Garage Permit Pulling Issues...

[DQRedSox]

Hey Everyone, my name is Dustin and I live in St. Joseph County Indiana. We recently purchased an old farmhouse built in 1900 on four acres at an auction. It didn't have a garage, so we purchased one with the plan of getting it built by winter (now). Currently, I cannot get a permit to build my detached garage, because the county doesn't have any records of my septic system. The county started keeping records of septic systems in 1974-6 I believe the lady said. I know that my septic was built around the 50's, because of the color of the piping. The lady at the health department informed me that an inspector had to come out to my property first before issuing a permit for the garage. I asked her the purpose of the inspector's inspection and she replied that he just needs to probe the area underneath your garage and then ten feet around the outside of it. Just to be sure it wasn't being built on or around the septic system. I asked her again after that, so the ONLY thing he has to do is come and probe underneath my garage and the ten feet? If it's not on or around my septic, then I can get a permit for the garage? She responded word for word, "Yes. The only thing he is going to come and inspect is the area the garage sits on and the ten feet around it. So please have the garage properly staked out for us."

I wasn't worried at that point, just annoyed in the time delay. The company couldn't place my custom garage order until I sent them the permit. I knew the septic system was on the North side of the house and the garage was going on the South side of the house; roughly 20 feet from my ground well. The garage didn't have any plans for electricity or plumbing in it. Just the shell itself with a crushed limestone surface. Absolutely nothing to do with my septic system, but I understood that for their records, they just needed to be sure it wasn't going on top of it. I then scheduled a time for the one inspector that does these inspections to come out. We weren't living there yet, so I met him out there. What the lady told me ended up being the furthest thing from the truth and this guy immediately starts in on my septic system.

The property is four acres and the back property line to the West runs along a creek. It's nothing but farming country so the creek basically has either fields up next to it or the back of someone's property line. Unless it rains or snow is melting, there isn't much water in it at all. The health inspector is refusing to give me a permit to build the garage until he runs a dye test to make sure that my septic isn't running into the creek. At that time, I had no freaking clue if it did or didn't. The creek is roughly 150 yards from the house and the house sits probably 50 feet higher if not more above the creek on top of higher ground. There is one pipe coming out of the creek bank on our property. Another one that is just on the other side of our property line to the North. One semi newer light blueish/green one and a bigger, older galvanized corrugated pipe. Like a culvert looking pipe, but maybe a foot wide only. Between the house and the creek used to be an old barn and such around it. I know there are field tile systems setup down there to drain the rain water into the creek. I have physically seen water coming out of that pipe when it's wet. The other pipe looks like it hasn't had anything run through in a long time. The neighbor told me that someone informed him the corrugated pipe was only hooked up to field tile systems to drain water. The only pipe that he is going to check for dye for is that blueish pipe, because at the time he came out, water was flowing out of it. We weren't even in the house using any water at that time, so I know it was draining the mud holes full of water from previous rain.

I'm sure it is, because the government can get away with anything, but is this even legal? Do I have any legal grounds to stand on when fighting this dye test? It has absolutely zero to do with my garage and obtaining a permit for it. I can see if I was trying to add a bathroom or something to the actual house, but this is ridiculous. If he did a dye test and it did in fact run into the creek, we would need to buy a new system and it would have to be a mound system. That's $30,000-$35,000 that we don't have. We put everything we had into the house and obtaining a home loan for it. If we had to purchase a new septic, it wouldn't even be an option for us. The septic system works and has only needed to be pumped one time in the last 20 years. This is definitely government overreach, but that doesn't mean squat really.

