If a building is constructed without a permit, what type of violation does that represent?

Constructing a building without a permit is regarded as a grave violation because it contravenes established building codes and zoning laws intended to ensure safety, health, and welfare standards within the community. Such regulations are in place to manage how structures are built and to ensure that they adhere to safety standards, which helps prevent hazards that could affect the occupants and the general public.

This type of violation typically indicates a significant disregard for legal requirements, which can result in serious consequences. Most jurisdictions treat the lack of a permit as a severe infraction, given that it poses a risk to safety and can lead to future legal complications, including possible fines, mandatory remediation, or demolition of the unpermitted structure. This is why it is categorized as a grave violation rather than a minor or less grave one. A felonious classification usually involves a criminal aspect, such as intentional harm or deceit, which is not the direct implication of merely building without a permit.