If, as a homeowner, I come home and find that ANY part of a job has been opened up, 5 years after the job was completed, just to satisfy an inspector who did NOT do their job 5 years previously, I’d be absolutely ballistic at the next town council meeting.
Its the contractor's responsibility to obtain sign off of all required inspections. Its also ultimately the contractor's responsibility to be knowledgeable on ALL required inspections pertaining to the scope of work being done within the city/jurisdiction the project is located. On the permit, the building final had 2 **. I doubt the contractor inquired further to seek clarification. Again, it is NOT the responsibility of the Inspection Jurisdiction to obtain sign off, that is the duty and responsibility of the contractor. Inspectors don't chase inspections down to sign em off. A proper Inspection request must take place before any Inspector is required to do any Inspection. I understand the contractors perspective as well as a homeowner. But the responsibility ultimately always falls on the contractor.
@@aquaholixsd I understand that but if you noticed there is no footnote for the asterisks on either sheet of paper. Again if it isn’t written down it doesn’t apply
@@aquaholixsd so when they just throw in another $20,000 of "regulations" you'll just comply like a good little sheep won't ya? Lol sorry but asking permission from government to do something on your property is just another way they have conditioned you to ASK the government to do anything.. this is America. If I want to hire someone to do anything on my property the government should mind its own business.. things will change soon enough.. the corruption between industry insurance and government is coming to an end..
@@aquaholixsd so what happens when you call in the inspection and they just do not show? So you mean the contractor has to now chase the inspector to do his job? I have a feeling in this case the inspection was done but the paperwork wasn’t completed. Now 5 yrs later someone realized it and we have what we have.
As an inspector for 33 years, that is pathetic that the inspection office did not perform their due diligence to review their open permits on a regular basis. Someone should have investigated why a 5 year old permit was still in the open/active status
Id think the contractor would stay right on the inspectors ass till it was signed off as finall/complete. Once i get that last signature THEN your job is done. Leave it to the homeowner. Lol. Fools!
@@jeffreybuckner4483 the issueis the homeowner can come back on the contractor and the state legally for failing to do thier job and destruction of private property after project has been completed. Thats heavy fines and loss of license and job.
That inspector could have driven by and done the "Final". In the real world there is a list of ALL Inspections they want to Inspect at every stage of the job and then a Final and that is the completed job. The you should have known, is complete BS and would not stand up in any court of Law. And In that case if that Contractor had not done any of the proper foundation work and that wall fell down 5yrs later that permite would have been zero help in any courtroom for the customer. When it comes to the court room if it is not in writing it does not mean anything.
That is literally the inspectors job, you know the job he's PAID to do! It's egregious that the city or county can be so negligent, then feel entitled to force the company to dig up their work because of the planning departments failure to plan and do their job in a timely manner. I'm so glad that you filmed it, lesson to all, you're a good man and very professional.
In Australia we would say, "he needs his head red"! What a shonk ! He hasn't done his job ! Five years down the track ! JUST PLAIN LAZY ! Taking a pay check without doing the work .... SHAMEFUL ! You did the right thing by fulfilling your part ... he should be made accountable !
It's government mentality. LIke taxes. They requier you to pay taxes, they requier you to account all of your taxes for them. If you are wrong you go to jail or pay fines. This is the bass akwardness of government burocracy. Everyone want public money but no one wants to work for it.
Did he just admit that he’s making “inspections” up? Well it may not be on the permit but they exist…. Excuse me!! If it ain’t on the permit then it ain’t required!
After 5 years, if you’re a qualified inspector, you should be able to do a visual inspection on a wall and know whether or not it was built correctly, that wall and every pebble you touched is where you left it 5 years ago. Beautiful work!
I agree this whole process is BS and he should be able to tell it was done right but I’ll defend the inspector on some comments. He did say he would accept pictures. Stanley assumed they didn’t because other places didn’t so he didn’t try. He didn’t have to dig it up had he just tried to show the video first. Though the inspector should have said that considering the situation. If a jobs been finished for 5 years especially today with cell phones he should have mentioned pictures were an option.
Hey Jeff Morgan@ it still doesn't make any sense if they have the video footage of the part that is in question. Why would he be required to destroy the finished product. This whole thing sounds personal to me...five years after the project was finalized.
Excellent video. I was really pleased with how you worked with Bruce and then let him know that there was no argument, but more of a "please help me understand how this could happen." I am an architect and thirty five years ago, helped get a city ordinance modified so as to give a time limit for permits and notifications. Two years after a request for a final with no reply meant that the final was approved. Period.
I'm a contractor in Wyoming n no way in hell would i of dug any hole 5 years later. I would of told him to provide proof it had to be inspected n also told him if it was supposed to be inspected why wasn't it done at the time of building inspection. You handled that very well
Wow, you must be a pretty crappy contractor if you actually think that would work (pretty much anywhere). If you go around yelling "Prove it has to be inspected!", the inspector is just going to say "No, and I don't have to. Either you do what I require, or I won't sign off the inspection, your choice." And if you don't do it, and they don't sign off, and the permit doesn't get closed, and then the property owner can't sell the house, or get insurance, etc, then they're going to sue _you_ for not meeting your obligations as a contractor (and they'll win). And *it is being done at the time of building inspection,* because *this is when the inspection was scheduled for.* The inspection is being done 5 years later because *the contractor or property owner is responsible for scheduling inspections,* not the inspectors. It sounds like the property owners screwed up 5 years ago and didn't call him when they were supposed to. That is not the inspector's fault.
@@foogod4237 typically permits expire. If a final wasnt accomplished within the permit timeline and the homeowner was responsible for inspection compliance then make sure your contracts state this.
@@h2s-i9o Authorization to perform the work may expire, but required inspections of performed work typically do not. If the work was done, it needs to be inspected, and until it is inspected, the permit will still be considered outstanding (and potentially be a problem), even years later. You can't get out of doing an inspection by just "forgetting" to call them and hoping they forget about you.
@@foogod4237 im a gc, but unless the sub its required to stand the inspection by statutory/regulatory language and the homeowner took responsibility for that process im not coming back 5 years later to stand an inspection. I could have gone out of business changed names and licenses moved. Sorry municipality you didnt do your job and your tip toeing bery close to a fraud waste and abuse claim.
@h2s-i9o I think unless it's actually in your contract, you're perfectly entitled to tell the homeowner that they need to pay extra for you to come out after all this time (or they need to find someone else to do it), but that's entirely between you and the homeowner. It has nothing to do with the inspector.
They usually are the guys who never could use a tool and hated to see real menbwith them. In my town i have 4 of the fuggers who graduated the college program below me as i was the standard of the class. I knew before graduating, because i had already had my GC for 4 years, that they would give me hell. They haven't failed my expectations
It's just a step above the guy at Home Depot who says he used to be a contractor. What contractor would leave the industry to go to HD, unless he retired or became disabled?
I'm an inspector in Texas. Master Plumber in 2 states. Owned my own business for 21 years. Got a divorce, lost my retirement. Tore a meniscus, both rotator cuffs, and screwed my back up. I don't speak Spanish, all the white guys that are good plumbers start their own business. 2 years ago I started inspecting because I wanted the insurance and retirement. Didn't feel like starting over. First I went to work for another company. Hard to do after being self employed for so long. Plus, 25 an hour was killing me.
"I don't want to hold up the contractor waiting for me to show up." Yet you tracked a contractor down to dig some holes 5 years after the fact and enforced an inspection that wasn't needed. Gotta love government! Good on ya Stan for keeping your cool!
Takes me months to get a permit through in my city and yet these guys can hunt down a five year old project. If the city wants these inspections done they need to state it in the paperwork, sounds like a really lazy permit office to me.
In my area the only reason why code enforcement is worried about a 5 year old job is because the house is in contract and the buyers mortgage company is requesting a property search. The Code Officer is refusing to sign off on any work that was done on the property that he/she hasn’t personally inspected (due to liability issues). When I saw you had a video of it my very 1st thought was to show it to the building/code department and you may save your self some digging. Second, the required inspections should absolutely be written on the permit, we are not mind readers. Calling the building department and asking dumb questions because they can’t be bothered to put it in writing is time wasted. Word to the wise: get your inspections or it could hold up the sale of your house
as a former building inspector, this guy and his entire team back at the department, need to be fired and have their pensions taken back, give them to the legit contractors who STILL care more about the homeowner than the cushy job back in the office
Yea as an electrician inspectors are a joke for the most part. Yea they could catch the obvious stuff. But in there 5min stroll through a job they are only keying in on specific things that they went over that day or week. Hell had one inspector start requiring that we put gaskets on all of our box opening on the inside of house if in an exterior wall. Our wholesale houses didn’t even stalk those gaskets. So then all of our wholesale houses had to start carrying these gaskets to pass inspection! Was able to weasel his way in code book that references back to fire protection think it’s NFAPA. Adding extra cost to everyone because this guy got a little power. Have had inspectors call my union on me. Yea have had some real pieces of crap as inspectors. But there are a couple of good ones.
No, he needs to be fired so he can realize what a major "A" hole he is. I have seen one inspector ignore a keep clear sign and just drive through the yellow tape and park his car. The falling materials totaling his car was the result. Lost his job.
FYI: A "permit" is a legal and binding contract; bilateral agreement; and a meeting of the minds. If the issuing authority omitted any necessary inspections - it's their negligence (not yours).
Here's an inspector story for ya...I'm a welder by trade, we installed and then I personally welded an entire store front consisting of 4 42' columns, beams between the columns at mid way up and at the top as well as 6 very short beams to embeds in the cmu wall. Took a couple days, inspector comes out and fails a couple welds because from the ground they didn't look welded. Whatever, Saturday I lay some more weld on them, everything is clean and good. Monday comes around and he comes back and fails the entire store front now. Tuesday I show up (pretty pissed off) and ask the super if he heard anything and go up to do a once over. Everything is clearly good. Different inspector shows up (who I've worked with a couple times) and we harness up and go for a ride. 5 minutes and a couple pictures and the same store front the failed the previous morning is signed off without even starting the generator. Sometimes it seems inspectors just want you to know they can ruin your day for no good reason.
You could always have an inspector that deliberately fails everything you do to get you thrown off of contracted jobs so they can have their buddies come in and do almost nothing yet get the credit for the job as well as get paid for it while you get just enough to cover your expenses with little to no profits if anything at all. My dad had an inspector attempting to do that with an electrical panel replacement from fuses to breakers. On the first inspection it was the backboard was "to small" it needed to be bigger by 3 inches one way and 4 inches the other. This is for a 100 amp breaker panel box. Next day the back board passed but the panel was "to small" and then they suggested my dad bring in "his guy" to do the work. Mind you that the person my dad had doing the work is a certified electrician through the Army Corp of Engineers and is certified to do the wiring for power plants. The guy he wanted us to use barely had their certification to do just residential wiring. He had only been in business for 2 years while the one my dad was using had 10 years in the Army Corp of Engineers and was still on active reserve duty for another 10 after the fact until he retired. When it came time for the next inspection a different guy showed up and we discussed all what had been "failed" and "fixed" according the the previous inspector and he told us that inspector was no longer working there as an inspector and will not be allowed to work there ever again because of him pushing his buddy onto people to do the work and never once failing anything. He also told us that he had to go for a final inspection for one of the other guys buddies work and found 20 things wrong that the other guy had passed. He also told us that they had found out the other inspector was getting a cut of the profits from his buddy and was also a "silent partner" in his buddies business. He also told us that the other inspectors buddy lost his certification and the business was shut down.