Besides looking at it from a legal standpoint and what the health inspector is trying to do, maybe someone else may have some thoughts on whether or not the system actually runs into the creek. Here is what I know so far after probing the tank with my neighbor, digging a hole to find the exit pipe and then probing the ground to follow the pipe leaving the tank... The piping is from the 50's. It's that orange tile type of piping. The tank runs lengthwise straight North from my house. The pipe leaving the tank also runs straight North from the tank. It actually makes a couple small angles to the East, away from the creek (but this could be just from us barely hitting one side of the pipe or the other). We followed it for roughly 25-30 feet, almost until it reaches my property line. So the pipe leaving the tank runs parallel with the road to the East and the Creek to the West. In order for it to eventually go towards the creek and out of that blueish pipe, it would have to make more than a 90 degree angle back towards where the pipe is coming out of the bank and then run 150+ yards underground to get there.

Every system I have seen from that time era has been some type of finger system. Our yard and all of the land around it just used to be farming fields. Is there any reason to think that 60+ years ago they decided to run the pipe North out of the tank and then dig a trench that far to drain it into the creek? When they could have just installed and buried a finger system right there? It just does not make sense to me as to why they would run it that far to the creek, but that's a $35,000 mistake if I'm wrong. The healthy inspector is actually a decent guy if he didn't happen to be a health inspector lol he did tell me that people do a lot of different things to make sure the dye doesn't make it to the creek. He only suggests that I don't use quick-crete... The ONLY thing that he says he is going to make sure of is that the dye he puts in doesn't make it to the creek. He's not checking or inspecting anything else.

Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this novel and for anyone who took their time to respond! Forgive my fat fingertips in my efforts to draw a picture on my iPhone!

 

[wssix99]

This isn't abnormal. It sounds like you have more of a zoning hang-up, which needs to be resolved before you can get a permit.

The municipality wouldn't just site your septic system, they would need to make sure it is compliant with the land use. (For example, it is functioning as an actual septic field and someone didn't plumb it into the creek before your municipality had a zoning process in place.)

This is a common step; to make sure a property is compliant at the time new construction is done.

Is there any reason to think that 60+ years ago they decided to run the pipe North out of the tank and then dig a trench that far to drain it into the creek?

At a time when nobody was watching - absolutely. It still happens today! People will do anything to save a buck, even if it does hundreds of thousands of dollars to other people's property.


I feel your frustration. This should be easy. Dumping 1/2 cup of dye in a toilet is not rocket science. We had a sewer cave-in out by our house and it took the City plumbers 2 months to come and do the dye test. ...Speed of government.

You might find some dye so you can test the drains on your property and see how everything flows - just so you will know for sure and not have any surprises.

 

[slackdaddy1]

Nothing out of the ordinary,,
You have a house built in 1900 with no record of the septic system. They need to make sure A) there is a septic system, B) it is somewhat upto functioning standards.
I am a contractor in a rural area, 1st thing I do on any potential project is pull the septic records from the health dept (if the exist),, or have the property owner hire a private septic inspector to do an "As Built" of the septic system.
Many of the jurisdictions here will not issue ANY permit until the septic system is functioning and up to modern standards.
An old or poorly maintained septic system can dump a TON of nutrients into the local watershed.

 

[LOW1]

You will need to read the ordinances and state code about septic tanks and new construction to see if the county can do what they are doing.

in my experience septic systems built in the 1950s through 1970s can be rather rustic and I would not be surprised to see a discharge line into or too near to the creek.

You might want to review any documents etc that you were given when you bought the place and determine what they say about the septic. And some areas Have laws concerning what must be disclosed or fixed by the sellers, including the septic. You might want to consult an attorney or other person who knows the
requirements for your area.

 

[pembol]

While I am sure this is frustrating, and the person on the phone should have been more upfront - but it all sounds pretty normal and not all that unreasonable. If your septic is running into a creek, the county (and everyone downstream) has a vested interest in addressing it.

It sounds like maybe you bought this recently? I am actually surprised the sellers were not required to have the septic located and inspected as part of the transaction.

 

[gsmith22]

While I am sure this is frustrating, and the person on the phone should have been more upfront - but it all sounds pretty normal and not all that unreasonable. If your septic is running into a creek, the county (and everyone downstream) has a vested interest in addressing it.

