Here's the novice answer, so I'll probably be corrected: It's more to do with the drain layout, proper slope, vents, etc. so everything should be visible. They also look to verify the joints are all glued (purple primer stain). And sometimes a pressure test is involved to show the drain line doesn't have a leak. The fixtures don't have to be in - probably shouldn't be, in case some changes need to be made.

Why do GCs not face loss of licensing and/or large fines? Well, they do. But not usually for first time offenses and rarely even for repeat offenses. Courts have to see a well established pattern of intentional criminal misconduct and intent on a grand scale before they will act against a GC by removing his credentials or imprisoning him.. How soon courts will act in such a manner depends upon the laws in your state, province or city. -------------- GCs and subs also have the right to 'due process' in the US, meaning they can appeal a building officials' or court's rulings against them at any time. And GCs and subs often win on appeal! Justice is also often granted to the party that has the deepest pockets and the ability to spend the most money. Smaller building code departments tend to back off from prosecuting builders when it can too costly to them....especially if the builder has more money than the code department! If the code department loses, not only can the jurisdiction face legal repercussions and damages by the builders in a countersuit, the building inspector or building official can often be sued PERSONALLY if the builder can prove intentional criminal malfeasance or malicious prosecution against him. This makes inspectors and building officials think twice before initiating legal actions....because even if they are cleared of any wrongdoing, they may have to spend tens of thousands of dollars of their own personal finances to 'prove' their innocence! That's not a good thing on any inspector's salary. ----- So there is rarely a simple easy way to punish builder/offenders each and every time they do wrong...and the crooked builders know that. Building departments have to pick-and -choose which cases to prosecute based on severity of the violation, the cost to prosecute, and the chance of obtaining a conviction. That may not be right. But it is reality. --- The good news is that most builders cave when they are threatened with criminal prosecution by the code enforcement office especially when it is usual for criminal fines of $1000 per day for each and every day the builder is in violation of the building codes are levied. The BAD news is those fines gets paid to the COURT if a conviction is obtained. That money does not normally go to the owner/victim. If the owner/victim wants to recover damages from the builder, he will usually have to initiate his own separate private civil lawsuit against the builder by himself and at his own personal expense. The building office does not willingly assist with these civil cases except to provide testimony when the inspector's and inspector's records are subpoenaed to testify against the builder and support the owner's claim. Even then, owner's can STILL lose what on the surface should be a 'slam-dunk' case. (Recall the OJ Simpson trials: OJ was acquitted in the criminal murder trial....convicted in a follow-up civil wrongful death lawsuit...but never paid a penny in any of those civil $33,000,000 wrongful death civil judgments against him.) ------------------------ The best defense is to do one's research diligently before hiring any builder. States and cities often maintain data bases of administrative actions taken against builders through their contractor licensing or registration offices. Public record files can also be searched in most counties and states in the US for parties in civil and criminal lawsuits via the internet for free. One only need log onto these data bases, type in the name of the builder or builder's company....then get the search results of any and all legal actions against him. There are also many pay sites on the internet, where for a modest fee, you can research the criminal or civil background of the builder (and probably should) before you hire him. (Even if it costs you $200 for such a background search, what is that compared to the cost of a $200,000+ home build project, for example?) ------ But be aware!: SMART builders will also do background checks on potential customers for criminal convictions, bankruptcies, divorces, civil judgments, credit scores, and foreclosures among other things to determine whether or not a potential customer should be trusted and was fit with whom to do business. I always did background searches on my potential customers and it saved me from financial catastrophe on more than a few occasions when I could have signed a building contract with someone who had no ability (nor any intention) to pay me! ---- What's good for the goose is good for the gander! ---- The bottom line is NO ONE can protect you from YOU, if you do not do not perform your due diligence in carefully researching and scrutinizing your builder before signing on with your builder. Not the building code office, your state attorney general, your local contractor licensing department, nor your building inspectors.... That is YOUR job!

Thanks for your input. He cancelled the contract. I wanted the info on the CO to advise him and make sure he had the info he needed. In addition to the above, there were a few plumbing leaks, the hwh is 10 years old with some rust at the bottom, and the sump,pump is tied into,the sewer line, which is apparently a no-no. Plumbing estimate too $2200, though he could do some himself. The nice deck was built with the ledge attached to the siding, apparently another no-no and was seriously about to fall off. There was horizontal cracking in 2 foundation walls indicating a water problem and signs of water having intruded into the basement. 2 basement windows and 3 normal,windows need replacing. The house looked move in ready on the surface, nice kitchen, decent baths, decent flooring and walls, but all of these repairs together was too much for a first time homeowner.

You really need to find someone local who can answer the question. However, there are some cases where a permit may not be required. For example, if you disconnect the gas connection in the basement below the current range and then run flexible (approved) gas pipe from that same connection to get to the new location for the same range, you haven't actually changed anything in your gas line routing and load. You would need a plumber who was trained to run flexible gas pipe, but in some jurisdictions you might not need a permit. In my experience, inspectors don't go out of their way to look for fixtures that are not in the plans or do not have a permit. However, they do look at plumbing, electrical and other mechanical items if they are exposed and visible. I would be more concerned about the inspector finding dangerous electrical wiring or other issues, than a sink that was not in the plans. Bruce