These past several months you’ve probably spent a lot of time aimlessly pacing around home and thinking about ways to upgrade your living space.

You’re hardly alone. Due to stay-at-home orders, 64% of Americans completed some sort of home improvement project, according to a 2020 Home Renovation Consumer Survey by Farmers Insurance.

A similar Travelers survey shows that about 75% of Americans are making home improvements. While only a small percentage of respondents are planning a major renovation (10%), others are considering projects like painting rooms (44%), updating flooring (31%), painting the exterior (27%) and building an outdoor play area (19%).

Many Americans plan to take home improvement projects on themselves. The Farmers survey found that of the 62% of Americans who are in the planning stages of a project, nearly one-third plan to do it themselves. While home renovation projects can increase the value of a home, there are a few things to know before you pick up a sledgehammer and start swinging away.

You may know the old expression: It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

That expression doesn’t apply here. Whether you’re tackling a big project yourself or hiring a contractor, don’t skip the permit. Even seemingly minor projects might require them. For example, in Freeport, California, projects like gazebos, sheds, workshops and playhouses larger than 120 square feet require a permit.

If you’re not sure what requires a permit, contact your local building department. If you start work on a renovation project without one, you could be setting yourself up for a financial headache. If the work isn’t up to your local building codes, and it’s done without a permit, you could be subject to fines and penalties.

A city or town inspector could also issue a stop work order until you get the permit, meaning your renovation project will be shelved until you chase down the proper paperwork. A permit application process can take up to 30 days, depending on the town.

And here’s where it can get much worse. Let’s say you complete the project and the city inspector catches the wind it was done without a permit. If it’s not up to code, the inspector can order you to tear it down and start over.

If that’s the case, don’t expect your homeowners insurance to foot the bill for any redo. A standard homeowners' insurance policy typically has an “ordinance or law” exclusion. The exclusion means you’ll pay out of pocket for bringing things up to code.

When it comes to permits for renovation projects, perhaps there’s a better expression: It’s easier (and cheaper) to ask for permission than forgiveness.