What StairSolver checks
Inputs used for this warning
- permit language
- inspection responsibility
- contractor proposal clarity
User input fields: contractor proposal text, city, state, or ZIP.
Permits
Who is responsible for permits and inspection questions?
Permit responsibility should be written down before work starts because baseline stair checks do not replace local approval or contractor obligations.
The short answer
Consumer guidance recommends confirming contractor details, permits, and written terms before work starts.
StairSolver uses this as a baseline planning check. If the measurement crosses the threshold, the report explains what number triggered the flag and what to ask before building, buying, or approving a plan.
Report boundary
Baseline risk, not local approval.The local authority, inspector, engineer, or qualified stair professional still decides the final answer for the exact property.Referenced article content
What the cited source says
This is a StairSolver summary of the cited source content, written in plain language so you can understand the rule before opening the official reference.
- The cited FTC guidance is used as a homeowner-protection source for contractor and project-scope questions.
- StairSolver turns that guidance into prompts about who confirms permits, inspections, contractor details, and written responsibility.
- The source supports asking for clear responsibility before work starts; it does not decide the local permit requirement.
Why it matters
What problem this prevents
- A vague promise that no permit is needed can shift risk to the homeowner after money has already been spent.
- A clear written answer helps separate StairSolver's baseline warning from the local authority's final decision.
What to ask before building
Questions generated from this risk
- Who is responsible for checking whether a permit or inspection is required?
- Will the permit, inspection, and local code responsibility be written into the scope before work starts?
What this page cannot prove
Where the tool stops
- It cannot say your local inspector will approve the stair.
- It cannot determine the current permit requirement for every local jurisdiction without direct local confirmation.
Official source links
Check the original source if you need the authority trail
These links leave StairSolver. Use them when you want to verify the official citation, then come back to the calculator to test your dimensions.
FTC home improvement contractor guidance
Consumer guidance recommends confirming contractor details, permits, and written terms before work starts.
Federal Trade Commission / irc-baseline-2026-07-01Open FTC home improvement contractor guidance