| |
to John97
Re: Getting a Village permit to do work?said by John97:said by alkizmo:said by John97:They actually use Google Earth and other similar "high-tech" methods now as well. Who? the municipal NSA? Nothing beats the good old method of driving around the neighborhood and knocking on the door of whoever has contractor's truck in front of it, or seems to have a lot of construction materials being delivered. Not sure if you're trolling or being serious, but anyway here's an example: » www.cnet.com/news/town-u ··· d-pools/ I know for a fact that's not allowed in New York State, they'd have to observe it from the street.. other states may vary.. notice that is from 2010. they are not allowed to do that anymore.. |
|
 alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC |
alkizmo
Member
2014-May-19 10:22 pm
They could spot it for Google earth then go observe from the street more carefully. |
|
| |
to nunya
said by nunya:Due to a decline in revenue, and an increase in "flippers", the city here has all inspectors (code enforcement and building) actively do "dumpster" patrols. If they spot a dumpster, they look a little closer at what's going down.
Flippers around here are notorious for doing shit work and just putting a fresh coat of paint over it. what bugs me here in quebec is the new construction, the cities dont inspect it if the builder is a RBQ member. so renovations are watched more than new construction |
|
| telco_mtl |
to alkizmo
said by alkizmo:I was being serious because I didn't think it was serious. Google Earth isn't updated seasonally, but I guess for pools it can work. I'm surprised people put up pools without permits. I can imagine people doing a new shed or deck without a permit, but a pool? Jeezus, once a kid drowns in your non "permitted" pool, you lose everything except your underwear. So, what other "high-tech" methods do they use these days? Line taps? Infrared? when i got my pool i checked with the city, they said you only need a permit for a new pool, according to them there was a pool in my backyard (it was gone before i even bought the place) so they wouldnt issue a permit and said it was a replacement. go figure |
|
Liberty
Premium Member
join:2005-06-12
Arizona |
to SuperNet
In Pima county Az they take hidef aerial photos of entire county from time to time.
When a property is sold they compare photos and check if they see if any changes visible.
If there are then an inspection occurs and fines are levied if no record of permits exist.
I had electrical upgrade from 100 amp to 200.
Permit was $35 |
|
alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC |
to telco_mtl
said by telco_mtl:when i got my pool i checked with the city, they said you only need a permit for a new pool, according to them there was a pool in my backyard (it was gone before i even bought the place) so they wouldnt issue a permit and said it was a replacement. go figure I'm surprised they didn't fine you for NOT having a pool when you were supposed to!  |
|
| |
said by alkizmo:said by telco_mtl:when i got my pool i checked with the city, they said you only need a permit for a new pool, according to them there was a pool in my backyard (it was gone before i even bought the place) so they wouldnt issue a permit and said it was a replacement. go figure I'm surprised they didn't fine you for NOT having a pool when you were supposed to! I was floored when my neighbor went to replace his back deck, they said as long as its within the same footprint of the old one no permit needed either, kinda scary. What about structure? railing height? |
|
 Msradell
Premium Member
join:2008-12-25
Louisville, KY |
to Critsmcgee
said by Critsmcgee: Taxachusetts but it was similar in Connecticut. Well that certainly explains why your permits are so inexpensive! You get taxed so much and everything else the government has money laying around to pay for inspectors. Unlike other states where the inspectors have to earn their keep through fines and inspection fees, yours get to lay around and not worry about hurting their keep. |
|
 DataDocMy avatar looks like me, if I was 2D.
Premium Member
join:2000-05-14
Martinsburg, WV |
to telco_mtl
said by telco_mtl:I was floored when my neighbor went to replace his back deck, they said as long as its within the same footprint of the old one no permit needed either, kinda scary. What about structure? railing height? It's called "grandfathering." If it was good enough for your grandfather, it's good enough for them. Seriously, replacing parts is just repairs. |
|
 mityfowl
Premium Member
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX |
to nunya
said by nunya:There is an old saying: It's easier to get forgiveness than permission.
This is one of those cases where it's untrue.
If you're having a contractor do the work, and they do not want a permit, it's because they 1) probably aren't licensed / insured / qualified to do the work, and / or 2) they want to cut corners.
