DanG wrote:

A friend who shall remain nameless called. He lives in the county
in a different state. He launched into a small addition with no
permit. He has it framed and dried in. He received a letter from
the county ordering him to cease and desist. He called wondering
what they can do to him if he just keeps going.

Somebody down the street from us tried that, got a big notice nailed right
to the front door, a contractor we know said for sure there was a fine on
top of having to get permits to start up again. Presumably anyone trying to
tough it out past that point will find himself standing in front of a judge,
and that always has the possibility of time in jail attached to it, judges
don't like being ignored.