I Won't Tell -- Do You Always Get a Required Permit?

[NorTracNY]

Wow! I had no idea how bad it could be. If the purpose of the inspection is to make sure a job is done safetly, it should only cost the $50-100 for the inspectors time. Some of those permit fee costs are clearly just the government agencies looking for money.

I've only had problems with the inspectors not showning up. I had 4 guys idol one day waiting for the inspector. The head guy points out how this is costing them money. They had to be nice and couldn't do/say anything. I drove down there and escorted the inspector to my place. I just recently had the same problem. I told the town that every contractor I talk to is thinking about adding a town surcharge. The receptionist got the picture.

 

[MossRoad]

I always get permits when required for a few reasons...
1. Someone turns you in its gonna cost you more than the permit.
2. Go to sell the place and there could be trouble.
3. Insurance issues may come up.

On the other hand, I've gone for permits several times only to find out no permit was required for the work I wanted to do. Examples:
1. Replacing existing electrical circuits didn't require a permit. Only adding or modifying circuits did. But the replacement still required an inspection. Glad I did that, as the inpector pointed out a few things that were not up to code and he passed me as soon as I corrected it, which would seem like a modification to me, but he said he was there just to make sure it was done correctly. Great experience.
2. Building a barn on our agricultural property required no permit as long as there was no electrical or plumbing. It also won't raise my property taxes until I add electrical and/or plumbing.
3. UN-attached deck around above ground swimming pool required no permit. Only a deck attached to the house or garage would require a permit here.

I know several of my neighbors that built garages without permits and the inspector drove by and, well, inspected. Both had to get permits and face the zoning board, etc... and were told they may have to tear them down if any neighbors complained. They had to put legal notices in the paper and send informational letters to all of their neighbors about the zoning meeting, etc... Both took several months to resolve before they could finish their work. Would have been eaiser for them to just get the proper permits in the first place.
We are fortunate that permits here are not too high for most things.

 

[Lady Tonka]

Boggen, no offense taken, and your points are all good ones. The permit process is designed to be fair in resource allocation and impact resolution, and I was mostly being facetious about how it SEEMS you have to get a permit for every little thing you want to do on your own land.

I'm my father's daughter alright...

 

[BandRRanch]

Here are a few of my issues with permits sometimes. I had a block wall on the south side of my house that had been built in the 60's. It obviously had no rebar or solid concrete base. So it was leaning pretty bad. Now on the outside of that wall was a sidewalk where kids pass by on their way go to school every day. I decided to have it replaced because I didn't want some poor kid getting crushed. Now the sidewalk is 2 1/2 feet below my backyard. So it was basically also a retaining wall. The contractor pulled permits and had our initial inspection when the 3ft wide by 2ft deep trench was dug for the concrete,and rebar was laid. We started putting the block wall up and the inspector came by one day and said we couldn't go higher than 6ft. The contractor and I said that's crazy, that would make for only a 3 1/2 foot wall in the backyard. Besides, the wall we had taken down was 8ft. Well, he said nope, can't do it. Now I'm sure the regulation is it couldn't be higher than 6ft from your property line, but this dipweed felt he could interpret it his own way. The contractor just said don't worry about it, we'll build it 6ft., let him inspect and sign off, and when he leaves put 2 more ft on top.
Much better than having a 3 1/2 wall in my backyard with a 6ft drop if you fell over.

 

[Soundguy]

wow boggen.. glad I don't live near you. you assume the worst about everybody and mind all their biusiness huh?

the tru scufflaws building a open air fusion reactor powerd by cow maneuer and red lightning.. they can be handled by casual code enforcement.

the guy erecting a lawnmower garage from a kit at lowes.. I'm not so concerned about him.

eh?
IMHO.. if everyone worried more about what was on their side of the fence.. EVERYTHING would be better.

 

[300UGUY]

One reason for getting a permit is your neighbor's. Very, very common for your neighbor's to rat you out. I went to appeal my taxes to the board one time, the nasty old bat in front of me was upset about her assesment. So she proceeded to rat out 4 of her neighbor's, she had pics and measurements of additions and outbuildings they had built. Angry old ladies can be nasty.

 

[Lady Tonka]

One reason for getting a permit is your neighbor's. Very, very common for your neighbor's to rat you out. I went to appeal my taxes to the board one time, the nasty old bat in front of me was upset about her assesment. So she proceeded to rat out 4 of her neighbor's, she had pics and measurements of additions and outbuildings they had built. Angry old ladies can be nasty.

And of course there's an app for that! Arizonans better watch out for algae growth in their pools, LOL.

"The town's call for citizens to engage is apparent with MyGilbert, which invites you to turn in your neighbors if they are in violation of town codes. For example, if you have a neighbor with barking dogs all you need to do is open the app, select the button for reporting issues and select the correct code violation from the list."



Innovative Apps: Rat Out Your Neighbor Anonymously -- AppAdvice

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I want to build a tool shed, but a neighbor told me I need a permit to build it. Is that true?

Here it would be a yes, and you can't have more than one. We ended up having to have a 2nd shed hauled away.

 

[Soundguy]

"The town's call for citizens to engage is apparent with MyGilbert, which invites you to turn in your neighbors if they are in violation of town codes.

Yep.. as some of you may know.. earlier this year / late last year.. someone in my neighborhood engaged in a campaign to TRY to cause me trouble by calling every 2 weeks and reporting me to code enforcement saying I was starving and mistreating my animals.

literally making stuff up. saying no food or water when hay bales and water tanks are visible from the fence or road.

claiming starving.. and injured.

each 'anon' call in has to have an investigation.

after a few months of this i was on a first name basis with the investiator in my area and had her cell number and she mine, so she could let me know when I was reported. still had to do the song and dance and meet her out there for a farm inspection EACH time. never did find out who it was.. but the inspector said it was likely a neighbor since it happened so often. and I was in a closed commuity with no 'thru' road traffic.

the 'injured' horse is a 31yr old quarter that is missing an eye. ( removed at an equine hospital at many times cost of the value of the horse.. ) they get vet and farrier treatment every 6weeks.. go figure...

it was a deal where i was being harrassed.. and whoever was doing it was abusing the system.. and nobody but me really cared..

 

[Pixguy]

Sure you can do your own work but you still need permits for most stuff and they do need inspected

Not in my town, nothing inspected except for septic by the state. Doesn't mean I cut corners though.