourself can mean months of back-and-forth with the building department, plans, inspections, and contractor work before you can even list.

The Bay Area is full of unpermitted bedrooms, ADUs, decks, and garage conversions. Decades of homeowners improving their homes without pulling permits, in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and every county in between. We've seen all of it.

How we handle it

We factor the cost of resolving the work into our offer and take the property knowing exactly what it is, so there's no renegotiation after we sign. After closing, dealing with the building department, the permits, and any fines is our job, not yours. You don't bring anything up to code, pull a permit, or wait on an inspection. If there's an open enforcement case or accruing fine, tell us on the call so we can build it into the offer.

This often overlaps with selling a home in any condition or one with foundation and structural issues. Call or text 415-800-1415, or fill out the short form below. A real local person answers, usually within the hour during the day, and you'll have a cash offer within 24 hours.