Ehhh.... The inspector's wife probably rejected him the night before and lucky you, you got to be the whipping boy for his frustration that day. Had that happen one time when I went down to the Building Department one time to ask what reinforcement I needed to put in a decorative Adobe/concrete wall I was installing at my own place (3' tall x 18" wide). The inspector just plain-flat came unglued, "What ?! You want to build an unreinforced masonry wall in earthquake country ?! What if it fell over ?!" (in my opinion, any yappy little dog small enough to get hit by a 3" high wall... good riddance) I told him, "That's why I'm here !! I want to know what you want in it !!". Went back and forth for a bit with me telling him I'd put whatever he wanted in the wall. He then told me he would get back to me after consulting with the other inspectors. Funny thing is, by the time I got home there was already a message from him saying I didn't need anything, and that I did not even need to pull a permit, (Yes, I did put in rebar and mesh in, anyways. 15 years later when we sold the place it had only had one crack in 35 feet !!) Weird thing is, all my other contractor buddies said he was normally the most laid-back inspector with the city. Lucky me, I caught him on a bad day.
@@victoreous626 : This was in California and was along both my front property lines. This was around '03. Decorative (Spanish adobe look), with no play areas or anything else that could be damaged other than few plants or maybe a little lawn. I didn't normally do walls in my jobs (actually, I don't recall anybody ever actually requesting them). This was for my own place, and I didn't want any potential issues with the city. I had gone down to city hall on a "Discovery"/informational quest. I'm in the SF Bay Area, surrounded on all sides by faults and wanted to do it right. Nothing fancy, so I didn't want to involve an engineer. Turns out, they didn't have any special spec's nor did they require me to pull a permit. Me being me, I over engineered it, plus I embedded a 2-ton Fieldstone boulder in my side of one of the walls. The Adobe/concrete (cement stabilized Adobe) didn't even crack where it went over part of the rock !! (got just one, but elsewhere).
As an inspector, I agree with you 100%. I had opened this video expecting to disagree with you, but you were 100% correct. You received a list of required inspections and you complied. For him to say that there are implied inspections is BS and unprofessional. The only thing I can suggest is that, when a permit is to be closed by the homeowner at a later date, call the inspector and say "I am done at this job. Can you come and approve the work I did?" EDIT: I never do drive by inspections. I always get out of the vehicle and look at what I need to look at.
Shouldn't have to call anyone. Government just wants to boss people around, but don't actually want to do anything. You heard him "you could send pictures" there's a lot you can't tell by pictures.
After 5 years that wall is amazing. Looks like it hasn’t moved an inch. Quite a testament to you and your employees. ESPECIALLY given that slope and situation. Looking down the sidewalk shot, that sucker is as straight as an arrow!
ridiculous, laziness on their end, they are just making their job easy for their case load and if they want to pick and choose their fights to make us miserable. thank goodness you document your jobs. cya. awesome tips and advice 👌
Exactly! If it is not on the permit as a required inspection , it is not required, especially 5 years after the job is done. Thst inspector should be fired.
I’m not an inspector or a general contractor but I am a land survey/civil tech. I’ve seen many “engineered” walls fail due to poor drainage and no geogrid. If that wall is 5 years old and still shows no signs of slumping/settling down or leaning over, then the wall was built right.
The fact that this inspector is FINALLY getting around to this 5 YEARS after the fact is beyond ridiculous. Just another example of gov't incompetence.
Ridiculous that an inspector would say, “well it’s standard in the industry” but the paperwork for the permit only says “final” (but lines for all permits necessary to be noted). It doesn’t seem to me, that this would stand up in any court. The inspector says, I wouldn’t have time to make all those inspections, but thinks the contractor has time to dig up 5 yr completed jobs. Contractors should take them to court to get this foolishness resolved.
It's required but I can't explain why or where. You should just have understood the knowledge of it dwells in the ether and you didn't pay attention. Why I despise government. Just sounds corrupt to me.
The game is rigged. Contractor needs time and money to fight court battle. Guess who foots the bill for the inspectors court costs? Taxpayers come on down! Your the next contestant on "Government regulation in nutshell!". As the contractor you get to choose between fighting a court battle you have no guarantee of winning or just doing whatever the inspector asks as the latter is usually cheaper.
Beautiful work on the wall. Never heard of an inspector coming back years after a project has been passed unless they see an issue later which has obviously not happened. The work done is exactly what will keep the home and wall in place for a lifetime. Great job!!
Unfortunately where I live they have subbed out the inspections now and I've had up to 5 years of work that had the same documents of what inspections were required and were done at that time. They now have imposed new rules and the inspector wants that phone call to come there during the contracting , which I have had a guy race in whoa whoa whoa what's going on here haha to have nothing going wrong . anyways I feel that pain of going back and opening up all my old work, customers hate it, restaurants during lunch rush etc. Great job Stanley love your videos!
Arguing with the PEOPLE'S servants is terrorism upon the PEOPLE'S themselfs. CONSTITUTION IS BLACK & WHITE......yet you all mostly fail to punish our employees the generations before mine have allowed this to happen remember WE THE PEOPLE isn't them to control🗽
I'm a carpenter contractor for +35 years. Your inspector was just being a bully. He was really digging for a problem. I would file complaint if I had the time. Enjoy all your videos tools, tools, tools. Thanks
That is a perfect scenario of an inspector overstepping his authority, when he said “ I want this done this way”. There is no list of required inspections on your permit other than final inspection.
If you look in your city's Code Compliance book you will most likely see multiple times that it is the code officer's discretion, if you question his authority he might go as far as to say do it my way or I will red tag your house with a substandard dwelling sticker on the door and have you kicked out of your before 5 o'clock the same day and the police will arrest you if you try to come back there and live. This cold officer's discretion is wrong because he is supposed to follow the code to the letter of the law but I have experienced it myself and if he tells you to do something that goes against the code there is nothing you can do except what he asked you to do and in the future you will find the next inspector after him will say this is not up to code and when you say the previous inspector said he wanted it this way, the new inspector will say he doesn't care he is the inspector now and you will do it his way
@@analizad9409 our second amendment is specifically for situations like this, nobody has the balls to use it. It's coming I'm waiting for the day and it might just be me who does it, sooner or later I'm going to have to neutralize a corrupt cop or out of bounds city official like this inspector and claim second amendment free state.
Did Bruce basically just say they don't put them on the permits so they can skip them if they want to? "Well, if I got called out for everything that got put on for inspections, I'd never leave a job site". Dude. That's your JOB.
according to Bruce its too much work for them to write down what inspections are needed. Instead I am supposed to call and ask because thats not as much as work.
Isn't it just as much work for them to stop what they are doing to figure out, over the phone, exactly what all inspections are needed? Instead of just typing it on the permit at their leisure, before they hand you the approved permit....
As a paving contractor I built quite a few walls , this job is A+++ and you only need to look along the lines and check the camber of the wall to see it is as good as it gets... Dirt monkey is a great contractor, I thoroughly recommend you use this guy just looking at this one job it's top of the line.
Super impressed with your dedication to doing things right! My suggestion would be to build a data base or simple spreadsheet for 80% of what you do in that area and to have the city verify each year that none of their needs have been changed/updated from the previous year. The 20% can be one-off efforts. That being said, we’re new to your channel and love your quality of work!
So he wouldn’t have the time (cause quote: “I’d never be able to leave the job site”) to inspect all the steps needing an inspection? Somebody in the local government doesn’t have the time to even list the steps they want inspected on the permit? But you are required (five years later) to spend a half a day or more of your time to come out and tear the job apart to appease an ego? BS! The permit should list every step the contractor needs to call for inspection and what it should look like to pass. This is just another example of when it comes to dealing with the government your guilty, even when it’s governments fault, until you prove your innocent!
I would have asked the City Manager to come out and deal with a improperly filled out Inspection Card and to meet at the job site with the inspector. The conversation would have went like this, City Manager, "Hey inspector your office screwed up and didn't put the proper inspection on the card." Inspector, "yes sir we screwed up. And I can't boss this guy around and say, you should have known. So this job is complete." Stanley, "And next time I'll make sure they have that inspection on the card. And Mr. Manager, I want an audit of this department to find out who's in charge and responsible for failing to get this issue resolved for over five years."
It's not an ego ... they've got a long running corruption scam going on in their office, and they are Sooo arrogant they think they can now get away with anything.
Makes you wonder how city-state and federal employees spend their time not working but working on private business on government time and we pay taxes for them to live high on the hog and not work.
"If I got called out for everything that got put on for inspections.." also known as "doing my job". If it's a required inspection, then it should be on that list. You cannot put the responsibility on the contractor to call the inspector "just in case", for everything. This guy is saying it would be a waste of time to come inspect everything, but then here we are 5 years later with too much time on our hands.
Yep I thought that, if he doesn't like inspecting the North-South orientation of bricks, or the angle at which nails are driven into the wood, then they shouldn't be putting pointless stuff on their inspection forms. He's looking for a bribe IMO
I'm a former building inspector. I think this coming back later is B.S. If we missed a required inspection, it would be on us, not have the contractor come back 5 yrs later. And if its not listed on the permit, its not required, period. This was B.S. because he got caught not doing inspections that were required so now he's doubling down. And as far as doing all inspections, yes, you do them. You get out of your damn truck and you walk the site. I have been on commercial inspections that took hours.
I'd be calling him 20 times a day to ask questions about what needed inspected on every job I had. Have my contractor buddies do it too. Make their lives miserable until they fix the permits
The inspector contradicted himself! "If I got called out for everything that got put on those inspections, I'd never leave the job site" Then why don't you just put the ones YOU want! BS!- especially FIVE F...KING years latter!! BS. BS BS!!
Bruce had been getting a lot of scrutiny before this. He's been running his buttocks off closing out all his open inspections, before the city looks too deep and replaces him for not doing his job the last several years. Have the homeowner file a complaint for the holes in the yard.
So many building inspectors are just slugs sucking of the teet of the tax payers. This is totally unacceptable and then building inspector needs to be held accountable for his negligence. I can't believe you broke ground because some inept tool fails to do his job.
Kudos to you for keeping your composure while knowing full-well that you're 100% correct. Time is money in your field and so surely, this nonsense certainly cost you a few bucks. Conversely, Bruce the "inspector" wins the a-hole of the year award! According to a McQuivey’s Forrester study, "if a picture is worth 1000 words, then a one minute video is worth 1.8 million". Further proof that recording your work will almost always save your ass on so many different fronts. Hopefully you followed up with the city regarding Bruce's ridiculous request. His obvious superiority complex shines bright. Keep up the good work man, I really like your channel.
It is 100% the responsibility of the city to list (on the permit) every inspection you will be required to invite them to inspect. If they don't list an inspection that they should have, it is now their responsibility to figure out how to make it right and at their expense. You even have the right to take them to court (if it comes down to that) to make your case on inspections or procedures that they ask you to do when it above and beyond reason for your particular job site. I have witnessed contractors doing much more than digging holes to satisfy an inspector when they could have just said "No, I'll see you in court". Inspectors have off days too, and they can be too proud to admit that they (or their staff) were in the wrong.
