I went to our City Hall this morning to get a building permit, which my contractor informed me was needed.
9am: entered building and to the building/zoning dep. Stood in line for 15 minutes and then found out I had to fill an application and went into the hall to fill out at table.
9:28am back in line (#3) and handed the form to the only clerk (4 others were at their desks on phones). She now says I have to bring it downstairs to the Tax department to have them stamp the form that my tax bills and water/sewer bills are all up to date because they can not issue a permit if our taxes are not paid.
9:47am I stand in line at the tax dept. about 10 minutes and the lady checks the computer and stamps the form.
10:10 am back to the building inspectors dept. and in line again. She now takes the form and informs me I need a drawing of my project.
10:20 am I am back at the table in the hall to draw out my front porch and 3 steps.
10:27 am back in line and she takes my forms and drawing and passes them on to an inspector. He asked many questions about the project. (who will do the work; are they insured; how will I dispose of the removed items and waste, etc.). He now signs the form, asked when I will begin the project. I told him tomorrow and he hands it back to me and told me to return it to the clerk with $25 fee.
10:46 I am back to the clerk with approved form and $25 in cash. She says she is sorry they do not take cash. She sends me back to the Tax dept. to pay the fee.
11:03 I am back at the tax dept. and pay the fee. She gives me a receipt and I return upstairs.
11:15 I hand the slip to the clerk and she staples them all together and says that is all, thank you. I asked for the permit and she informed me that since they are short staffed, they can not issue it today and will call me when it is ready.
11:27 am I am leaving the building and run into an old friend who happens to work as a building inspector and I tell him what I just went through. He said I did not need a permit in the first place as I was just replacing the old structure with a new one and it would not be any larger or a new addition.
I thanked him for the information and said: "our tax dollars at work".
9am: entered building and to the building/zoning dep. Stood in line for 15 minutes and then found out I had to fill an application and went into the hall to fill out at table.
9:28am back in line (#3) and handed the form to the only clerk (4 others were at their desks on phones). She now says I have to bring it downstairs to the Tax department to have them stamp the form that my tax bills and water/sewer bills are all up to date because they can not issue a permit if our taxes are not paid.
9:47am I stand in line at the tax dept. about 10 minutes and the lady checks the computer and stamps the form.
10:10 am back to the building inspectors dept. and in line again. She now takes the form and informs me I need a drawing of my project.
10:20 am I am back at the table in the hall to draw out my front porch and 3 steps.
10:27 am back in line and she takes my forms and drawing and passes them on to an inspector. He asked many questions about the project. (who will do the work; are they insured; how will I dispose of the removed items and waste, etc.). He now signs the form, asked when I will begin the project. I told him tomorrow and he hands it back to me and told me to return it to the clerk with $25 fee.
10:46 I am back to the clerk with approved form and $25 in cash. She says she is sorry they do not take cash. She sends me back to the Tax dept. to pay the fee.
11:03 I am back at the tax dept. and pay the fee. She gives me a receipt and I return upstairs.
11:15 I hand the slip to the clerk and she staples them all together and says that is all, thank you. I asked for the permit and she informed me that since they are short staffed, they can not issue it today and will call me when it is ready.
11:27 am I am leaving the building and run into an old friend who happens to work as a building inspector and I tell him what I just went through. He said I did not need a permit in the first place as I was just replacing the old structure with a new one and it would not be any larger or a new addition.
I thanked him for the information and said: "our tax dollars at work".