Building Permits

[richi1173]

I wanted to hear your opinion about building permits.
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Why if a home is privately owned and does not deal in a significant way with the public sphere does the government require a permit to allow the owner to modify their private property? Some cities go as far as requiring permits to shift appliances around and replacing things like toilets and vanity cabinets.

My opinion is that its stupid and a simple courtesy inspection(s) by the city accomplishes the same purpose. My main beef is that they charge for something that is a right of the owner, not about the cities building code.

 

[porkyson]

if think permits have gone abit too far. its all to make all the buildings look the same or if your blocking a window view or being overlooked

 

[WolfAU]

I like the idea that some buildings must meet some kind of code, ie if the building is unstable guests can be killed, if it has highly flammable elements it could cause or increase the spread of fires.

That said I cannot think why they are not highly efficient and run at cost, their slowness and beaurocracy is a testiment to government inefficiency and their price is a testiment to government greed. Also things for making minor alterations I can see no justification for.