Are you a contractor? Do you only want to do 1 job in that town? I've seen electricians bringing inspectors against the board and they wished they never did. Saved $25 in parts because of a principle... now all jobs are gone over with a fine, fine, comb. I had an inspector telling me I had to hardwire a c/o detector because he wants it even though the gas code is battery operated is OK. He said put it in so I'll pass your job. Guess what? I don't have a problem putting it in and charge the customer...I will have problems if I told him no and take him to the board. He teaches classes too.... sometimes you just pick the fight.
@@Timpon_Dorz Would you do that if it was five years later and you had to remove the finished wall (if that's where it is) and redo it at your expense? Yer spot on at the time of construction and that you truly cannot fight Shi...err...City Hall but I would guess you'd balk at it 5 years later. I don't think it's wrong to push it a little but it could blow up in your face if you go too far. In this case it seems simple, which may be the entire reason the inspector is doing it, so he's probably right to just do this easy step to appease the guy. Could you imagine what would happen if the guy decided Dirt Monkey had to redo it? Hopefully he rewrites his quotes to handle it better but he's still on the hook when some "inspector", and I use that word loosely, comes along to exert their authority. It's pathetic but that's what government these days and power gets you. This town needs an enema.
@@steverichter9825 if it's signed off and my job is done according to today's standards. Why would I need to pay for anything to open anything up? It's the contractor's job to close the jobs. I've seen homeowners having to remove a completely finished basement because he said he did it because of covid and had to bring his family in. Too bad town hall was open.
@@Timpon_Dorz Oh, I agree that the signature COULD help but, (though I'm no contractor myself-just a homeowner) I have friends who are who've dealt with it where it's meaningless. The inspecting authority finds some error, even on their part, and you have to decide whether to just do what they want, or fight it and risk getting punished some other way. As you stated with whether you wanna work in this town again. It does look like he should have had a signature somewhere for his protection even though it's meaningless if the right (wrong?) inspector shows up. SOP for government.
@@steverichter9825 they show up to make sure you pulled a permit and the town is aware you are doing the work. They don't check your work from start to finish because they expect the license holder to do their jobs correctly. Imagine a shopping mall? How long would it take a person to go through all the boxes? They just want to make sure paperwork is in order and if something burns down, I have my insurance to pay for it.
Lol next time you're in his town where he's the inspector, I would call him 30 times to ask him to come out and take a look each step of the way, not send him any pics.
@@Mr_Zimm You can't just leave it with the inspector. You need to get his boss in the loop, too. And make sure they know WHY they're in the loop. Nothing better than pissing off someone's boss for maliciously complying with their demands.
That footage should have satisfied the inspector. Digging it out was uncalled for. Blurring out his face was not required either, he is a public official in the capacity of his official duties. A public servant.
Advise: keep a log of all the time you spent complying with the inspection. Visit the city clerk's office and get a form that you use to charge the city for damages. Fill that out and attach your claim of damages and state the reason for your claim. You will get a check in the mail. If the city does not pay you then send a letter to your council person. Do your due diligence and if you still get no response or a refusal then use the small claims court and follow the courts procedure. if the amount is higher than hire an attorney. Stay on it, do not let this slide.
I'm a Building Inspector in Cali and came out of the trades which I was in for 38yrs and I think absolutely you are correct, it is up to the Authority Having Jurisdiction, AHJ, to outline inspection procedures.
AHJ does outline an inspection but they can’t enforce something that isn’t code. Having someone dig up a yard 5 years later is a recipe to end up dead for the A hole asking for that. Should be legal to euthanize the piece-o-shit building inspector.
@@RadDadisRad they can and do enforce things that aren't code he is in charge of that jurisdiction and of course the worker didn't check to see if he passed inspection which is just good workmanship that way he knows he passed and the homeowner knows he did the job correctly it is his responsibility to get a final inspection not the government's
My biggest reaction from this video was the point you made about having to get multiple licenses from every jurisdiction that you work in, and they all have different rules. What a nightmare! I'm a contractor in Michigan where we fought long and hard for a single state building code. No local government can supersede or require things that are not in that code. Sounds like Minnesota needs to do the same!
We used to haul 50 wheel 13 axle oversize. The rules for oversize are far from standardised and you can get all manner of permits and then get tripped up on stupid stuff like the permit for amber safety lights expiring. In Newport News, Leibherr has a factory and the interstate entrance ramp is less than 150' from the factory but the local cops claim a permit is required and they won't return calls made to the local cop permit number. BTW: Off M59 west of Pontiac, there is a place called Duck Lake and my friend used to live at it in a house that looks like a windmill. We could take the boat to the bar until Michigan started doing sobriety tests on boaters.
Stanley, this definitely sounds ridiculous. I'm passing this to my dad (who is the MN state building official). You always have the state to appeal to if you have some weird city inspector giving you grief, because they approve their certification.
When dealing with inspectors, or anyone else. The one and only thing we are obligated to do is what is asked of us. That simple. we can obviously go above and beyond, but that isn't an obligation. You were perfectly in the right here! Glad you stood your ground! And I'm supportive of the way that you did so, with respect and integrity! Great job Stan! what a great example!
He was jumbling his words. You were more prepared for him then he was ready for and you threw him off. I think he got dinged on an inspection for not properly inspecting and now he has to go back around checking all his previous jobs.
Bruce is totally checked out I’m surprised he had to even talk as he was clearly on his way to go four wheeling (people don’t risk that being stolen by leaving in back of truck)
So basically it sounds like a good old case of "we didn't do our part, so now you need to redo your part to verify what we forgot to do in the first place".
Put it on the inspection sheet if it needs inspection....seems pretty simple doesn't it....wait till ya get 2 inspectors giving ya 2 different inspections and failing ya every time they come out!
I've had 4 different inspectors on a correction ... did it the way the first one said,,, had to change if when the second one showed up,, then the 3rd guy had me do is his way ... so I ask if I could get the same guy to show up next time ... guess they were done playing and the 4th guy passed it ...
@@Mr.Torres831 I will be retiring soon with 50 years in the building trade and it IS the responsibility of the city to make sure everything they want is on the permit paperwork! 100% on the building department! I have pulled permits in over 40 states and not once was it the contractor's job to determine how many or what kind of inspections need. I have never given out a white envelope to any inspector but I have seen a few walked out in handcuffs for asking for one. It is YOUR job to train your clerks or do not allow them to issue permits to anyone without knowing how your city wants things done. Lastly, it is NOT the contractor's job to communicate anything to you the inspector! It is however your job to ensure that everything is communicated to the contractor. How else can a contractor KNOW what your city or state wants? It seems that your clerks are not the only ones that are non-educated.
@@chuckcobb5857 absolutely! I once fooled an entire building department with the term "steep escarpment"..... Built a house on deep peers 10' from the edge of a basalt cliff overlooking a 10 mile long Beach. "you can't build this close, it wasn't on your plans...." ooops.
@@chuckcobb5857 100% percent correct. I do business in three states. And all three states no matter the locality will have what they want to see on the permits. And they even color code permit placards in some places. For the inspectors! So go figure.
Dude, I'm born and raised in Minnesota, work construction, I'm a project supervisor for a small company out of Blaine, we always appreciate those who work their tails off and I'll be supporting your channel. God bless you brother
This sounds like the jerk I had doing inspections for my solar. We had a specific inspection schedule by the city and we meet all of them. Every inspection he would come up with some new reason he didn't like the install and then say it needed reinspection and an added inspection for some other item since we are changing it. The final inspection took 2 weeks and 6 visit. On the last visit I asked him if we can just get a complete list of issues before he leaves if he is going to ask for changes and a reinspection and he said "I will do inspections at my pace how I see fit, it will take as long as I like, and if your contractor bothered to call me before demanding an inspection then maybe this could have been worked out before I had to tag things." These dudes are mini power trips and just full of themselves.
You have to get inspections for solar too? Jesus, see this is why I bought land that's surrounded by forest on all sides. Only thing you can see is through the break in the forest where there's a driveway. If nobody can see you, and doesn't know what you're doing, you don't need permits or inspections lmao
@@GlorifiedGremlin in the US shooting down a drone is a federal offense with huge fines and prison time.... Not saying it's right, just saying. There really is no such thing as private property, you lease it from the government. Don't believe me, don't pay your lease payment(property taxes) and see how long they let you keep it. Again not saying it's right, just saying.
That’s what you’re supposed to do that’s why you’re the best at what you do I love learning from you keep up the good work brother God bless make sure this inspected doesn’t want money😂
Just listening to the inspector "I routinely will take pictures of the progress" after he conceded the fact that only a final was called for. My question to him would have been...If I didn't have a professionally produced video to support the quality of the bid where would we be now? What a laugh, this municipal inspection "professionals" cause more disruption and costs of a project that either lands in the contractors lap or the customer's purse. Good Job!
Should be a solid lesson learned. I love Google photos and taking pics of projects and organizing by date and gps marked location. I often keep photos for property owners as they like to know where their money is going as well.
I would have sent a bill to this particular municipality for my time being this is 2021 not 2007 so they are severely behind on inspections or something is wrong there. Great documentation on your end
Stan, it never ceases to amaze me how a non-paying party can DEMAND action/work. While inspections are worthwhile, the process needs to be clear, or if there is a five year call back, somebody needs to pay for your day/labor, and fighting city hall often proves futile. Thank goodness for your video!
Absolutely. 4 years and no settlement, it hasbeen done correctly. And if the cities listed inspections are inadequate, the city is liable to the homeowner.
Actually, Bruce should have been arrested on the spot and charged with harassment. I suspect his argument that certain inspections being required with no physical evidence of such would be fodder for a competent atty. I realize that things may be different in W. St. Paul but in my neck of the woods such an inspector would not keep his job for long.l
True. I did our was 10 years age! Still look great! If the inspection paperwork doesn't call for any inspection or paperwork then the guy has no leg to stand on
11- 10 - 2024 is the date of when I first started watching your videos and I am so relaxed on the couch watching Real Content gaining great knowledge.. Respect 🤜 🇮🇹 🤛
lol. "Im not trying to argue with you Bruce," while he argues with Bruce. Were you just obviously video recording him as you called him on his bull? I love it man. Respect for standing up to that.
That's a great looking wall! Building inspectors always like to have their secret codes and regulations. It creates a sort of "good old boy" network between the inspectors and local contractors.
I've dealt with this in Florida. If it came down to a court fight, the inspector is wrong. It is what is on the permit. But legal costs to fight the inspection department will be high, and inspector retribution in the future can be harsh.
You can defend yourself if you are well learned like this man. He can present this in court easily and defend himself. You dont always need to purchase a lawyer. Also if there is proven retribution due to a legal dispute you are definitely liable to payment for damages or losses due to said retribution. Revenge cases are very common. For that id definitely recommend a lawyer
You were 100% right. Also you try and work with them like you did to a point, then let them know you know what your doing and start questioning them for answers. Perfect job
1) You're exactly right, the inspections should be noted before the project begins. You can order a code book from the city. Any questions, call the city and document it. 2) Cutting thru that geo-fabric will have ZERO effect on holding back that soil. Don't worry about it. Contractors do it all the time when they're excavating for footings. 3) That's a beautiful wall. You did a very nice job. A grenade (seriously) wouldn't even bring that wall down. I'm an Engineer, so it's my job to know these things. Btw, nice choice in fabric.
