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· Registered
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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
So here is the deal. Since my city office was closed on Friday for Good Friday my dad and I got started on my new deck. We set the posts, stringers, joists, and floor board without a permit. This morning my conscience got the best of me and I went in and applied for a building permit. They want to come out for a hole inspection, but obviously our posts are already set. Is there anyway for me to get out of the permit and just continue building without an inspector coming out? Thanks for your input.

Joe
 

· Framing Contractor
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1,586 Posts
No. Most building departments are happy to work with homeowners who do get permits. I would explain the situation to them, and offer to dig out one of the holes. They most likely need to verify the depth of the hole, and the size of the footing.
 

· Civil Engineer
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5,832 Posts
This is a bit like going to the police and admitting you murdered someone, then thinking twice about it. Probably a little late. However, you probably wanted to get a permit anyway, since doing a highly visible project like building a deck is not likely to escape notice, and doing so without a permit can lead to all sorts of long term problems. As previously poster noted, go to the inspector, tell them what you did, file for the permit (you are going to need plans), and ask them what you can do to make it right. The average building inspector is not likely to give you a hard time, they will probably find a way to work with you and get it approved.

I started a deck last September, filed for a permit, and am still working on it. I stopped by three times to discuss various issues with the inspector (use of lag screws vs bolts, depth of footing when I hit a rock, method of attachment of ledger to house). The inspector told me to take pictures of the holes I dug, he would come out to visit when the deck was complete. I guess he liked that I stopped in to see him, so he did not feel the need to verify depth of hole.
 

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
Lots of thanks.

Thank you for the responses. Those at least give me some direction of where to go from here. I so, wanted to kick my own butt after getting that permit, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Daniel, I don't know it if it is as bad as murdering someone, but I get your analogy. LOL! Thanks again everyone.
 
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