How to Sell a House With Expired or Open Permits in Virginia | 2025 Guide

Planning to sell a house in Virginia but ran into old, expired, or open permits during title search or inspection? You’re not alone. Many homeowners — especially those with past renovations, DIY work, or inherited properties — are surprised to learn that an old permit can stall or kill a sale.

The good news? You can still sell your house with open or expired permits. In this 2025 guide, we’ll walk you through what these permits mean, how they affect your sale, and how to move forward — even without finishing the work or fixing paperwork.

The Cash Offer Company helps sellers across Virginia close fast, even if the home has open permits, failed inspections, or unpermitted additions.

What Is an Open or Expired Permit?

When you or a past owner pulled a building permit for electrical, plumbing, structural, or HVAC work — but never scheduled a final inspection or closed it out — it remains “open” in city or county records.

If too much time passes, that permit may expire, creating legal and liability issues.

Common causes of open or expired permits in Virginia include:

• DIY work never inspected or approved
• Contractors who never scheduled final walkthroughs
• Work paused due to cost or injury
• Inherited homes with half-finished additions or basement remodels

Even if the work is finished and looks great — if it’s not signed off by the county, it may still cause problems when selling.

How Open Permits Affect a Home Sale

During a home sale, open or expired permits may trigger:

• Buyer hesitation or reduced offers
• Title company hold-ups during closing
• Re-inspections by building officials
• Loan approval delays or denials (especially for FHA/VA buyers)
• Legal risk to the new buyer if the work fails later

Even if the permit was pulled 10+ years ago, it can still affect the sale — especially in counties like Henrico, Chesterfield, Richmond, or Powhatan where records are now digital and searchable.

Do You Have to Close Permits Before Selling?

Virginia law does not force you to close permits before selling — but you must disclose any known issues, including expired or incomplete permits.

Most retail buyers (and their agents) will request:

• Documentation of permit history
• Proof that the work passed final inspections
• New permits or remediation if work was unpermitted

If you can’t provide these — or don’t want to spend the time and money to fix it — selling as-is to a cash buyer becomes the simplest path forward.

How to Check for Open Permits in Virginia

Every city and county in Virginia has its own process. You can usually check by:

• Visiting the county or city building department website
• Searching by property address in the online permit portal
• Calling or visiting the zoning/building inspections office

Here are a few helpful links:

• Henrico County Building Inspections
• Chesterfield County Building Department
• City of Richmond Permit Portal
• Powhatan County Building Department

Older permits may not be online — you may need to request records from staff.

Can You Sell a House With Unpermitted Work?

Yes — but you must disclose it, and most buyers will ask for a discount or demand it be brought up to code. Unpermitted work may include:

• Finished basements without electrical permits
• Decks, sheds, or sunrooms built without approval
• Kitchen or bath remodels that skipped plumbing permits
• HVAC or water heaters installed without inspections

If the buyer’s lender finds out during appraisal or inspection, the deal could fall through. Selling to a buyer who understands the risks and doesn’t require financing is often your best bet.

We Buy Houses With Open and Expired Permits

The Cash Offer Company buys homes across Virginia with:

• Open or expired building permits
• Unpermitted additions or garages
• Half-finished renovations
• Failed final inspections
• Work done by a previous owner — no records on file

We buy as-is — no repairs, no re-permitting, no stress. We’ll handle the paperwork and disclosures so you can move on quickly.

Where We Buy Permit-Challenged Homes in Virginia

• Richmond – older rowhomes and renovations in Church Hill, Jackson Ward, and Northside
• Chester, Henrico, Powhatan, and Petersburg — homes with old additions or DIY renovations

FAQs: Selling a House With Permit Issues

Can I sell my house if a permit was never closed?

Yes. You can still sell — but buyers may ask for a price reduction or push for repairs. We’ll buy it as-is.

What if I inherited a home with permit issues?

No problem. We buy inherited homes and can help sort out permit history with your title company.

Can I avoid pulling permits if I sell for cash?

Yes. Cash buyers don’t require permits to be closed before closing. We take on the risk and paperwork post-sale.

Will title companies block the sale?

Not usually — unless the open permit has turned into a lien or violation. We work with experienced closing attorneys who know how to navigate this.

Why Work With The Cash Offer Company?

We’re a Richmond-based, family-owned home buying company that specializes in helping Virginia homeowners sell quickly and without judgment. Permit issues? We’ve seen it all. And we’ll still buy your house.

• No repairs — sell as-is
• No waiting on inspections or contractors
• Fair, honest cash offers
• Close in 7–14 days — or on your timeline

Take the Next Step

Have open or expired permits holding up your home sale? Let’s fix that. Contact The Cash Offer Company today and get a no-obligation cash offer from a team who knows how to handle the paperwork — so you don’t have to.

Contact Information

The Cash Offer Company
Phone: 804-215-4004
Email: info@thecashoffercompany.com
Website: https://www.thecashoffercompany.com/

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or zoning advice. Always check with your local building department or attorney regarding permits, inspections, and disclosures.