As a contractor for over 30 years, I agree with the contractor on this one. Everything at the end of the day is what's in the writing. As we all have seen, many contact disputes that end up in court, will be judged by what's in writing. Seeing a building inspector coming out after 5 years to look at a job is unbelievable. Looks like the town dropped the ball on this one, in more ways than one!!
I agree. If instead of complying, the contractor and homeowner had gone full Karen mode and sued the city, the inspector would have lost his ass. If he needed those inspections they should have been listed in the list of required inspections.
It's funny because he says "you could have provided the video back then". How is the contractor supposed to know that unless you document it on your permits or during the process?
you're a stud for taking videos of the actual work in progress. Being on the other side that's so rare to see someone back themselves with. your're doing it real right. flipping love it!
LoL 🤣 I'm a personal trainer tried to pull my own permit to build a shed! I was dealing with bureaucrats for over 7 months and I never even pulled the shed out of the box !! This was a shed from home depot that didn't pass Florida wind requirements!! I hired an architect !! When I saw all the trouble the architect had and having to resubmit drawings over and over I just gave up!!! I canceled everything and then put the shed together in a day with my girl friend with no permit!!! Too much red tape never again those bureaucrats are professional time wasters!!! Good luck in your career dealing with those guys!!
I thought 💭 you had a lot more patience than I would have been that took so long for a final inspection, well done job , I have had few bad contractors, trying to cover up there mistakes 😊❤️🙏
On a job we had, there was new bulkheading going in (On a canal, existing bulkhead and dock were rotted away) a 20x25 area was dug out to lay in deadmen (basically it was a phone pole laid in the ground, with 3/4 inch steel bars through it, going out 8-10 feet to the bulkhead to prevent it from pushing out). Like this video, no inspection was called for. Until the local inspector showed up, and told us, like the video, we would have to dig them up to prove it was there - "no, the Video and Pictures are not good enough" - My position was "Here's a shovel, have a look at whatever you want - I KNOW it's there, I SHOWED you it's there, if you really need to TOUCH it to believe it, YOU can dig". We overbuild - the dockbuilder is a friend and neighbor to the customer - he is known to overbuild.... The inspector finally decided to accept the pics and video and be reasonable. Fun stuff.
@@rebeccaanderson2907 He said the size of the Inspector, not the Inspector's Ego/Attitude... Making it the size of his Ego/Attitude would require a Nuclear Blasting Charge... 😄😁😆😅😂🤣
Inspector said, "Usually they call in to ask how I wanna do it." The rules don't change with your whims, dude! It's either required or it ain't, and it should be on the sheet. Period.
A lawyer would shred that up....paper didn't say it was required...its not required. He said you should have assumed. Not taking responsibility for your crappy building dept
There are A holes everywhere,in my opinion, that inspector was a true example. You handled that lots better than I would have and with a lot more patience. His actions were out of bounds. I was livid after watching this .
When I was a kid, my parents built their house. The building inspector refused to inspect the place for 2 years because he didn't get an envelope. But he passed final inspection on a housing development that hadn't even cleared the land. Then he bought a beach house.
You are 1000% correct. Any inspections should be listed on your permit. That kind of the point of having that section on the permit. You did what they had asked you to do. Any cost associated with "retro inspections" should be covered by the city. They should actually have covered your time, gas and any other cost associated with this. It's not your fault that you did what was asked and it wasn't good enough for them.
In this day and age it would not surprise me if they purposely do not list it all on the paper so they can F with you down the road if they choose to. Make more work for them......job security. Why else would it not be printed clearly on the permit!
@@funone8716: There you go! But hasn't that always been the norm, and particularly with government employment, state or federal, it's all about job security. It's practically impossible to fire one of them, because they just get relocated to somewhere else. Add a Union in the mix, and your stuck with them for life. I used to work for a glass installation company years ago, that would give out free baseballs every summer, to every kid that walked thru the front doors, with their parents. It had nothing to do with being a great guy, that really loved his customers, kids, or baseball. It was all about, what those kids, would do with those baseballs, once they left the shop. Not all of them, mind you, some kids are responsible. But a lot of them aren't, especially when you get'em in groups. To make a long story short, he knew that box of baseballs, would pay for themselves, in the extra work it would bring in. Job security, at it's finest.
On a high rise, with hundreds if not thousands of inspections, how would you list out all of the inspections? I don't know how to say this politely so no one gets offended, so forgive me. Respectfully, anyone saying it should be listed on the permit is incorrect. The contractor or owner doing the work is required to call for inspection before covering the work. It's that easy. If you work on anything on your permit you call for an inspection before you cover it up.
@@classyko4552 it is not that hard. All electrical and all plumbing must be inspected and left exposed until being covered. Simple. The inspector can then attach a form saying this wing or floor has been inspected. Easy peasy. Been there done that.
I feel for you. On the one hand, you need to deal with that inspector regularly, so you don't want to poison the relationship. On the other hand, I'd want to hold up the paper and say "Show me on this paper where it says..." and when he whipped out the "It's standard in the industry.." line, I'd say "Do you think a judge would find in your favor if we asked?" Ugh. You did a great job keeping your cool. If I had your job, I'd probably no longer be able to get a permit for ANYTHING in that town. lol
If you knew all the specifications of every inspection without depending on the cities paperwork you would be a building inspector...keep on building awesome stuff you guys are the best.
Actually, he would not be. Most inspectors are people who don't work in the trades or physically cant any more. The job is not glorious and does not pay more than whan can be earned working for yourself or even someone else.
HI Stan, nice job and a great way to handle this whole situation, but just a question about the surcharge/load of the house. If it's a basement wouldn't that mean that there is zero surcharge on the wall other than the sloped soil above and even if doesn't have a basement, wouldn't the frost footing be at least 4 ft down carrying the weight of the house low enough that there still is no load on the wall from the home structure? Thanks man Kelly
My late husband built a small addition to the back of a house that ran the entire width. This is in Texas. My husband took detailed notes, pictures & video. The addition was mostly all windows, part office space, part screened in porch. On a hill, so it was a thick slab. 2 years after completion we get a letter from an attorney that we were being sued because the foundation was failing. He went to the house, with the homeowners permission, too take a look. The wife answers the door & after taking a look, it is failing. First question my husband asked was, did you hire a landscaper to redirect the sprinkler system to water this foundation? The homeowner thought he could hire someone cheaper than us. The wife, on video, said no he never hooked it back up. Off a letter is sent from our lawyer, with the structural engineer notes for the addition, our notes & the video. We never heard from them again!
Good job on taking pictures and video.CYA pics are very important for scenarios just as this. I am a mason for 35 years now. I always take pictures of what is going to be inspected. Stretching a tape measure and snapping a pic can save you a lot of headache. And if inspectors get out of hand, like on a power trip. You can always replace the inspector with a camera and a engineers signature. But first always try to get along with the inspector. But there are those inspectors that need to be humbled for abuse of their authority they believe that they have on you. Kicking them off your job site and letting them know that they can't be replaced by a signature and a camera seems to work pretty good. For the most part the next time you deal with them they will remember you, and how you went around them seems to be degrading enough. For the next time that we have met on a job after the one they've been kicked off of, it seemed to be a little bit more respectful. By leveling out the playing field hopefully the relationship between contractor and inspector welcome to a mutual respect.
I totally agree with you, each inspector is different, it should be listed in the permit 💯 I’ve dealt with a lot of plumbing and sewer inspections in my day! Glad you had a video
"Required". If it ain't written down, it ain't LEGAL.. The INSPECTOR gets a F A I L U R E on this. The CONTRACTOR gets a thumbs up. He went out of his way the accommodate.
Calling and verifying is an absolute waste of time. It absolutely should be called out on the building permit. He clearly disagrees so he should maybe get that changed on the actual permit.
@@Dirtmonkey what now? Just letting it go? Is that area not profitable enough to spend the time to get this resolved? Seems like a good chance to see real local government in action
@@georgehoppes6456 Good point. Consider that he doesn't make money as a political activist. In his business, the less time he spends on bureaucrats, the better. Perhaps a local brave viewer might do it.
He's telling you to call in. If you start doing that, you'll eventually get someone at the inspection department telling you to read the permit for the requirements. They will wonder why you are calling in, thinking that you're a newbie contractor.
It's the city looking to tack on a fine for the home owner or company that did the work. Common practice to use when traffic fines, or other violations aren't bringing in enough. You could more than likely find something the city plans or has done that cost more than normally spent in the budget. Basic form of taxation without cause. Easier than raising property taxes.
I am glad I found your channel and I’m definitely reinforced about film documenting my work with clients consent. I am in a different field than yours but I always document before, during and after. Great advice and methodology. Also a very beautiful retaining wall! You have my subscription!
I admire your patience. I lost my filter years ago. I'm not sure I would have been as professional as you. I do believe they have deficiencies in their department if they are just now wanting to inspect it after 5 years. You did great. Thank you.😊🙏
I always love it when you have an inspector and you get used to working with them and how everything needs done the way they want. Then that inspector goes on vacation and you get someone totally different and they want things done totally different. What a pain. Also most inspectors did not work in the trades.
We always tried to be consistent in our inspections. Though sometimes the other inspector might see something I missed, or I might see something they missed. It does happen, but we try to be human about it, and if its not a life safety issue may let it ride. As far as all the comments about bribes, I don't think that was the problem, though I have been "jokingly" approached. I always tell them that I know they are trying to be funny, otherwise I would have to report them. And I would.
I just have so much respect for contractors that can pull all the permits and do everything on the table and still run a profitable business. The government makes it nearly impossible.
If, as a homeowner, I come home and find that ANY part of a job has been opened up, 5 years after the job was completed, just to satisfy an inspector who did NOT do their job 5 years previously, I’d be absolutely ballistic at the next town council meeting.
i agree. that is 5 years that something could have went horribly wrong. putting you and your family at risk
Its the contractor's responsibility to obtain sign off of all required inspections. Its also ultimately the contractor's responsibility to be knowledgeable on ALL required inspections pertaining to the scope of work being done within the city/jurisdiction the project is located. On the permit, the building final had 2 **. I doubt the contractor inquired further to seek clarification. Again, it is NOT the responsibility of the Inspection Jurisdiction to obtain sign off, that is the duty and responsibility of the contractor. Inspectors don't chase inspections down to sign em off. A proper Inspection request must take place before any Inspector is required to do any Inspection. I understand the contractors perspective as well as a homeowner. But the responsibility ultimately always falls on the contractor.
@@aquaholixsd I understand that but if you noticed there is no footnote for the asterisks on either sheet of paper. Again if it isn’t written down it doesn’t apply
@@aquaholixsd so when they just throw in another $20,000 of "regulations" you'll just comply like a good little sheep won't ya? Lol sorry but asking permission from government to do something on your property is just another way they have conditioned you to ASK the government to do anything.. this is America. If I want to hire someone to do anything on my property the government should mind its own business.. things will change soon enough.. the corruption between industry insurance and government is coming to an end..
@@aquaholixsd so what happens when you call in the inspection and they just do not show? So you mean the contractor has to now chase the inspector to do his job? I have a feeling in this case the inspection was done but the paperwork wasn’t completed. Now 5 yrs later someone realized it and we have what we have.