You also have to worry about the "revenge informant". All it takes is one nosy neighbor or a contractor who lost out on the bid to call city hall.
If I get underbid on a job and drive by and see some unlicensed hack doing the work without a permit - you can bet your ass I'm picking up the phone. Do you think my x wife should get a permit or licence to run drill |
|
alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC |
to telco_mtl
Did you get a permit for that? |
|
mityfowl
Premium Member
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX |
to SuperNet
I'ts all about revenue and controll |
|
| mityfowl |
to alkizmo
did you get a permit to paint? |
|
| |
cvc44v to LazMan
Anon
2014-May-20 4:20 pm
to LazMan
said by LazMan:Just spent $122 for a 320 sq ft deck permit.
Electric permits are bank around here... A panel change is $250. If you're not a registered electrical contractor with the safety authority, there's a 1.5x adjustment... Two different things in Ontario though. Building Code permits are issued by the municipality, and the Building Code Act specifies that the fee can only be cost recovery (and this get challenged frequently, municipalities are very careful about setting fees at 100% cost recovery with no extra, to avoid court). ESA on the other hand ... they are technically a non-profit, but their fees are not set by legislation and they do have to pay the executives their million dollar salaries, so their fees are insane. |
|
|
 John97Over The Hills And Far Away
Premium Member
join:2000-11-14
Spring Hill, FL |
to alkizmo
said by alkizmo:So, what other "high-tech" methods do they use these days? Line taps? Infrared? No, you're not trolling at all...  As others have pointed out, the legality of doing this is questionable (at best) in some places - which of course won't prevent it from happening. And, as you noted - it'll give them an idea if someone might have done some work without permits - which they can investigate further using legal means. Since I moved eighteen months ago, the Google Earth imagery showing my old house has been updated twice. So, they definitely could track certain changes to a property. Earlier in the thread I mentioned my father recently got dinged for some stuff he did without permits. Some of it, I am sure was reported by his a-hole neighbor. Other things he got dinged for, which I know for a fact the neighbor could not see (opposite side of the property), are however visible on Google Earth. So, I am sure they used that for part of the "investigation" that took place. A few years before I moved, a bunch of people in the town I grew up got nailed for illegal sewer hookups. They had their rain gutters connected to the sewer system. How'd they get caught? Nobody knows for sure. |
|
 garys_2k
Premium Member
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI |
garys_2k
Premium Member
2014-May-20 5:38 pm
said by John97:A few years before I moved, a bunch of people in the town I grew up got nailed for illegal sewer hookups. They had their rain gutters connected to the sewer system. How'd they get caught? Nobody knows for sure. In my old town they'd occasionally pump smoke into the sanitary sewers and look for downspouts that were smoking. It was pretty easy to just drive down the street and find them. |
|
| |
to LazMan
I guess I will keep my fusebox then...
Edit:
Is this a city or region thing? |
|
| |
said by Cho Baka:I guess I will keep my fusebox then...
Edit:
Is this a city or region thing? Sure hope they don't fly over until they get my new roofing shingles completed.  Looking good so far. |
|
| |
to SuperNet
Can't remember if we got a permit or not when had our basement partially finished in 2005, Family friend did the work, (Family member was like that will be your room when done) I no longer sleep down here, but am down here during the day almost all day working on Computer, or watching tv some)
No Egress Window installed--Condo board denied that |
|
psiu
join:2004-01-20
Farmington, MI |
psiu
Member
2014-May-25 6:41 pm
said by computerman2:No Egress Window installed--Condo board denied that You know why they deny stuff like that, right? |
|
| |
Nope, not sure why they denied it, Construction phase was still happening when we moved in, request for that was denied. |
|
| |
iknow_t
Member
2014-May-26 11:49 am
said by computerman2:Nope, not sure why they denied it, Construction phase was still happening when we moved in, request for that was denied. I found an interesting answer. » www.expertlaw.com/forums ··· t=117587 |
|
 LazMan
Premium Member
join:2003-03-26
Welland, ON |
to Cho Baka
said by Cho Baka:I guess I will keep my fusebox then...
