07-04-2008, 04:08 AM
The stamp for a carport would probably be just a couple hundred dollars and then the architect or engineer is responsible for anything that happens to the structure later because of design faults. I suspect the Building Department doesn't want to be liable for any possible structure failures more so than they are unable to do it. It is also the "way things are done" and that is almost sacrosanct. Following rules just and only because they are the rules is very important to a large segment of our population although Puna seems to have a few less of them than the rest of the island. 
They also do not care how it is done in San Diego and do not want to hear about how it is done in San Diego, either, in case you ever have the opportunity and feel you should explain it to them.
The going rate for a set of plans for a carport is a bit less than half of what you'd charge and as times get tight it will go to less than a third of your rates. It can get as low as ten or twenty cents a square foot when things get really tight since there's only so much work and not anywhere else to get more unless it can be brought in from off island somewhere. Usually most of the draftspeople find other things to do or move to where the work is.
Sometimes you'll find an "as-built" to do. That's what they are called when the folks have already built something and then run afoul of the Building Department and that is a slightly different set of plans, too. If the project has really gotten the Building Department upset you will get to do calcs, get multiple stamps, pull a variance or two, etc. On those sets of plans they have been known to send them back for grammar and spelling corrections so always charge a little extra for them since they are such a pain to do.
They also do not care how it is done in San Diego and do not want to hear about how it is done in San Diego, either, in case you ever have the opportunity and feel you should explain it to them.
The going rate for a set of plans for a carport is a bit less than half of what you'd charge and as times get tight it will go to less than a third of your rates. It can get as low as ten or twenty cents a square foot when things get really tight since there's only so much work and not anywhere else to get more unless it can be brought in from off island somewhere. Usually most of the draftspeople find other things to do or move to where the work is.
Sometimes you'll find an "as-built" to do. That's what they are called when the folks have already built something and then run afoul of the Building Department and that is a slightly different set of plans, too. If the project has really gotten the Building Department upset you will get to do calcs, get multiple stamps, pull a variance or two, etc. On those sets of plans they have been known to send them back for grammar and spelling corrections so always charge a little extra for them since they are such a pain to do.
Kurt Wilson