As an inspector for 33 years, that is pathetic that the inspection office did not perform their due diligence to review their open permits on a regular basis. Someone should have investigated why a 5 year old permit was still in the open/active status
We had one that was open since 1999 and just being dealt with 2 years ago lol. And it was for fire suppression.
Id think the contractor would stay right on the inspectors ass till it was signed off as finall/complete. Once i get that last signature THEN your job is done. Leave it to the homeowner. Lol. Fools!
That's on the State, they obviously do not keep thuer inspection reports up to date per monthly requirements.
@@jeffreybuckner4483 the issueis the homeowner can come back on the contractor and the state legally for failing to do thier job and destruction of private property after project has been completed. Thats heavy fines and loss of license and job.
That inspector could have driven by and done the "Final". In the real world there is a list of ALL Inspections they want to Inspect at every stage of the job and then a Final and that is the completed job. The you should have known, is complete BS and would not stand up in any court of Law. And In that case if that Contractor had not done any of the proper foundation work and that wall fell down 5yrs later that permite would have been zero help in any courtroom for the customer.
When it comes to the court room if it is not in writing it does not mean anything.
That is literally the inspectors job, you know the job he's PAID to do! It's egregious that the city or county can be so negligent, then feel entitled to force the company to dig up their work because of the planning departments failure to plan and do their job in a timely manner. I'm so glad that you filmed it, lesson to all, you're a good man and very professional.
In Australia we would say, "he needs his head red"!
What a shonk ! He hasn't done his job ! Five years down the track !
JUST PLAIN LAZY ! Taking a pay check without doing the work .... SHAMEFUL !
You did the right thing by fulfilling your part ... he should be made accountable !
@@glendadowe.....head red.....or.........read.?
They issued the ticket.....and you have to ring up and check.?
It's government mentality. LIke taxes. They requier you to pay taxes, they requier you to account all of your taxes for them. If you are wrong you go to jail or pay fines. This is the bass akwardness of government burocracy. Everyone want public money but no one wants to work for it.
Did he just admit that he’s making “inspections” up? Well it may not be on the permit but they exist…. Excuse me!! If it ain’t on the permit then it ain’t required!
Oh but "everybody knows" ???
Every city has that one inspector.
@@niyablake A failed contractor that becomes an inspector is the worst.
After 5 years, if you’re a qualified inspector, you should be able to do a visual inspection on a wall and know whether or not it was built correctly, that wall and every pebble you touched is where you left it 5 years ago. Beautiful work!
that was my first thought.
I agree this whole process is BS and he should be able to tell it was done right but I’ll defend the inspector on some comments. He did say he would accept pictures. Stanley assumed they didn’t because other places didn’t so he didn’t try. He didn’t have to dig it up had he just tried to show the video first. Though the inspector should have said that considering the situation. If a jobs been finished for 5 years especially today with cell phones he should have mentioned pictures were an option.
5 years laTER POuND Sand inspector
@@joshcowart2446 Then again it should have listed the inspection as a requirement in the list of required inspections.
@@olstar18 agreed
If I’m being honest here, that is one hell of a killer retaining wall you constructed. You guys do excellent work
This man is total bullshit!!!
Hey Jeff Morgan@ it still doesn't make any sense if they have the video footage of the part that is in question. Why would he be required to destroy the finished product. This whole thing sounds personal to me...five years after the project was finalized.
I was thinking the same thing
Are you dishonest otherwise?
Excellent video. I was really pleased with how you worked with Bruce and then let him know that there was no argument, but more of a "please help me understand how this could happen." I am an architect and thirty five years ago, helped get a city ordinance modified so as to give a time limit for permits and notifications. Two years after a request for a final with no reply meant that the final was approved. Period.
To save time the Building Inspector could have asked, do you have any pictures! Duh!
I'm a contractor in Wyoming n no way in hell would i of dug any hole 5 years later. I would of told him to provide proof it had to be inspected n also told him if it was supposed to be inspected why wasn't it done at the time of building inspection. You handled that very well
Wow, you must be a pretty crappy contractor if you actually think that would work (pretty much anywhere).
If you go around yelling "Prove it has to be inspected!", the inspector is just going to say "No, and I don't have to. Either you do what I require, or I won't sign off the inspection, your choice." And if you don't do it, and they don't sign off, and the permit doesn't get closed, and then the property owner can't sell the house, or get insurance, etc, then they're going to sue _you_ for not meeting your obligations as a contractor (and they'll win).
And *it is being done at the time of building inspection,* because *this is when the inspection was scheduled for.* The inspection is being done 5 years later because *the contractor or property owner is responsible for scheduling inspections,* not the inspectors. It sounds like the property owners screwed up 5 years ago and didn't call him when they were supposed to. That is not the inspector's fault.
@@foogod4237 typically permits expire. If a final wasnt accomplished within the permit timeline and the homeowner was responsible for inspection compliance then make sure your contracts state this.
@@h2s-i9o Authorization to perform the work may expire, but required inspections of performed work typically do not. If the work was done, it needs to be inspected, and until it is inspected, the permit will still be considered outstanding (and potentially be a problem), even years later.
You can't get out of doing an inspection by just "forgetting" to call them and hoping they forget about you.
@@foogod4237 im a gc, but unless the sub its required to stand the inspection by statutory/regulatory language and the homeowner took responsibility for that process im not coming back 5 years later to stand an inspection. I could have gone out of business changed names and licenses moved. Sorry municipality you didnt do your job and your tip toeing bery close to a fraud waste and abuse claim.
@h2s-i9o I think unless it's actually in your contract, you're perfectly entitled to tell the homeowner that they need to pay extra for you to come out after all this time (or they need to find someone else to do it), but that's entirely between you and the homeowner. It has nothing to do with the inspector.
"I used to be a contractor myself" is classic city inspector jargon for "I wasn't good enough to make it out on my own."
They usually are the guys who never could use a tool and hated to see real menbwith them. In my town i have 4 of the fuggers who graduated the college program below me as i was the standard of the class. I knew before graduating, because i had already had my GC for 4 years, that they would give me hell. They haven't failed my expectations
It's just a step above the guy at Home Depot who says he used to be a contractor. What contractor would leave the industry to go to HD, unless he retired or became disabled?
I'm an inspector in Texas. Master Plumber in 2 states. Owned my own business for 21 years. Got a divorce, lost my retirement. Tore a meniscus, both rotator cuffs, and screwed my back up. I don't speak Spanish, all the white guys that are good plumbers start their own business. 2 years ago I started inspecting because I wanted the insurance and retirement. Didn't feel like starting over. First I went to work for another company. Hard to do after being self employed for so long. Plus, 25 an hour was killing me.
@@othalee Yup, I was going to say that there are people who want the stability and benefits of a government job.
@@cchavezjr7 once I retire I'm going back into business. Maybe.
"I don't want to hold up the contractor waiting for me to show up." Yet you tracked a contractor down to dig some holes 5 years after the fact and enforced an inspection that wasn't needed. Gotta love government! Good on ya Stan for keeping your cool!
Almighty government 🤮
@@Dirtmonkey yeah whatever more like tyrannical government.
Takes me months to get a permit through in my city and yet these guys can hunt down a five year old project. If the city wants these inspections done they need to state it in the paperwork, sounds like a really lazy permit office to me.
In my area the only reason why code enforcement is worried about a 5 year old job is because the house is in contract and the buyers mortgage company is requesting a property search. The Code Officer is refusing to sign off on any work that was done on the property that he/she hasn’t personally inspected (due to liability issues).
When I saw you had a video of it my very 1st thought was to show it to the building/code department and you may save your self some digging. Second, the required inspections should absolutely be written on the permit, we are not mind readers. Calling the building department and asking dumb questions because they can’t be bothered to put it in writing is time wasted.
Word to the wise: get your inspections or it could hold up the sale of your house
You should have bribed the inspector and then turned him in. Get him fired or jailed.😡
as a former building inspector, this guy and his entire team back at the department, need to be fired and have their pensions taken back, give them to the legit contractors who STILL care more about the homeowner than the cushy job back in the office
Every inspector I've ever had to deal with is exactly like this guy. I am glad you are an exception but this guy is the norm.
Power hungry
Don't think they need to be fired mate, but fucking harsh, these are people with families and mortgages etc. maybe re-educated.
Yea as an electrician inspectors are a joke for the most part. Yea they could catch the obvious stuff. But in there 5min stroll through a job they are only keying in on specific things that they went over that day or week. Hell had one inspector start requiring that we put gaskets on all of our box opening on the inside of house if in an exterior wall. Our wholesale houses didn’t even stalk those gaskets. So then all of our wholesale houses had to start carrying these gaskets to pass inspection! Was able to weasel his way in code book that references back to fire protection think it’s NFAPA. Adding extra cost to everyone because this guy got a little power. Have had inspectors call my union on me. Yea have had some real pieces of crap as inspectors. But there are a couple of good ones.
No, he needs to be fired so he can realize what a major "A" hole he is. I have seen one inspector ignore a keep clear sign and just drive through the yellow tape and park his car. The falling materials totaling his car was the result. Lost his job.
FYI: A "permit" is a legal and binding contract; bilateral agreement; and a meeting of the minds. If the issuing authority omitted any necessary inspections - it's their negligence (not yours).
Sooo true... FJB...F building insp.
Here's an inspector story for ya...I'm a welder by trade, we installed and then I personally welded an entire store front consisting of 4 42' columns, beams between the columns at mid way up and at the top as well as 6 very short beams to embeds in the cmu wall. Took a couple days, inspector comes out and fails a couple welds because from the ground they didn't look welded. Whatever, Saturday I lay some more weld on them, everything is clean and good. Monday comes around and he comes back and fails the entire store front now. Tuesday I show up (pretty pissed off) and ask the super if he heard anything and go up to do a once over. Everything is clearly good. Different inspector shows up (who I've worked with a couple times) and we harness up and go for a ride. 5 minutes and a couple pictures and the same store front the failed the previous morning is signed off without even starting the generator.
Sometimes it seems inspectors just want you to know they can ruin your day for no good reason.
give someone a bit of authority and they mostly turn into tyrants
You could always have an inspector that deliberately fails everything you do to get you thrown off of contracted jobs so they can have their buddies come in and do almost nothing yet get the credit for the job as well as get paid for it while you get just enough to cover your expenses with little to no profits if anything at all.
My dad had an inspector attempting to do that with an electrical panel replacement from fuses to breakers. On the first inspection it was the backboard was "to small" it needed to be bigger by 3 inches one way and 4 inches the other. This is for a 100 amp breaker panel box. Next day the back board passed but the panel was "to small" and then they suggested my dad bring in "his guy" to do the work.
Mind you that the person my dad had doing the work is a certified electrician through the Army Corp of Engineers and is certified to do the wiring for power plants. The guy he wanted us to use barely had their certification to do just residential wiring. He had only been in business for 2 years while the one my dad was using had 10 years in the Army Corp of Engineers and was still on active reserve duty for another 10 after the fact until he retired.
When it came time for the next inspection a different guy showed up and we discussed all what had been "failed" and "fixed" according the the previous inspector and he told us that inspector was no longer working there as an inspector and will not be allowed to work there ever again because of him pushing his buddy onto people to do the work and never once failing anything. He also told us that he had to go for a final inspection for one of the other guys buddies work and found 20 things wrong that the other guy had passed. He also told us that they had found out the other inspector was getting a cut of the profits from his buddy and was also a "silent partner" in his buddies business. He also told us that the other inspectors buddy lost his certification and the business was shut down.
