As a contractor I always get the permits.
It often times depends on the scope of your project and what active management you may have in it. For instance, if you are doing just one or two things in your home, it may make sense to pull permits yourself. If you are having work done in your house that will require several permits, i.e plumbing, electrical, framing, etc… it may be wise for the contractors to pull permits. If you are using a general, they should be responsible for pulling permits for all the work needed. A very high percentage of the construction industry will pull their own permits and not leave this in the home owners hands, as sometimes dealing with City and County offices and can difficult and full of headaches if you haven’t been through the permitting process before. I would highly recommend having the contractors you use pull their own permits.
Good Luck and hope this helps!
I always apply for permits as the contractor, most homeowners are oblivious to permits
It would depend on many factors, and could vary from state to state, city to city, but “generally speaking” If homeowner hires a “licensed general contractor”, they are responsible for everything that happens under their watch and obtain permits for the project. If on the other hand homeowners are acting as the general contractor, then they are responsible for all the work and liability under them and would have to obtain permit themselves. But, whoever is on the permit is the one that is responsible for things getting done to obtain the notice of completion and or to obtain occupancy.
Leave it to the contractor. Most times, the contractor will need to assist with pulling the permits. Also, you may save yourself a little bit of time filling out forms, pulling information, or whatever the village or city may require with the contractor pulling the permits.
In most circumstances, the contractor obtains the permits. The building department wants to know who is doing the work. The contractor is also responsible for calling for inspections as the project proceeds.