Permitting: Shop with no utilities vs Home

[SandyS]

We did not pass our first final inspection because of some minor issues. Some PVC pipe at ground level needed to be covered with cinder, an annoying platform (stoop) needed to be built on our lanai because our main exterior door,which is a storm door opened outward, and our planned barrier free shower needed to have a 4" dam built. All were pretty easy fixes and all that we did not care for are gone now that the home passed it's inspection.

[kalakoa]

1. Did the inspector give you a "checklist", or make a separate visit for each "violation"?

2. What value is an "inspection" when you can simply remove the "violations" after final?

[Bullwinkle]

certificate of occupancy - the holy grail - congrats

[Rob Tucker]

quote:

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Originally posted by kalakoa

Turning the argument around: I've heard of numerous incidents where a County inspector makes up rules on the spot, do what they say or it won't be signed off, regardless of what the building code actually says is "required".

Maybe if the permit/inspection process were transparent, accountable, and efficient, people wouldn't feel the need for complicated workarounds?

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The building inspectors are authorized to make decisions in the field. Always have been.

[kalakoa]

I've heard of inspectors "making decisions" about issues that are not explicitly documented in the NEC (which is incorporated by reference into the County Code and thus given the force of law). This seems "unfair" but there's no real recourse due to the obvious "grey area".

If the inspector is going to just make things up on the spot regardless of the applicable Codes, then what is the point of publishing the Code? How can anyone expect to be compliant with "whatever the inspector feels like today"?

If the County wants or needs things that are "above and beyond" the NEC, UBC, UPC, etc, then these need to be written into the law as exceptions so that people can actually follow them. They had no problem doing this with Appendix X of the Building Code ("Traditional" Hawaiian Hale construction, as documented by the nice people at UHH)...

[Seeb]

No where is it legal inspector make code or issue fines without going to court. they can interpret weather what you built meets the code but it comes down to is it in the book or not. Most places there is an established appeals process with some kind of commissioner's interpretation or review board. For fines the inspector can issue an appearance ticket which is basically an invitation to talk to a judge who decides.
And as always I say the solution building problems here is to make it its own department and rebid the jobs at double the salary.

[kalakoa]

Any "appeals process" only works in the first world. Here, challenging the Authorities will result in your being singled out for "enhanced compliance verification".

[Rob Tucker]

Things slip though the cracks in plan check. It is legal for a building inspector to over rule anything that has been approved in the plans. Such a determination must be in accordance with the code.

[redefinehappy]

7Shadows - Have you considered an RV with a large tarp attached as an overhang? this would provide a nice living space plus a dry area to work on projects during the build. The person who built the home we recently purchased actually lived in a van next on the construction site for 6 months. I believe there are RV dump stations in Hilo, but I could be mistaken.

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.
~Douglas Adams

[7Shadows]

Hello Rede, Yes we have considered this but RV's we've found on craigslist are very expensive on the island. Has anyone shipped one over from the mainland? Wonder what the costs are for shipping the larger vehicles?