Ehhh.... The inspector's wife probably rejected him the night before and lucky you, you got to be the whipping boy for his frustration that day.
Had that happen one time when I went down to the Building Department one time to ask what reinforcement I needed to put in a decorative Adobe/concrete wall I was installing at my own place (3' tall x 18" wide). The inspector just plain-flat came unglued, "What ?! You want to build an unreinforced masonry wall in earthquake country ?! What if it fell over ?!" (in my opinion, any yappy little dog small enough to get hit by a 3" high wall... good riddance)
I told him, "That's why I'm here !! I want to know what you want in it !!". Went back and forth for a bit with me telling him I'd put whatever he wanted in the wall. He then told me he would get back to me after consulting with the other inspectors.
Funny thing is, by the time I got home there was already a message from him saying I didn't need anything, and that I did not even need to pull a permit, (Yes, I did put in rebar and mesh in, anyways. 15 years later when we sold the place it had only had one crack in 35 feet !!)
Weird thing is, all my other contractor buddies said he was normally the most laid-back inspector with the city.
Lucky me, I caught him on a bad day.
@@jimbayler4277 36" (Maybe it's 30") here in California need ZERO reinforcing. Or at least that was the way it was up until I retired in "05"
@@victoreous626 : This was in California and was along both my front property lines.
This was around '03. Decorative (Spanish adobe look), with no play areas or anything else that could be damaged other than few plants or maybe a little lawn. I didn't normally do walls in my jobs (actually, I don't recall anybody ever actually requesting them). This was for my own place, and I didn't want any potential issues with the city. I had gone down to city hall on a "Discovery"/informational quest.
I'm in the SF Bay Area, surrounded on all sides by faults and wanted to do it right. Nothing fancy, so I didn't want to involve an engineer.
Turns out, they didn't have any special spec's nor did they require me to pull a permit. Me being me, I over engineered it, plus I embedded a 2-ton Fieldstone boulder in my side of one of the walls. The Adobe/concrete (cement stabilized Adobe) didn't even crack where it went over part of the rock !! (got just one, but elsewhere).
As an inspector, I agree with you 100%. I had opened this video expecting to disagree with you, but you were 100% correct. You received a list of required inspections and you complied. For him to say that there are implied inspections is BS and unprofessional. The only thing I can suggest is that, when a permit is to be closed by the homeowner at a later date, call the inspector and say "I am done at this job. Can you come and approve the work I did?" EDIT: I never do drive by inspections. I always get out of the vehicle and look at what I need to look at.
There is no such thing as an 'implied' inspection. Ether it is REQUIRED or it is BS.
@@moseszero3281 Well said.
Shouldn't have to call anyone. Government just wants to boss people around, but don't actually want to do anything. You heard him "you could send pictures" there's a lot you can't tell by pictures.
it seems just like a personal thing or his just bored and wants to be on camera either way its an ego thing
This inspector says “guys in the industry, they know..” (implying unlisted required inspections) 🥴. This inspector was dead wrong
After 5 years that wall is amazing. Looks like it hasn’t moved an inch. Quite a testament to you and your employees. ESPECIALLY given that slope and situation. Looking down the sidewalk shot, that sucker is as straight as an arrow!
Much appreciated sir!
Yeah I thought the same.. one look after 5 years should be enough proof the wall is well above standard
I agree. Seems like a simple drive-by after 5 years should be sufficient to rule out wrong doings
ridiculous, laziness on their end, they are just making their job easy for their case load and if they want to pick and choose their fights to make us miserable. thank goodness you document your jobs. cya. awesome tips and advice 👌
Exactly! If it is not on the permit as a required inspection , it is not required, especially 5 years after the job is done. Thst inspector should be fired.
Wall looks great 5 years later.
Great idea to take pictures/video jobs.
I’m not an inspector or a general contractor but I am a land survey/civil tech. I’ve seen many “engineered” walls fail due to poor drainage and no geogrid. If that wall is 5 years old and still shows no signs of slumping/settling down or leaning over, then the wall was built right.
The fact that this inspector is FINALLY getting around to this 5 YEARS after the fact is beyond ridiculous. Just another example of gov't incompetence.
Local and city government.
Pot bellied government employee living in a BLUE state. That says it all folks
@@brianl.8723 Government is government my man. Terrible.
The responsibility to schedule the inspection lies with the CONTRACTOR… not the inspector.
Exactly
Ridiculous that an inspector would say, “well it’s standard in the industry” but the paperwork for the permit only says “final” (but lines for all permits necessary to be noted). It doesn’t seem to me, that this would stand up in any court. The inspector says, I wouldn’t have time to make all those inspections, but thinks the contractor has time to dig up 5 yr completed jobs. Contractors should take them to court to get this foolishness resolved.
Then the city inspector would possibly start a vendetta against the contractor. Nothing is fair in life
It's on the contractor to pick up the phone? What happens if you speak to the wrong person?
@@sophocles1198 Just like the IRS. What an IRS agent says does not represent the IRS. You're screwed either way.
It's required but I can't explain why or where. You should just have understood the knowledge of it dwells in the ether and you didn't pay attention.
Why I despise government. Just sounds corrupt to me.
The game is rigged. Contractor needs time and money to fight court battle. Guess who foots the bill for the inspectors court costs? Taxpayers come on down! Your the next contestant on "Government regulation in nutshell!".
As the contractor you get to choose between fighting a court battle you have no guarantee of winning or just doing whatever the inspector asks as the latter is usually cheaper.
It’s a testament to your guy’s workmanship. After five years your wall is straight and the ground looks great
I love the "well, people in the industry... know". Hello, he's in the freakin' industry, he built the damn wall 5 years ago and it's still PERFECT!
Beautiful work on the wall. Never heard of an inspector coming back years after a project has been passed unless they see an issue later which has obviously not happened. The work done is exactly what will keep the home and wall in place for a lifetime. Great job!!
Thank you!!!
I don't recall him saying that the final inspection had happened.
Unfortunately where I live they have subbed out the inspections now and I've had up to 5 years of work that had the same documents of what inspections were required and were done at that time. They now have imposed new rules and the inspector wants that phone call to come there during the contracting , which I have had a guy race in whoa whoa whoa what's going on here haha to have nothing going wrong . anyways I feel that pain of going back and opening up all my old work, customers hate it, restaurants during lunch rush etc.
Great job Stanley love your videos!
@@NiceMuslimLady do you recall him saying that the final inspection has nothing to do with him?
@@devilsadvocate1685 Yes...but the inspector didn't seem very concerned about that.
There’s nothing wrong with arguing. It’s our DUTY as an American to hold our government accountable.
Don’t argue too loudly or they will call the FBI for domestic terrorism lol.
Arguing with the PEOPLE'S servants is terrorism upon the PEOPLE'S themselfs. CONSTITUTION IS BLACK & WHITE......yet you all mostly fail to punish our employees the generations before mine have allowed this to happen remember WE THE PEOPLE isn't them to control🗽
You are the Government
@@neilsmith1736 But they don’t see it that way.
, never argue with an inspector unless you KNOW you’re in the right 100%.
I'm a carpenter contractor for +35 years. Your inspector was just being a bully. He was really digging for a problem. I would file complaint if I had the time. Enjoy all your videos tools, tools, tools. Thanks
That is a perfect scenario of an inspector overstepping his authority, when he said “ I want this done this way”. There is no list of required inspections on your permit other than final inspection.
For some reason I had a feeling this was about an unpaid bribe
If you look in your city's Code Compliance book you will most likely see multiple times that it is the code officer's discretion, if you question his authority he might go as far as to say do it my way or I will red tag your house with a substandard dwelling sticker on the door and have you kicked out of your before 5 o'clock the same day and the police will arrest you if you try to come back there and live. This cold officer's discretion is wrong because he is supposed to follow the code to the letter of the law but I have experienced it myself and if he tells you to do something that goes against the code there is nothing you can do except what he asked you to do and in the future you will find the next inspector after him will say this is not up to code and when you say the previous inspector said he wanted it this way, the new inspector will say he doesn't care he is the inspector now and you will do it his way
There can be many inspections before final, depending on job
@@niyablake Me too!
@@analizad9409 our second amendment is specifically for situations like this, nobody has the balls to use it. It's coming I'm waiting for the day and it might just be me who does it, sooner or later I'm going to have to neutralize a corrupt cop or out of bounds city official like this inspector and claim second amendment free state.
Did Bruce basically just say they don't put them on the permits so they can skip them if they want to?
"Well, if I got called out for everything that got put on for inspections, I'd never leave a job site".
Dude. That's your JOB.
according to Bruce its too much work for them to write down what inspections are needed. Instead I am supposed to call and ask because thats not as much as work.
@@Dirtmonkey yeah just hold up you and them with a phone call instead of having it on the paperwork that seems logical... NOT
Lazy inspector
@@xpor6988 lazy city and permit writer.
Isn't it just as much work for them to stop what they are doing to figure out, over the phone, exactly what all inspections are needed? Instead of just typing it on the permit at their leisure, before they hand you the approved permit....
As a paving contractor I built quite a few walls , this job is A+++ and you only need to look along the lines and check the camber of the wall to see it is as good as it gets... Dirt monkey is a great contractor, I thoroughly recommend you use this guy just looking at this one job it's top of the line.
Super impressed with your dedication to doing things right! My suggestion would be to build a data base or simple spreadsheet for 80% of what you do in that area and to have the city verify each year that none of their needs have been changed/updated from the previous year. The 20% can be one-off efforts. That being said, we’re new to your channel and love your quality of work!
So he wouldn’t have the time (cause quote: “I’d never be able to leave the job site”) to inspect all the steps needing an inspection? Somebody in the local government doesn’t have the time to even list the steps they want inspected on the permit? But you are required (five years later) to spend a half a day or more of your time to come out and tear the job apart to appease an ego? BS! The permit should list every step the contractor needs to call for inspection and what it should look like to pass. This is just another example of when it comes to dealing with the government your guilty, even when it’s governments fault, until you prove your innocent!
I would have asked the City Manager to come out and deal with a improperly filled out Inspection Card and to meet at the job site with the inspector. The conversation would have went like this, City Manager, "Hey inspector your office screwed up and didn't put the proper inspection on the card." Inspector, "yes sir we screwed up. And I can't boss this guy around and say, you should have known. So this job is complete." Stanley, "And next time I'll make sure they have that inspection on the card. And Mr. Manager, I want an audit of this department to find out who's in charge and responsible for failing to get this issue resolved for over five years."
@@fishon7301 lmao good luck, you must not have dealt with these departments. Worse than the dmv IMO
It's not an ego ... they've got a long running corruption scam going on in their office, and they are Sooo arrogant they think they can now get away with anything.
Makes you wonder how city-state and federal employees spend their time not working but working on private business on government time and we pay taxes for them to live high on the hog and not work.
We payed $70,000 (after negotiations) for a building permit. We wrote the check, they never once came to the site to inspect.
It's ALL about money!!
"If I got called out for everything that got put on for inspections.." also known as "doing my job". If it's a required inspection, then it should be on that list. You cannot put the responsibility on the contractor to call the inspector "just in case", for everything. This guy is saying it would be a waste of time to come inspect everything, but then here we are 5 years later with too much time on our hands.
