What if I don’t get a permit?

It is the responsibility of the property owner to make sure the required permits are obtained anytime new building or alterations, modifications or expansions are made to an existing building and or its systems.
  
As the property owner don’t be misled if you hear:

•    It’s not structural, you don’t need a permit.
•    It will just slow the job down waiting for inspections.
•    It will make the cost of the job go up when you get the inspectors involved.

Only the Building Inspectors are qualified to determine if a permit is necessary.  Bad advice or poor workmanship can vastly exceed the cost of the permit.

 Violation Process, Fines and Penalties

NH RSA 676:17 Fines and Penalties; Second Offense. –
I. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this title, or any local ordinance, code, or regulation adopted under this title, or any provision or specification of any application, plat, or plan approved by, or any requirement or condition of a permit or decision issued by, any local administrator or land use board acting under the authority of this title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if a natural person, or guilty of a felony if any other person; and shall be subject to a civil penalty of $275 for the first offense, and $550 for subsequent offenses, for each day that such violation is found to continue after the conviction date or after the date on which the violator receives written notice from the municipality that the violator is in violation, whichever is earlier. Each day that a violation continues shall be a separate offense.

The entire RSA 676:17 text can be found here: NH RSA 676:17

Code of Ordinances City of Claremont
Sec. 1-12.  General penalty for violation of Code; continuing violations.
(a)   Whenever in this Code any act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or whenever in this Code any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful, where no specific penalty is provided therefor, the violation of any such provision of this Code shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). Each day any violation of any provision of this Code shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.
(b)   Whenever the state law requires a specific penalty for a violation of a provision in this Code, the state law penalty shall supercede the penalty in this section.
Cross references:  Miscellaneous offenses, Ch. 9. 
State law references:  Penalty for violation of ordinances, RSA 47:19.