Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Gulf Shores laid out its case against a unlicensed general contractor who has failed to obtain the required business and building permits to do work in the city and doesn’t have the proper state licenses to perform work beyond roofing.

Building Official Brandan Franklin told the council at an Oct. 2 city council work session Orange Beach-based Purdy Restoration has been issued stop-work orders on at least four jobs residents hired the company to do. Purdy did not have a business license to operate in the city and Franklin said the company has never applied for a building permit.

The city council will vote on Oct. 9 on whether or not to issue a business to Purdy.

“Staff does recommend that this license not be issued due to the number of violations within this past year,” Franklin said.

Purdy Restoration Services was first issued a stop order on Oct. 24, 2022 but soon after obtained a license for the remainder of the year. It was not renewed in January for 2023. Three stop orders happened again on July 14, Sept. 15 and Sept. 20 and after the last one Purdy again applied for a business license.

“Purdy has been issued for stop-work orders in the past year doing all these jobs prior to obtaining the proper permit,” Franklin said. “He did make application for his 2023 business license on Sept. 20 of this year. As of this date, he has not made any applications for the permits that are required for the work being done.”

Franklin pointed out the company’s website under frequently asked questions with one being “Does my construction job need a permit?” The answer says the company’s experts will “in almost every case, … apply for the proper building permits for you.”

It goes on to say in the last sentence of the answer “It is important to us – for our reputation, licensing and our client’s safety – that everything we do is compliant with local guidelines.”

Purdy’s only license from the state is for doing roof work. The company has no licenses for work beyond roofing and has been doing general contracting in Gulf Shores.

Franklin said the job at 609 Magnolia Circle included electrical work, sheetwork, wall removals and window replacements for well over $100,000.

“We were notified of this job after our police department was contacted by the homeowner to file a complaint against Purdy Restoration,” Franklin said. “Again, no permits issued.”

The city broke down its case into three areas of violation under state and city laws:

• Working without a current business license
• Working without obtaining the proper permits
• Performing work outside the scope of his homebuilder’s roofing license.

Purdy has a court date on Nov. 2 to answer to several citations issued by city staff. The company is also under investigation from the state’s Homebuilder’s Licensure Board, Franklin said.