Yep I thought that, if he doesn't like inspecting the North-South orientation of bricks, or the angle at which nails are driven into the wood, then they shouldn't be putting pointless stuff on their inspection forms.
He's looking for a bribe IMO
I'm a former building inspector. I think this coming back later is B.S. If we missed a required inspection, it would be on us, not have the contractor come back 5 yrs later. And if its not listed on the permit, its not required, period. This was B.S. because he got caught not doing inspections that were required so now he's doubling down. And as far as doing all inspections, yes, you do them. You get out of your damn truck and you walk the site. I have been on commercial inspections that took hours.
This inspector would need his own call center for all the phone calls he'll be receiving x)
I'd be calling him 20 times a day to ask questions about what needed inspected on every job I had. Have my contractor buddies do it too. Make their lives miserable until they fix the permits
The inspector contradicted himself! "If I got called out for everything that got put on those inspections, I'd never leave the job site" Then why don't you just put the ones YOU want! BS!- especially FIVE F...KING years latter!! BS. BS BS!!
Bruce had been getting a lot of scrutiny before this. He's been running his buttocks off closing out all his open inspections, before the city looks too deep and replaces him for not doing his job the last several years. Have the homeowner file a complaint for the holes in the yard.
I would get a copy of the inspection sheet in a month to see if he backdated his inspection.
That makes sense.
Sounds like it. Personally I think he is lying about the additional inspections and “contractors know” .
@@michaelanderson1187 Great idea.
So many building inspectors are just slugs sucking of the teet of the tax payers. This is totally unacceptable and then building inspector needs to be held accountable for his negligence. I can't believe you broke ground because some inept tool fails to do his job.
Kudos to you for keeping your composure while knowing full-well that you're 100% correct. Time is money in your field and so surely, this nonsense certainly cost you a few bucks. Conversely, Bruce the "inspector" wins the a-hole of the year award!
According to a McQuivey’s Forrester study, "if a picture is worth 1000 words, then a one minute video is worth 1.8 million". Further proof that recording your work will almost always save your ass on so many different fronts. Hopefully you followed up with the city regarding Bruce's ridiculous request. His obvious superiority complex shines bright. Keep up the good work man, I really like your channel.
It is 100% the responsibility of the city to list (on the permit) every inspection you will be required to invite them to inspect. If they don't list an inspection that they should have, it is now their responsibility to figure out how to make it right and at their expense. You even have the right to take them to court (if it comes down to that) to make your case on inspections or procedures that they ask you to do when it above and beyond reason for your particular job site. I have witnessed contractors doing much more than digging holes to satisfy an inspector when they could have just said "No, I'll see you in court". Inspectors have off days too, and they can be too proud to admit that they (or their staff) were in the wrong.
Are you a contractor? Do you only want to do 1 job in that town? I've seen electricians bringing inspectors against the board and they wished they never did. Saved $25 in parts because of a principle... now all jobs are gone over with a fine, fine, comb.
I had an inspector telling me I had to hardwire a c/o detector because he wants it even though the gas code is battery operated is OK. He said put it in so I'll pass your job. Guess what? I don't have a problem putting it in and charge the customer...I will have problems if I told him no and take him to the board. He teaches classes too.... sometimes you just pick the fight.
@@Timpon_Dorz Would you do that if it was five years later and you had to remove the finished wall (if that's where it is) and redo it at your expense? Yer spot on at the time of construction and that you truly cannot fight Shi...err...City Hall but I would guess you'd balk at it 5 years later. I don't think it's wrong to push it a little but it could blow up in your face if you go too far. In this case it seems simple, which may be the entire reason the inspector is doing it, so he's probably right to just do this easy step to appease the guy. Could you imagine what would happen if the guy decided Dirt Monkey had to redo it? Hopefully he rewrites his quotes to handle it better but he's still on the hook when some "inspector", and I use that word loosely, comes along to exert their authority. It's pathetic but that's what government these days and power gets you. This town needs an enema.
@@steverichter9825 if it's signed off and my job is done according to today's standards. Why would I need to pay for anything to open anything up? It's the contractor's job to close the jobs. I've seen homeowners having to remove a completely finished basement because he said he did it because of covid and had to bring his family in.
Too bad town hall was open.
@@Timpon_Dorz Oh, I agree that the signature COULD help but, (though I'm no contractor myself-just a homeowner) I have friends who are who've dealt with it where it's meaningless. The inspecting authority finds some error, even on their part, and you have to decide whether to just do what they want, or fight it and risk getting punished some other way. As you stated with whether you wanna work in this town again. It does look like he should have had a signature somewhere for his protection even though it's meaningless if the right (wrong?) inspector shows up. SOP for government.
@@steverichter9825 they show up to make sure you pulled a permit and the town is aware you are doing the work. They don't check your work from start to finish because they expect the license holder to do their jobs correctly. Imagine a shopping mall? How long would it take a person to go through all the boxes?
They just want to make sure paperwork is in order and if something burns down, I have my insurance to pay for it.
Lol next time you're in his town where he's the inspector, I would call him 30 times to ask him to come out and take a look each step of the way, not send him any pics.
oh- you are mean but that is such a good idea.
@@Dirtmonkey malicious compliance my dude.
@@Mr_Zimm You can't just leave it with the inspector. You need to get his boss in the loop, too. And make sure they know WHY they're in the loop. Nothing better than pissing off someone's boss for maliciously complying with their demands.
@@toddlynch7282 did you mean meticulously? I actually like maliciously in this case as well lol
My old Foreman (Concrete Foundation Walls) does exactly that, he doesn't leave it to chance with these bozos.
That footage should have satisfied the inspector. Digging it out was uncalled for.
Blurring out his face was not required either, he is a public official in the capacity of his official duties. A public servant.
He may have to work with that asshole again, best to keep the social damage to a minimum.
I truly believe he was hoping for a bribe. Payoffs the name of the game.
@@spikenomoon lmao its 2021 this aint the 1930s when everyone wants a bribe
@@ChathamFireDeptfan greed is all decades my friend. I bet Cain wanted Ables allowance.
Watching on my broke phone screen. When he first got out of the car with a black circle over his face, I'm like "oh no! Another spot!"
Advise: keep a log of all the time you spent complying with the inspection. Visit the city clerk's office and get a form that you use to charge the city for damages. Fill that out and attach your claim of damages and state the reason for your claim. You will get a check in the mail. If the city does not pay you then send a letter to your council person. Do your due diligence and if you still get no response or a refusal then use the small claims court and follow the courts procedure. if the amount is higher than hire an attorney. Stay on it, do not let this slide.
Correct
Yeah right. 😂😂😂😂
Good luck with that. The city makes the rules about who can sue the city and for what -- guess what? They don't like getting sued.
I'm a Building Inspector in Cali and came out of the trades which I was in for 38yrs and I think absolutely you are correct, it is up to the Authority Having Jurisdiction, AHJ, to outline inspection procedures.
AHJ does outline an inspection but they can’t enforce something that isn’t code. Having someone dig up a yard 5 years later is a recipe to end up dead for the A hole asking for that. Should be legal to euthanize the piece-o-shit building inspector.
@@RadDadisRad they can and do enforce things that aren't code he is in charge of that jurisdiction and of course the worker didn't check to see if he passed inspection which is just good workmanship that way he knows he passed and the homeowner knows he did the job correctly it is his responsibility to get a final inspection not the government's
My biggest reaction from this video was the point you made about having to get multiple licenses from every jurisdiction that you work in, and they all have different rules. What a nightmare! I'm a contractor in Michigan where we fought long and hard for a single state building code. No local government can supersede or require things that are not in that code.
Sounds like Minnesota needs to do the same!
Seriously! When I heard that I thought "what a nightmare!".
We used to haul 50 wheel 13 axle oversize. The rules for oversize are far from standardised and you can get all manner of permits and then get tripped up on stupid stuff like the permit for amber safety lights expiring. In Newport News, Leibherr has a factory and the interstate entrance ramp is less than 150' from the factory but the local cops claim a permit is required and they won't return calls made to the local cop permit number. BTW: Off M59 west of Pontiac, there is a place called Duck Lake and my friend used to live at it in a house that looks like a windmill. We could take the boat to the bar until Michigan started doing sobriety tests on boaters.
Louisiana is the same
Stanley, this definitely sounds ridiculous.
I'm passing this to my dad (who is the MN state building official). You always have the state to appeal to if you have some weird city inspector giving you grief, because they approve their certification.
Good to know- thanks!
Please do..I don't know why anybody is still in Minnesota.
Hey after 5 years with the freeze cycle anyone with 2 eyes would just say "great work"
Bruce was def instigating conflict and seeking a bribe here.
Yeah that inspector is sketchy as hell. Definitely need to review all of his recent work (past 2 years)
THIS CONTRACTOR KNOWS HIS TRADE, NO DOUBT! Well DONE!
Dude was power tripping his ass off. Looking at that wall 5 years later should tell any previous "contractor" it was done to code or better.
When dealing with inspectors, or anyone else. The one and only thing we are obligated to do is what is asked of us. That simple. we can obviously go above and beyond, but that isn't an obligation. You were perfectly in the right here! Glad you stood your ground! And I'm supportive of the way that you did so, with respect and integrity! Great job Stan! what a great example!
You are obligated to do what the contract says. In this case, the contract is the permit.
@@royreynolds108 Exactly what I said. Thank you for reinforcing exactly what i said.
Thank you sir! I did have to bite my tongue a few times though lol.
@@Dirtmonkey Integrity! and respect! Those are the things that impressed me exactly!
He was jumbling his words. You were more prepared for him then he was ready for and you threw him off. I think he got dinged on an inspection for not properly inspecting and now he has to go back around checking all his previous jobs.
🤣🤣🤣
Tom - was thinking that or is he checking another inspectors goofs or mess ups.
Yup Totally agree, he's trying to cover is a---
Yup, I get inspectors like that all the time. Inspector made mistakes in the past and got in trouble, so now they take it out on future inspections.
Bruce is totally checked out I’m surprised he had to even talk as he was clearly on his way to go four wheeling (people don’t risk that being stolen by leaving in back of truck)
That is a very good point ... The building inspection form should state call in for other detailed inspection requirements not listed here.
So basically it sounds like a good old case of "we didn't do our part, so now you need to redo your part to verify what we forgot to do in the first place".
🤣🤣
Put it on the inspection sheet if it needs inspection....seems pretty simple doesn't it....wait till ya get 2 inspectors giving ya 2 different inspections and failing ya every time they come out!
It sounds like mother nature would start to build her own retaining wall after 5 years anyway.😂
I've had 4 different inspectors on a correction ... did it the way the first one said,,, had to change if when the second one showed up,, then the 3rd guy had me do is his way ... so I ask if I could get the same guy to show up next time ... guess they were done playing and the 4th guy passed it ...
@@Mr.Torres831 I will be retiring soon with 50 years in the building trade and it IS the responsibility of the city to make sure everything they want is on the permit paperwork! 100% on the building department! I have pulled permits in over 40 states and not once was it the contractor's job to determine how many or what kind of inspections need. I have never given out a white envelope to any inspector but I have seen a few walked out in handcuffs for asking for one. It is YOUR job to train your clerks or do not allow them to issue permits to anyone without knowing how your city wants things done. Lastly, it is NOT the contractor's job to communicate anything to you the inspector! It is however your job to ensure that everything is communicated to the contractor. How else can a contractor KNOW what your city or state wants? It seems that your clerks are not the only ones that are non-educated.
