I recently have completed a two story remodel in Piedmont. The city of Piedmont’s planning department has very strict guidelines and the approval process can be difficult, but it can also be very arbitrary. It can come down to the mood of the commissioners and the neighbors reaction to your project that can either get your request approved or denied.

I have recently learned that you can also be penalized if you do not complete your project on time or let permits from years’ past expire. Piedmont residents who sell their houses often find out the hard way if work was done without permits, or if work was never completed and the permit had expired years ago. Homeowners are forced to correct or post a bond in order for the sale to go through.

Homeowners wanting to sell need to realize that the city of Piedmont is a small area and the Piedmont planning department actually visits open houses and looks at listings online. If you have performed work without permits, the city can fine you after the sale has been completed and even require that the new owners correct the violations. In our case, new vinyl windows were installed throughout our house. Piedmont will only allow wooden windows. Therefore, when we went to have our addition approved the inspector required that we replace these windows and even rebuild our main staircase because the risers were uneven and not to code.

So buyers and sellers beware. When buying in Piedmont you should always consult the city of Piedmont planning department prior to purchasing. The staff is extremely helpful, but the process to remodel and gain approval is difficult and sometimes impossible.