It sounds like maybe you bought this recently? I am actually surprised the sellers were not required to have the septic located and inspected as part of the transaction.

or the buyer to perform an inspection pre-closing to verify huge costs weren't about to run them over when a very old septic fails after the sale

 

[niget2002]

I am actually surprised the sellers were not required to have the septic located and inspected as part of the transaction.

He bought it at an auction. I believe those are typically 'as is' when it comes to realistate.

 

[pembol]

He bought it at an auction. I believe those are typically 'as is' when it comes to realistate.

Good point. Around here it would then fall on the buyer to get a septic inspection - a current septic inspection (from either party) is required as part of a real estate transaction.

 

[P0234]

I agree, its absolute BS with them changing the rules, but you are going to be fighting the town.

You could probably lawyer up, but then the town will fight you even more. As posted above, get a(n independent) dye test done to know where you stand, if you pass, have him come out and do the test and you are done with it. If not, time to fix things so that you pass the test.

 

[niget2002]

Good point. Around here it would then fall on the buyer to get a septic inspection - a current septic inspection (from either party) is required as part of a real estate transaction.

Our county is similar. They require you to have a contract with a septic company for quarterly checks at time of signing. (or something like that)

 

[mrbill55]

Honestly, at this point in time, you need to allow the dye test without any trickery. I say this as the affluence that may come from your septic field into the creek has to go somewhere downstream. While you might not have any kids, imagine if you will if your neighbors, or their neighbors do, all who play in the same creek. Now imagine someone upstream from you doing the same thing, and funny, it floods and ends up in your drinking well, would you really want to drink someones sewage waste? If there are issues, again, it's your responsibility as a property owner to fix it, whether it costs $100, or $100,000.....That is the joys of home ownership, with it, comes responsibilities. Some might not agree with these statements, yourself as the OP included, either way you act, will show the rest of us just who you are.

Bill S.

 

[P0234]

Honestly, at this point in time, you need to allow the dye test without any trickery. I say this as the affluence that may come from your septic field into the creek has to go somewhere downstream. While you might not have any kids, imagine if you will if your neighbors, or their neighbors do, all who play in the same creek. Now imagine someone upstream from you doing the same thing, and funny, it floods and ends up in your drinking well, would you really want to drink someones sewage waste? If there are issues, again, it's your responsibility as a property owner to fix it, whether it costs $100, or $100,000.....That is the joys of home ownership, with it, comes responsibilities. Some might not agree with these statements, yourself as the OP included, either way you act, will show the rest of us just who you are.

Bill S.

Yes, a little septic discharge from an approved septic system is terrible. Think of the chillinz!

Someone like Chemours dumping millions of gallons of mystery chemicals into a river... A-OK!

 

[tarmy]

I did development entitlement for developers for decades. OP please do yourself a favor…educate yourself. Take the time to go down to the Building Department/Planning Department and start by getting them to help you investigate your parcel and whatever public records that exist in their files. They use that data base to inform them as to what YOU must do to conform to their rules. Many things relate out to other departments like their health department when septic systems come into play.

that education will help now and later if/when you interact with the various agencies/departments that can and will oversee your permitting. It will also inform you about zoning and building rules that will affect your decisions about what and how your property can be developed.

The single best thing I can suggest, after decades of doing this, is learn about what their system is, how it works and be informed about their rules. They will likely help you do this. It will save time and money going forward. More importantly, it will likely save you headaches, frustration and delays.

 

[finn]

I assume you paid cash for the property. The house I sold a year or two back had to have a well and septic inspection as part of the paperwork package before they would issue a mortgage to the new owners.

Fortunately everything was in order, but the health department had to be present for the pumping of the tank and backflow test. They probed the ground and dug a few small holes to check the condition of the drainage field.

A drainage ditch with unmapped pipes dumping into it would be a bright red flag to any competent health department official. The fact that you are just guessing where the field is, and how it drains, just adds another level of red.

Nobody likes surprises, but in this case you should have investigated the septic situation before you bid on the property.

