taxing "unpermitted" structures

[Obie]

Just found out that a friend in the neighborhood got a property tax notice based on what they can see from the air.

Glad my modifications have stayed within the original footprint of the house.

[kalakoa]

Which neighborhood? One with County-paved streets?

[Obie]

No county paved roads.

[Oregon Woodsmoke]

You weren't really expecting the county to leave any possible tax revenue unturned?

[csgray]

FYI,
You do NOT have to allow the tax man onto your property. They are prone to phrasing the request as if you do not have the right to refuse, but they do not have the right to do more than look from the road, neighboring properties if they get permission, or the air, without your permission. We knew the county had the right dimensions for our house and the right square footage so we told them no. They still had to drop our taxes when we appealed because the assessor was using all much newer houses with higher ratings for the construction for the comparison properties. When the appeals board caught that they gave us everything we were asking for.

Carol

[kalakoa]

Well put, however it's worth noting that the "tax man" is only looking for "taxable" things; if you don't cooperate (like a "good little citizen") they can always follow up with a "structural integrity review", a "health code violation", or possibly "manufacture of a controlled substance". Building inspectors, Dept of Health, and the Police all have "right of entry" along with a blanket waiver.

Also, don't assume that "paying more taxes" will ever translate into "getting more services". If you live in one of the "worthless tour helicopter flyover subdivisions", you're still not getting a paved road no matter how much you pay in property tax.

[Seeb]

building inspector does not have the right to enter - he has got a free trip to the front door to ask permission ( unless you have a building permit in which you give the permission ).if you say no he can get an administrative warrant

[kalakoa]

Hawaii County Code, section 5-14. "Right of Entry"

Upon presentation of proper credentials, the administrative authority or such person's assistants may
enter at reasonable times any building or premises in the County to perform any duty imposed by this code,
provided that such entry shall be made in such a manner as to cause the least possible inconvenience to the
persons in possession. An order of a court authorizing such entry shall be obtained in the event such entry is
denied or resisted.

Section 5-15 grants the right to deputize "such inspectors or employees as may be necessary" and grants them any/all powers delegated by the building official.

Section 5-16 grants a liabiity waiver to "authorized personnel charged with enforcement of this code".

Section 5-50 states that "the building official shall examine ... every building or portion thereof appearing to the building official ... or having been reported as dangerous or damaged".

[Carey]

I think that the main point is WHY would the county do anything...if there are no neighbors complaining, & little financial gain, I do not think the county will venture too far... even though they have the right & they have been studying the remote sensing images & ground truthing for a while...

(We all know about the obvious violations that have been here for years/decades, things like the media covered "house of cards" & even in Hilo town, the violations like the collapsing house on Lanikula & the house on skids on Kilaeua)

[Seeb]

kalakoa- they can write it as threatening as they want, but they still have to ask permission. Excluding some imminent danger like after an earthquake