PMP · Question #1015
A project manager is executing a commercial building project. The project manager discovers that the required building permits have not been obtained. Obtaining the permits will delay the project by 1
The correct answer is D. Obtain the permits before continuing the build.. A project manager discovers a commercial building project is operating without required permits, incurring daily fines and significant delay for rectification.
Question
Options
- AContinue the project while trying to obtain the permit.
- BUpdate the risk management plan.
- CReview lessons learned from previous projects.
- DObtain the permits before continuing the build.
How the community answered
(27 responses)- A11% (3)
- B7% (2)
- C4% (1)
- D78% (21)
Why each option
A project manager discovers a commercial building project is operating without required permits, incurring daily fines and significant delay for rectification.
Continuing to build without permits is illegal, incurs ongoing daily fines, and escalates the legal and financial risks significantly, making it an unacceptable action.
Updating the risk management plan is an important follow-up step to document and plan for the permit issue, but it does not address the immediate, ongoing legal and financial problem.
Reviewing lessons learned might offer insights for future projects but does not resolve the immediate legal non-compliance and financial penalties currently being incurred by the project.
Operating without required building permits is a serious legal and regulatory violation that results in immediate, accumulating daily fines and potential project shutdown or demolition orders. The project manager's first and most critical action is to halt all non-compliant work and immediately initiate the process to obtain the necessary permits to ensure legal compliance and prevent further financial and legal repercussions.
Concept tested: Legal compliance and immediate risk mitigation
Topics
Community Discussion
5
Samuel O.Jul 5, 2026D is the right call here. I have seen this exact scenario play out on job sites and the math alone kills you, since 35 days at $1,000 a day breaks even on the fine, but the legal exposure of building without a permit can shut the whole site down or invalidate the insurance. PMI also expects you to follow regulatory requirements and do the right thing over cutting corners, regardless of schedule pressure. You submit the change request for the delay and cost after you stop work and secure the permits.
Yusuf A.Jun 26, 2026I first leaned toward A since stopping costs 35k and the daily fine is only 1k, but my senior PM pointed out that building without permits is illegal, not just a cost tradeoff, so compliance always wins. Picked D for that reason.
Grace U.Jul 5, 2026D showed up on my exam last month and A is the trap because the math makes it tempting, but you cannot legally continue construction without permits no matter what the fine comparison suggests. Stopping work to obtain the permits is the only compliant path forward, so pause the build and get it sorted.
Nina C.Jun 29, 2026Going with D here. I learned the hard way that compliance and regulatory requirements are non negotiable, so you stop work and get the permits even though the numbers might tempt you toward A.
Grace U.Jul 1, 2026D is the right call, and the way you connected compliance being non negotiable straight to stopping work is exactly the reasoning the exam is looking for, though I would add that the tempting numbers in A are usually a distractor designed to test whether you prioritize schedule over legal requirements.