Edit:
Is this a city or region thing? Electric permits are province-wide, building permits are municipal... |
|
| |
to Msradell
Inexpensive permits? When I moved out of Massachusetts 9 years ago, the cost of a building permit in the town we lived in for a renovation, alteration, or new construction was $10 per Thousand of estimated cost. Fifteen years earlier My father paid $50 for a house permit, and $50 for the water meter, a grand total of $100. BTW the surrounding towns permit costs were usually higher. |
|
| |
said by dbamber:Inexpensive permits? When I moved out of Massachusetts 9 years ago, the cost of a building permit in the town we lived in for a renovation, alteration, or new construction was $10 per Thousand of estimated cost. Fifteen years earlier My father paid $50 for a house permit, and $50 for the water meter, a grand total of $100. BTW the surrounding towns permit costs were usually higher. Both dirt cheap. Massachusetts doesn't make anything off permits. IF anything it costs them money. |
|
| |
to SuperNet
Not sure of the cost for the permit here, but if you need to go before the Zoning board for anything the cost goes up drastically for the project. They feel the need to critic everything and ask why for all the stuff. The town here has ended up being sued over most of what they've done since they can end up dragging the process out then, deny the permits due to time contraints. It's happened a couple times with rebuilds after a fire. |
|
| |
to Critsmcgee
The town I lived in (Norwood) the Inspector of Buildings told me that the Inspection Department was expected to be self sufficient. FYI the latest budget for the town (2012) the Inspection Dept had revenues of $793,046, and expenditures of $381,141. I would consider this prima-facia evidence that it is a money maker for the town I used to live in. The State Dept of Public Safety I believe is also self-sustaining. I should know as I paid a fee of $100 every two years to have a licensed construction supervisors license . A contractor who would only do residential work also paid a fee for a Home Improvement Contractors License. So I believe that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Dept of Public Safety's is far from a losing proposition. |
|
| |
said by dbamber:The town I lived in (Norwood) the Inspector of Buildings told me that the Inspection Department was expected to be self sufficient. FYI the latest budget for the town (2012) the Inspection Dept had revenues of $793,046, and expenditures of $381,141. I would consider this prima-facia evidence that it is a money maker for the town I used to live in. The State Dept of Public Safety I believe is also self-sustaining. I should know as I paid a fee of $100 every two years to have a licensed construction supervisors license . A contractor who would only do residential work also paid a fee for a Home Improvement Contractors License. So I believe that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Dept of Public Safety's is far from a losing proposition. Without seeing the numbers you can only speculate. I'd speculate that's penalties for permit violations, commercial permits, license fees, and other stuff. We're talking residential permit's here. I can tell you from talking to half a dozen BI's in the last 2 years for various reasons that resident permits are break even or a loss. Kind of like the company I work for. We break even or lose a little money on 90% of our customers. We make 100% of our profit off 10% of our customers. Our revenue was $13.8 billion last year. My previous company lost millions up front in R&D to get airline contracts then made all their profit off repairs and after market sales. They make all their profit on the back end over the next 30+ years the plane is in service. It's pretty common to do some stuff at break even or a loss just to get the stuff that turns a profit. Sometimes you can't get one without the other. |
|
psiu
join:2004-01-20
Farmington, MI |
to computerman2
said by computerman2:Nope, not sure why they denied it, Construction phase was still happening when we moved in, request for that was denied. Oh, I was interpreting it as they wouldn't approve something without an egress window. But the other way is just dumb...but dumb is just a shorter way of spelling condo board. I can see the foundation aspect that iknow_t linked to, but still seems they could recommend a course of action (find an engineer) versus deny with no info. |
|
| psiu |
to SuperNet
As for the original point of the topic, we just bought a house and are doing work in it. Already pulled our first permit, and for all the reasons listed above. Low voltage cabling I am proficient at. Electrical I am probably competent at. I am not a plumber or a carpenter And regardless it doesn't hurt to have someone come in and verify that I haven't done any of the "Top 10 Dumb Homeowner Tricks When Installing _____". And if we were to ever sell, again, don't need hassles with work showing that isn't on the books. |
|
Looking good so far. 
