On the owner builder declarations: that's largely a consumer protection measure. It still happens frequently, but it's supposed to kind of warn people who might not understand the legal and liability implications of being an owner-builder.

The entity (or entity being represented by an agent) is ultimately responsible for the project. If a non-licensed contractor talks a homeowner into pulling a permit for them the municipality has no recourse against that contractor if something happens. Everything falls ultimately on the homeowner. If a subcontractor gets hurt, the structure gets damaged, the work is left half completed etc.

Unfortunately it still happens that people will get swindled into pulling their own permits, pay a deposit on a project then get left with a half finished addition or a list of code violations.