You did get the well tested before closing, I assume.

 

[mrbill55]

Yes, a little septic discharge from an approved septic system is terrible. Think of the chillinz!

If the county has no records of the septic system, how does anyone know if it was installed correctly, or ever approved? There are plenty of reasons, besides what the OP has posted, for a dye test. All of them are for the good of the community around the property.

As for the other part I did not quote, sorry, is this the OP's neighbor? Or another garage forum member?


Bill S.

 

[billconner]

If the septic system is 150 yards from the creek, it seems unlikely it's spilling into the creek. If the system has not been used much, all the better. What type of soil - clay or not so much?

Wishing you the best!

 

[Boogerman]

Everything has been said about your current problem, that needs said. Another aspect, though:

You need to start saving that $35,000 to $35,000 NOW, for the drainfield replacement, if it's not an expense you can normally pay. For an older house, with a 70 year old drainfield, in an area that is known to not be suitable for drainfields (thus the need for a mound system), there's a very good chance that it will fail soon, when someone else starts using it. This is some extremely common, as to be almost a given. Unless you have the same water/sewage minimizing habits that the previous owners probably had developed to keep it working.

Some of the things you should be looking at are:

See if you can put in a split system and drain your kitchen sink and washing machine discharge to a separate, graywater drainfield or irrigation system. This is acceptable in most jurisdictions under a chapter of plumbing code. Minimize doing #2 at home if you can do so at work. (Had a local here that always stopped at a roadside outhouse on the way home to save his own system). Put in extreme low flow shower heads, and use them consciously to save water. Put in low flow toilets, and keep them working without leaking valves/tanks. Make absolute certain that you don't have inadvertent drips and leaks at any faucets. Make certain that you don't have any sump pumps or anything of the sort discharging to the sewer.

When you can financially and before it is needed, you should explore a new system design with a correctly licensed professional accepted by your state or local health department/inspector. It's probably half the cost to plan and replace at your scheduled leisure in good conditions than replace in bad weather as an emergency when the system fails. It's possible that a good designer can locate an acceptable conventional system if your soil is at all suitable, since you have both some distance and elevation to the creek. Only a good local designer can tell you that though, knowing the health department regs and practices and the local conditions, and after doing test pits and soil samples. If and when you want to do any other building department things, it will be in your favor to be able to show you're planning for the septic system to be kept up to date and working.

What you are just starting to run into is some of the pitfalls and responsibilities that come with the lower cost and freedoms of having your own place out of town; the town doesn't charge you for water and sewer, but you need to reliably provide it for yourself, while not affecting the health of everyone else downstream of you. The money you save in water and sewer bills needs to support your own systems, and you don't have the city to bankroll the big capital expenses for you and then charge you monthly fees to recover them.

we would need to buy a new system and it would have to be a mound system. That's $30,000-$35,000 that we don't have. We put everything we had into the house and obtaining a home loan for it. If we had to purchase a new septic, it wouldn't even be an option for us.

 

[larry_g]

DQRedSox said:
we would need to buy a new system and it would have to be a mound system. That's $30,000-$35,000 that we don't have. We put everything we had into the house and obtaining a home loan for it. If we had to purchase a new septic, it wouldn't even be an option for us.

It sounds to me like you need to evaluate what your spending priorities are. If you can afford new buildings then it seems that you can afford to take care of your infrastructure. I know it's painful but as a young man on my first property I finally had enough money to start a shop building and both the well and the septic failed. There went the money for the shop. This is not government overreach, it's just what life is.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[AC-WC]

Gee, I thought Allen county was the only one to screw people on their septic system. Run the dye test yourself BEFORE he does his test. YOU must find out where it goes BEFORE he does. He is required by law to fail your system IF it goes where it's not supposed to. Your orange tile is the old clay type. It is no longer allowed for NEW but can be grandfathered for existing. As you know $35,000 is for a new system and then they charge you every 2 yrs to come out and inspect it FOREVER and if they find something wrong with the new one guess who gets to fix it. That's how the state ensures septic systems are up to snuff for sewage. Build something new and we gotta check.

