local building inspectors are arrogant bastards

[spaceman]

weeks ago i called to pull a permit for a wood/coal stove
the regular is out of town and so I had to call the fill in.
he hasnt returned my call for two weeks.
im sure hes expecting a kickback, but hell be in for a goddamn surprise if he doesnt get back to me soon.
:|

 

[IronWing]

Maybe he's busy doing inspections for folks who are in line ahead of you, eh? Maybe more work than employees, no? You get the government you pay for.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

You, "CALLED"???, everywhere I have ever lived, you had to file, in writing, and pay for, up front, usually in person, to get a permit. On the permit, you give them a completion date, based upon that, they will notify you of the inspectors arrival. Some jobs require more than 1 inspection, and some jobs require more than 1 permit. I have never lived anywhere, that you could get the government to step, and fetch with just a mere phone call.

 

[theflyingpig]

Ah yes, building inspectors. I remember back when I was living in Florida, I had purchased a small, yet cozy fixer upper for myself. I had made numerous improvements to the home; a fireplace, a deck, and a labyrinth. The inspector came and wasn't pleased with my work. I wasn't pleased with him. He cited several code violations, and seemed to be quite frustrated. He actually had the nerve to put his finger in my face. I briefly considered ripping his arms off, but I came to my senses. I bludgeoned him, then took him down into the center of my "out of code" labyrinth, and tortured him for three days and three nights. After that he was able to see the true beauty of my work.

 

[BoomerD]

We built a patio cover about 6 years ago. To get the building permit, we had to have a drawing of what was proposed, the site map, the sub-division plot map, the deed with the CC&R's to verify that what we wanted to do was within our restrictions, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Took dammed near all day at the permits office, but we got one.

Then, it required 4 inspections. Pre-build, rough framing, roofing, and final completion.

The city inspectors were very professional, went out of their way to accomodate us with this, offered a few suggestions to improve the stability of the patio cover, added a few things to meet code, and kept every appointment for inspection.

IMO, it couldn't have gone smoother.

 

[MovingTarget]

Sometimes it pays to live in the county. What they don't know won't hurt them....only you if you do a bad job.

 

[Gothgar]

yes they are assholes

 

[DrPizza]

I believe the saying around here is "if you're not increasing the square footage of your home, don't get a building permit." And, unless you're creating an eyesore, no one is ever going to complain. We had some friends up from Long Island, they saw the hole dug for the basement stairs (outside entrance), they saw the patio that was nearly completed, they commented that had they done something like that, someone would have called & the building inspector would be there fining them by the time they took took a second scoop of dirt with a shovel. "How would the building inspector know?" "Someone would call." "Ahhhhh. We don't have assholes in our neighborhood."

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
Ah yes, building inspectors. I remember back when I was living in Florida, I had purchased a small, yet cozy fixer upper for myself. I had made numerous improvements to the home; a fireplace, a deck, and a labyrinth. The inspector came and wasn't pleased with my work. I wasn't pleased with him. He cited several code violations, and seemed to be quite frustrated. He actually had the nerve to put his finger in my face. I briefly considered ripping his arms off, but I came to my senses. I bludgeoned him, then took him down into the center of my "out of code" labyrinth, and tortured him for three days and three nights. After that he was able to see the true beauty of my work.

lol