topic Re: City Building Inspector Duties in Home

City Building Inspector Duties

Karnerblue — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 02:39:55 GMT

Is anyone here familiar with the procedures a small city building inspector might go about in his duties. More specificially, would it be appropriate for this individual to approach a home and stick his head in the front door and ask "what's going on" without being invited in or having any kind of appointment scheduled with intent to do a formal inspection.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

lovescats — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 03:04:28 GMT

maybe you need a building permit for what you're doing or an occupancy permit or something similar

Is the home listed as vacant

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

Karnerblue — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 03:09:45 GMT

We live in the home and we were having HW floors put in, that's all. Either way, I am wondering if it's normal procedure for them to just drop in as they were "riding by and heard something ..." His explanation was just that.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

RoughDraft — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 03:13:48 GMT

Not sure where you're going here.

We just had hardwood floors installed and there was no city building inspection involved.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

on the bay — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 03:19:27 GMT

That sounds creepy. I would call the city govt and ask about him. I would expect a government worker to write a letter first-something like just wanting to make sure anything done is up to city building regulations. Even then, I would wonder how they knew or cared that we were putting in hard wood floors! Unless your building is a historical building.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

KarenQVC — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 03:20:28 GMT

It seems odd to me. I would check out the city website for building codes and only engage if I knew I was innocent. Maybe they want to raise assessed value?

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

CatLoverDogsToo — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 03:27:13 GMT

No he cannot stick his head inside your home and ask what is going on. Hearing something such as hammering doesn't mean work requiring inspection is being done. You are under no obligation to let anyone in your home. I had a similar situation with a local inspector insisting I had vinyl siding installed on my home in 2009. I did not, it was installed in 1993 and all paperwork and city permits were obtained at that time. I was doing some work in my garage that did not require any permits as I was painting something I made. He was nosy, and I told him to leave. He did. That was the end of that.

The inspectors are most likely trying to increase the value ot the property to get more property taxes.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

RoughDraft — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 03:33:38 GMT

I don't know the laws in your city, but where I live, if a permit is filed with the municipality to have major construction changes (usually the sort that alters the size of the house, etc.), the property owner would be notified and an appointment would be scheduled to visit the site. Proper identification and a copy of the application would be required before the home owner would grant permission to allow the inspector in.

If your work didn't require a permit and this person just "happened by", I consider you fortunate that you weren't harmed or robbed.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

Princesswife — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 03:41:02 GMT

I live in a smaller town and the city inspector drives around and will stop and see what's going on if he sees work being done. I would still call and make sure he was an inspector because there are a lot of nuts around.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

Karnerblue — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 03:47:32 GMT

thank you all, your responses have been helpful. I am going to call and ask because first of all he didn't announce hmself or show any kind of ID. Though we live in a very small community and I've live here all my life, I would still expect him to handle this in a more professional manner.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

Kachina624 — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 06:53:41 GMT

@Karnerblue There are people who make significant alterations to homes without getting the required building permit. I imagination the inspector was in your area and either heard or saw the activity and was just checking to see if it was something requiring a permit. No he would not need an appointment but he should have shown his ID and explained what he was doing. I doubt I'd make too big a deal about this. It may come back to bite you.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

gardenman — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:10:43 GMT

Part of the job for a building inspector is to monitor building activity in the community. Things like a dumpster, contractor truck parked nearby, lumber delivery, etc., can all indicate unpermitted activity going on. Even the sound of power saw running can indicate something going on. I suspect your flooring contractor had their saw set up outside and the inspector saw it and stopped to see what was going on. It's all part of his/her job.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

drizzellla — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:14:56 GMT

Yes, we had the exct same thing happen. We were getting a new kitchen. And the inspector saw the van of the "kitchn guy" in our driveway and stopped. He was checking to see that all the right permits were filed and what exactly was being done.

We were not there. The "kitchen guy" apparently handled it well because there was never any problems.

Maybe the inspetor didn't show ID because he was driving a muncipal truck? The name of the municiality is on the truck? I know in our municipality that is his job - to drive around and see what work people are having done and is the job up to code and were permits filed. We expect it whenever we have work done.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

Karnerblue — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 11:35:49 GMT

I was thinking of calling but I don't know if I should. I just think it's good practice to announce yourself, name and job title, when taking it upon yourself to enter property. The think that irritates me more, is the fact that people that live around us have added on a deck in their back yard, a fire pit that is not within safe distance from their building structure (and yes I checked to see what is considered safe) and no one bothers them and there was never a building permit. I guess if you do your own work you can get away with it. If we needed a building permit, we would have had one and it would have been appropriately viewed for them to see.

It's a very small town, as I explained. Everyone knows everyone (just about) and there is favortism for some because of positions city officials hold. Even the police don't take their job seriously and close their eyes to things they should not.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

Mominohio — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 22:46:31 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Karnerblue There are people who make significant alterations to homes without getting the required building permit. I imagination the inspector was in your area and either heard or saw the activity and was just checking to see if it was something requiring a permit. No he would not need an appointment but he should have shown his ID and explained what he was doing. I doubt I'd make too big a deal about this. It may come back to bite you.

Wow! Based on some of these replies explaining how invasive some communities are about this, I'm glad I live in a rural county that has very little of this required.

We don't need permits for anything we have done, including building decks, sheds, remodeling, windows, doors siding, etc.

We were taking quotes on having a garage built and I'm pretty sure we didn't even need a permit for that. We did need one for the new septic, but I don't think we even needed one for some electrical work we hired done.

I know they are watching for safe and quality work, and it is supposed to be a protection for the consumer and the public, but in reality, I'm sure many of the permits are nothing more than another tax grab, with inspections and approvals given to contractors whether or not the work is up to codes. Corruption funded by the consumer/tax payer once more.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

flickerbulb — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 02:49:41 GMT

I had a new a/c unit installed last summer. I had to have a permit for it and have it inspected twice by the the city. I had to display the permit until it passed inspection.

I also had a new concrete culvert poured and needed an inspection and permit. The company put out a little sign with the permit attached.

You also need permits for sheds, hot water heaters, fences and more in this county.

The inspector makes an appointment if he needs to come inside. I never saw the concrete inspector. They do ride around to see if construction work has permits.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

Lipstickdiva — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 18:22:31 GMT

Our city doesn't have the manpower to have the inspectors drive around looking for things. The only time they would check is if someone turned you in for not having a permit.

I'm not even sure what all we need a permit for. I know we needed one when our house was rewired and we needed one when we added on our deck and built a barn in the back. We also needed one when we took out a picture window and had a sliding glass door installed. We did not have to have one when our a/c was replaced.

I do know here, it is the owner's responsibility to make sure the proper permits are pulled and displayed. Normally the contractor does it and should but if they don't, you as the homeowner will be the one to get fined, if required to have one.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:35:54 GMT

I'm not doubting you, @Karnerblue, but it sound so weird to me. From my understanding, a permit is needed when making alterations to the actual structure of the dwelling/property - adding a deck, patio, second garage, dormer, sunroom, that sort of thing, but not for making decorative home improvements. And I would think that the filing of those permits is what alerts the building inspector to check things out - certainly not hearing a little hammering or seeing a truck with advertising parked in the driveway. I think your guy was just being nosy. Who knows, maybe he was hoping to catch you doing something that was a violation.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

Karnerblue — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 11:57:31 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch I was thinking just as you were. Or a nosey neighbor, which we have many of, called their attention to it.

Re: City Building Inspector Duties

qualitygal — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 10:24:30 GMT

Was he stopping by because of your building permit, I don't quite get it?