Do everything you can to NOT have to change it. Speaking from experience when we rebuilt mom's house from a fire. Allen county would not allow her system to be 'grandfathered' in due to the all new construction. She had to replace the line from the house to the tank, new risers (the access holes on top of the tanks) new seals on the sides of the tanks, new pump and alarms, new distribution connectors. Luckily we did not have to do anything to the drain field. ALL drain fields empty somewhere, hers empties to a ditch 1200' from the field, mine empties to the ditch 75 ft from my field. Any time you try to build anything they always pull the 'septic inspection' card.

Can you be considered a farm? You might be able to play that card when it comes to the build permit. It's for equipment storage. I went round and round with permit office to get mom's barn rebuilt and her property's been farmed before she even built and for the last 25 yrs in her name.

 

[walta]

Come on man don’t be the new neighbor who puts his poop in the creek!

Do your own dye test and find out if the current system is safe.

I think you have the money some were for a new system if push came to shove. You would be crazy to buy a place that old and be totally unable deal with a well, septic, roof or foundation problem. Because we all know this stuff is old and very likely to fail at any day now.

If you let the grass grow and call it a hay field and call the garage a barn in most places you do not need a permit for an ag building

Walta

 

[DQRedSox]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies! I had no idea people were even watching this forum. Last thread that came up in a search was from 2012 so I didn’t know what to expect.

I don’t have time at the moment to respond to everyone’s comments or questions… but a lot of good suggestions. I do always love the comments when someone tries to be the almighty and pass judgement

We are zoned AG. Every single house along our road and the many miles of roads that run along this creek that aren’t “new” I’m sure all did the same thing “back then.” I didn’t choose to run anything into a creek. Just to provide some more clarity, I can assure you no children are playing in this creek that is dry the majority of the year.

After posting yesterday, I did find out from one of the previous owners, who’s father in law owned all of the land for farming at one time along the road, that the pipe runs North about 40-50 feet and into a drainage ditch… and then the drainage ditch goes to there are just no pipes that far down besides my neighbors newer pipes. I think the best bet is to get my own dye just to see where in the heck it may go. It has to go somewhere or the field systems have failed by now. If it runs that far north and then towards the creek, it’s well off my property. I know that doesn’t matter, at least I don’t believe. It’s still my responsibility. The banks of the creek are at least 20 feet almost straight down on both sides. We have a really cool old concrete bridge across the creek that they built for the tractors to get across to the fields on the other side. If I fell down the bank I’m not so sure I could even get back up anymore

This is a little off topic, but it does follow along with some of the replies… is anybody familiar with home equity loans or such that has had experience with my situation? We bought the home and already had some equity in the property at the time of appraisal and since have done quite a few renovations. I was just thinking along the lines of using something like that to afford the new septic system. If not now, eventually at least.

So if I built a “barn” instead of a garage, I may not need a permit? I’ll check the codes… because part of the garage was designed for animal stalls in the back as it currently is.

Again, I appreciate all the responses. Even the advice that I may not want to read

 

[billconner]

In NY the AG building is based on not normally occupied by humans. A garage that is a shop or man cave or such would not qualify here. Just for cars and no man door might. Still has to meet zoning codes.

Money from a HELOC can usually be used for anything. They don't care as long as you have the equity. Might ask about a loan for the garage or even take out a first mortgage on the house and property if it's not mortgaged. Lower rates than HELOCs usually. I've had a HELOC forever. Used it as a loan for my business.

 

[dave*99]

One guy I knew had an old house with a cesspool, not a septic tank and leach field. There was an overflow pipe that ran a long way into the woods (his property) No drainage field at all. Soil conditions were poor and any house sold in that town usually had costs/issues related to the old and often failing septic systems.


House built in the 1900's? Is it possible it had an outhouse back then and the septic was added later?

