Why a permit?

Alright see, my dad decided to make the garage into a room and its been like that for years. Neighbors didnt complain. But now my dad decide to make a wall to the patio to keep people from stealing his crap. My dads a real packrat and stores old junk and wood on the garden. Mind you he has a great garden. But he made a real ugly looking shed so now we get a surveyor from the city saying all the wrong things he did, like he shouldnt put his trash cans where the people can see them. We live on a corner street. My dad wants to change the fence to wood so no one can peer in. But the city people noticed the room so my dads needs to pay fees and a permit fee. He said he was told a long time ago that he didnt need a permit to change the garage into a room. He basically uses it to store things, like what anyone does to a garage. But my bro sleeps in the room so now the city people think my dads renting the room to my brother. Someone snitched on my dad. What do you think?

Why a permit?
It's called - personal propety tax!
Reply:There are a lot of folks that will build substandard dwellings without a permit. I live in earthquake country and we have a rigorous permit system, but at least homebuyers are confident that their house won't fall down around them. Permits are the price of safety. That's not to say that I like dealing with the permit department!
Reply:oh i have a neighbor from hell too. for the correct tax estimate he needed to get a permit from the city. i dont care what he was told in the past. he needs to follow the guidlines set down by the city now. or get a lawyer. from now one i would contact the permit people and see if the rules are posted on the web about what permits are needed for before i build anything else.
Reply:document how long the room has been in existence It should be grandfathered in as for the fence that's another story there are a lot of neighbors that should mind there own business or are just jealous
Reply:I think your dad can afford to make it a safe and compliant space and should.
Reply:Calm down man

This happen all the time and all it takes is one city employee to notice a shed or a room. Permits are for a reason and they are pretty cheap considering the out come you have experienced.

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