If necessary, a plumber can run a camera down the pipes and also locate them.

Sometimes the local guy that pumps the systems is the most knowledgeable about what you may have.

Many different pipe types were used over the years. The type of pipe used may help date the system.

 

[Joemctag]

If the septic system is 150 yards from the creek, it seems unlikely it's spilling into the creek. If the system has not been used much, all the better. What type of soil - clay or not so much?

Wishing you the best!

Bill, there are people, who, when their field clogs/ silts up and doesn’t drain well and they know it because it backs up, especially in rainy stretches, we’ll, then they runs pipe from the field to a low place to drain the effluent. It usually doesn’t smell to where neighbors, or even their family, would know it.

 

[Joemctag]

Bill, there are people, who, when their field clogs/ silts up and doesn’t drain well and they know it because it backs up, especially in rainy stretches, we’ll, then they runs pipe from the field to a low place to drain the effluent. It usually doesn’t smell to where neighbors, or even their family, would know it.

The inspector knows that blue-green pipe was trenched and buried to drain SOMEthing.

 

[Snapped-off]

While I am sure this is frustrating, and the person on the phone should have been more upfront - but it all sounds pretty normal and not all that unreasonable. If your septic is running into a creek, the county (and everyone downstream) has a vested interest in addressing it.

It sounds like maybe you bought this recently? I am actually surprised the sellers were not required to have the septic located and inspected as part of the transaction.

He bought it at an auction. I believe those are typically 'as is' when it comes to realistate.

I live next door (1 county over) to the OP. I couldn't close on my house until we sent off a copy of a current septic inspection to the county health department.

Probably not much he'll be able to do outside of court.

 

[jonesg]

due diligence.

 

[AC-WC]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies! I had no idea people were even watching this forum. Last thread that came up in a search was from 2012 so I didn’t know what to expect.

I don’t have time at the moment to respond to everyone’s comments or questions… but a lot of good suggestions. I do always love the comments when someone tries to be the almighty and pass judgement

We are zoned AG. Every single house along our road and the many miles of roads that run along this creek that aren’t “new” I’m sure all did the same thing “back then.” I didn’t choose to run anything into a creek. Just to provide some more clarity, I can assure you no children are playing in this creek that is dry the majority of the year.

After posting yesterday, I did find out from one of the previous owners, who’s father in law owned all of the land for farming at one time along the road, that the pipe runs North about 40-50 feet and into a drainage ditch… and then the drainage ditch goes to there are just no pipes that far down besides my neighbors newer pipes. I think the best bet is to get my own dye just to see where in the heck it may go. It has to go somewhere or the field systems have failed by now. If it runs that far north and then towards the creek, it’s well off my property. I know that doesn’t matter, at least I don’t believe. It’s still my responsibility. The banks of the creek are at least 20 feet almost straight down on both sides. We have a really cool old concrete bridge across the creek that they built for the tractors to get across to the fields on the other side. If I fell down the bank I’m not so sure I could even get back up anymore

This is a little off topic, but it does follow along with some of the replies… is anybody familiar with home equity loans or such that has had experience with my situation? We bought the home and already had some equity in the property at the time of appraisal and since have done quite a few renovations. I was just thinking along the lines of using something like that to afford the new septic system. If not now, eventually at least.

So if I built a “barn” instead of a garage, I may not need a permit? I’ll check the codes… because part of the garage was designed for animal stalls in the back as it currently is.

Again, I appreciate all the responses. Even the advice that I may not want to read

If you're zoned AG it makes it much easier. Play that card as much as you can. I felt bad for the contractor that worked on our permit. They were telling him she had too many buildings, (the house and the horse barn on 23 acres), she couldn't build a shed larger than 8X10 all kinds of nonsense. They did everything they could to make it difficult. I went down myself the 4th time and went off on them so bad they had to get the supervisor. He was the only one that was logical. He gave me a permit to tear down (yes, you're supposed to do that to) and then we had to go back for the actual build permit the 5th time. IF you have to tear down anything I wouldn't tell them. Kind of late now that they've been out and 'previewed' everything.

 

[wssix99]

So if I built a “barn” instead of a garage, I may not need a permit? I’ll check the codes… because part of the garage was designed for animal stalls in the back as it currently is.

You could still need a permit. (Barns can cause safety issues, also.) However, your zoning rules would likely be different. The zoning approval is probably what is triggering your septic inspection vs. the permit.

 

[finn]

If you're zoned AG it makes it much easier. Play that card as much as you can. I felt bad for the contractor that worked on our permit. They were telling him she had too many buildings, (the house and the horse barn on 23 acres), she couldn't build a shed larger than 8X10 all kinds of nonsense. They did everything they could to make it difficult. I went down myself the 4th time and went off on them so bad they had to get the supervisor. He was the only one that was logical. He gave me a permit to tear down (yes, you're supposed to do that to) and then we had to go back for the actual build permit the 5th time. IF you have to tear down anything I wouldn't tell them. Kind of late now that they've been out and 'previewed' everything.

Demolition permits are commonly required.

You also may have to provide asbestos removal documentation and receipts from the landfill showing you properly disposed of lead based paint contaminated materials.

The days of open burning or burying hazardous materials are long gone.

 

[liliysdad]

These threads always remind me how lucky I am to live where I do.

 

[Snapped-off]

The days of open burning or burying hazardous materials are long gone.

Where'd you hear that?

 

[finn]

Where'd you hear that?

Illegal to do open burning of construction debris In my county per the building department. I got red tagged for doing demo without a permit. I then applied for and received the permit, along with a sheet describing the disposal rules.

Not a new rule, as this was maybe ten years ago, in Mi.

My friend owns a farm in southern Wisconsin. It ended up being cheaper to reskin an old wooden barn with steel than to get a demo permit and pay the hazardous waste disposal fees for the siding, which had been painted multiple times with lead based paint, Burning was not an option.

 

[Snapped-off]

Illegal to do open burning of construction debris In my county per the building department. I got red tagged for doing demo without a permit. I then applied for and received the permit, along with a sheet describing the disposal rules.

Not a new rule, as this was maybe ten years ago, in Mi.

My friend owns a farm in southern Wisconsin. It ended up being cheaper to reskin an old wooden barn with steel than to get a demo permit and pay the hazardous waste disposal fees for the siding, which had been painted multiple times with lead based paint, Burning was not an option.

You got caught!

 

[finn]

You got caught!

Yup. I pleaded ignorance and got out of it with just going to the courthouse for a permit.

 

[dave*99]

If you pull a permit in my town, they require you provide a receipt for the dumpster to remove the debris. They want to keep the construction debris out of the municipal trash collection.

 

[Digster]

Yes, a little septic discharge from an approved septic system is terrible. Think of the chillinz!

Someone like Chemours dumping millions of gallons of mystery chemicals into a river... A-OK!

As someone who grew up by the Delaware river by DuPonts Plant 1 in the 1970s.....very true!

 

[bobg03]

These threads always remind me how lucky I am to live where I do.

Do we have to guess where it is?
Frustrated South Carolinian looking for a new part of the USA, due to the growth here....

 

[liliysdad]

Do we have to guess where it is?
Frustrated South Carolinian looking for a new part of the USA, due to the growth here....

LOL...sorry.

Oklahoma. I live in a smallish town (5000), within city limits. When I built my shop, I pulled a city permit that cost me $250. When I built my last shop in the same town in 2008, the permit was $25.

That application required a pin location survey which cost me $100, and a hand sketch of the building and the setbacks. That was it. No inspection, no engineered drawings, no nada. I wired it myself, and that required no inspection or permit, and the utility company set me a pass-through meter base for $100.

Of course, not all cities work that way....but I am glad mine does, and one of the reasons I choose to live there.

 

[bighouse01]

Do what you gotta do to make sure his stuff doesn’t come out of the creek. He gave you an out.