@@chuckcobb5857 absolutely! I once fooled an entire building department with the term "steep escarpment"..... Built a house on deep peers 10' from the edge of a basalt cliff overlooking a 10 mile long Beach. "you can't build this close, it wasn't on your plans...." ooops.
@@chuckcobb5857 100% percent correct. I do business in three states. And all three states no matter the locality will have what they want to see on the permits. And they even color code permit placards in some places. For the inspectors! So go figure.
Dude, I'm born and raised in Minnesota, work construction, I'm a project supervisor for a small company out of Blaine, we always appreciate those who work their tails off and I'll be supporting your channel. God bless you brother
That 5 yr old wall looks great. You guys do good work bud.
This sounds like the jerk I had doing inspections for my solar. We had a specific inspection schedule by the city and we meet all of them. Every inspection he would come up with some new reason he didn't like the install and then say it needed reinspection and an added inspection for some other item since we are changing it. The final inspection took 2 weeks and 6 visit. On the last visit I asked him if we can just get a complete list of issues before he leaves if he is going to ask for changes and a reinspection and he said "I will do inspections at my pace how I see fit, it will take as long as I like, and if your contractor bothered to call me before demanding an inspection then maybe this could have been worked out before I had to tag things."
These dudes are mini power trips and just full of themselves.
You have to get inspections for solar too? Jesus, see this is why I bought land that's surrounded by forest on all sides. Only thing you can see is through the break in the forest where there's a driveway. If nobody can see you, and doesn't know what you're doing, you don't need permits or inspections lmao
Job security.
@@GlorifiedGremlin they are using drones to find unpermitted structures/work. They are total leeches with unchecked arbitrary power.
@@bolo2393 If someone flies a drone over my land, it's gunna get shot down lol the airspace belongs to me as well, up to a certain height
@@GlorifiedGremlin in the US shooting down a drone is a federal offense with huge fines and prison time.... Not saying it's right, just saying. There really is no such thing as private property, you lease it from the government. Don't believe me, don't pay your lease payment(property taxes) and see how long they let you keep it. Again not saying it's right, just saying.
He seems like the type of inspector who doesn't get out of his car usually. Love the non clear answers government as usual
yeah with that huge beer gut, looks like it dude could use the exercise!
This inspector lives with the mentality of assumptions and 30 years ago. He is beyond his shelf life.
Oh my goodness 🤣😂
Agree, A lot of inspectors can't make it as contractors so they go into inspection.
Seems as though this inspector didn't look at the permit on file?
You are so right. Beyond his years.
@@Dirtmonkey That makes no sense. It shld be on the permit if it requires you for more.
That’s what you’re supposed to do that’s why you’re the best at what you do I love learning from you keep up the good work brother God bless make sure this inspected doesn’t want money😂
Just listening to the inspector "I routinely will take pictures of the progress" after he conceded the fact that only a final was called for. My question to him would have been...If I didn't have a professionally produced video to support the quality of the bid where would we be now? What a laugh, this municipal inspection "professionals" cause more disruption and costs of a project that either lands in the contractors lap or the customer's purse. Good Job!
I thought his approach to this matter was pushing his authority.
@@Dirtmonkey I agree with you. He is being a prick.
@@Dirtmonkey bless you, brother, you have lore patience than I for such irritating individuals
Should be a solid lesson learned. I love Google photos and taking pics of projects and organizing by date and gps marked location. I often keep photos for property owners as they like to know where their money is going as well.
I would have sent a bill to this particular municipality for my time being this is 2021 not 2007 so they are severely behind on inspections or something is wrong there. Great documentation on your end
Stan, it never ceases to amaze me how a non-paying party can DEMAND action/work. While inspections are worthwhile, the process needs to be clear, or if there is a five year call back, somebody needs to pay for your day/labor, and fighting city hall often proves futile. Thank goodness for your video!
You got that right 👊
Bruce should have eyeballed that wall, said "all good" and been on his way.
Absolutely. 4 years and no settlement, it hasbeen done correctly. And if the cities listed inspections are inadequate, the city is liable to the homeowner.
Actually, Bruce should have been arrested on the spot and charged with harassment. I suspect his argument that certain inspections being required with no physical evidence of such would be fodder for a competent atty. I realize that things may be different in W. St. Paul but in my neck of the woods such an inspector would not keep his job for long.l
True. I did our was 10 years age! Still look great! If the inspection paperwork doesn't call for any inspection or paperwork then the guy has no leg to stand on
@@disqusmacabre6246 hi handsome. I agree with your comment. Bruce is breaking the rules and should be fired .
Well they guy said ruff instead of roof so inspector may be worried the job wasn't done right since the guy has hard time speaking correctly
11- 10 - 2024 is the date of when I first started watching your videos and I am so relaxed on the couch watching Real Content gaining great knowledge..
Respect 🤜 🇮🇹 🤛
lol. "Im not trying to argue with you Bruce," while he argues with Bruce.
Were you just obviously video recording him as you called him on his bull?
I love it man. Respect for standing up to that.
"Don't question us. Just do what we say, regardless of how little sense it makes or how legal it is."
Hahaha basically.
I've learned to say "yesir boss, I does what your sez"
That's a great looking wall! Building inspectors always like to have their secret codes and regulations. It creates a sort of "good old boy" network between the inspectors and local contractors.
I’m watching this a year after it’s release. Bettin you started taking more videos of each step of the jobs after this.
I've dealt with this in Florida. If it came down to a court fight, the inspector is wrong. It is what is on the permit. But legal costs to fight the inspection department will be high, and inspector retribution in the future can be harsh.
You can defend yourself if you are well learned like this man. He can present this in court easily and defend himself. You dont always need to purchase a lawyer. Also if there is proven retribution due to a legal dispute you are definitely liable to payment for damages or losses due to said retribution. Revenge cases are very common. For that id definitely recommend a lawyer
You were 100% right. Also you try and work with them like you did to a point, then let them know you know what your doing and start questioning them for answers. Perfect job
"Before electronics." "Guys in the industry...they know." This guy is dangerous. Those comments show absurd.
Exactly electronics make it easier to put every detail on the permit. The guy is a simple jerk.
yeah, it would have been hard not to say " what industry so you think I am in"?
1) You're exactly right, the inspections should be noted before the project begins. You can order a code book from the city. Any questions, call the city and document it.
2) Cutting thru that geo-fabric will have ZERO effect on holding back that soil. Don't worry about it. Contractors do it all the time when they're excavating for footings.
3) That's a beautiful wall. You did a very nice job. A grenade (seriously) wouldn't even bring that wall down. I'm an Engineer, so it's my job to know these things. Btw, nice choice in fabric.
As a contractor for over 30 years, I agree with the contractor on this one. Everything at the end of the day is what's in the writing. As we all have seen, many contact disputes that end up in court, will be judged by what's in writing. Seeing a building inspector coming out after 5 years to look at a job is unbelievable. Looks like the town dropped the ball on this one, in more ways than one!!
I agree. If instead of complying, the contractor and homeowner had gone full Karen mode and sued the city, the inspector would have lost his ass. If he needed those inspections they should have been listed in the list of required inspections.
It's funny because he says "you could have provided the video back then". How is the contractor supposed to know that unless you document it on your permits or during the process?
@@thatsux0rz Whole lot of back peddling and and double speak on this one from the inspector.
@@1realtruthrightnow742 Yep. I am feeling too much rage with this video.
Love your integrity to do a complete job before, during and after for the safety of the home. Kudos to you my friend
you're a stud for taking videos of the actual work in progress. Being on the other side that's so rare to see someone back themselves with. your're doing it real right. flipping love it!
Job looks well done. Wish all contractors had your due diligence. Keep taking pictures and vids, time well spent to document your good work.
LoL 🤣 I'm a personal trainer tried to pull my own permit to build a shed! I was dealing with bureaucrats for over 7 months and I never even pulled the shed out of the box !! This was a shed from home depot that didn't pass Florida wind requirements!! I hired an architect !! When I saw all the trouble the architect had and having to resubmit drawings over and over I just gave up!!! I canceled everything and then put the shed together in a day with my girl friend with no permit!!! Too much red tape never again those bureaucrats are professional time wasters!!! Good luck in your career dealing with those guys!!
That's a beautiful wall, looks like new and still straight as an arrow 5 years later.
4 years but still.
I thought you handled this guy like a champion. You didn't back down and yet respectful.
Appreciate that 👍
I thought 💭 you had a lot more patience than I would have been that took so long for a final inspection, well done job , I have had few bad contractors, trying to cover up there mistakes 😊❤️🙏
On a job we had, there was new bulkheading going in (On a canal, existing bulkhead and dock were rotted away) a 20x25 area was dug out to lay in deadmen (basically it was a phone pole laid in the ground, with 3/4 inch steel bars through it, going out 8-10 feet to the bulkhead to prevent it from pushing out). Like this video, no inspection was called for. Until the local inspector showed up, and told us, like the video, we would have to dig them up to prove it was there - "no, the Video and Pictures are not good enough" - My position was "Here's a shovel, have a look at whatever you want - I KNOW it's there, I SHOWED you it's there, if you really need to TOUCH it to believe it, YOU can dig". We overbuild - the dockbuilder is a friend and neighbor to the customer - he is known to overbuild.... The inspector finally decided to accept the pics and video and be reasonable. Fun stuff.
Stan, next time make the hole the same size as the building inspector!
lol- Im not sure if he would get the clue
That would take an excavator!
Hahahahhaha.
@@rebeccaanderson2907 He said the size of the Inspector, not the Inspector's Ego/Attitude...
Making it the size of his Ego/Attitude would require a Nuclear Blasting Charge...
😄😁😆😅😂🤣
No you just make sure the site is almost impossible to drive through- mud- so he has to walk in and he can't drive it in his truck
Inspector said, "Usually they call in to ask how I wanna do it." The rules don't change with your whims, dude!
It's either required or it ain't, and it should be on the sheet. Period.
True if it's not in paper then it's there problem...
That's not how this Sht works
A lawyer would shred that up....paper didn't say it was required...its not required. He said you should have assumed. Not taking responsibility for your crappy building dept
This just felt like he was fishing for a bribe
Glad you had video. You're right about the vague permit, and you treated the entire thing like a pro. Subscribed to your channel. JW from K.C.
As soon as I saw you were working in WSP I knew exactly who you were dealing with. It's not just you, it's everyone and all the time. Power trip.
There are A holes everywhere,in my opinion, that inspector was a true example. You handled that lots better than I would have and with a lot more patience. His actions were out of bounds. I was livid after watching this .
When I was a kid, my parents built their house. The building inspector refused to inspect the place for 2 years because he didn't get an envelope. But he passed final inspection on a housing development that hadn't even cleared the land. Then he bought a beach house.
🤨 I'd be fuming...
Mob don't like new guys or non union
You are 1000% correct. Any inspections should be listed on your permit. That kind of the point of having that section on the permit. You did what they had asked you to do. Any cost associated with "retro inspections" should be covered by the city. They should actually have covered your time, gas and any other cost associated with this. It's not your fault that you did what was asked and it wasn't good enough for them.
This is why they have permits, so everyone knows what they have to do! NOT "you need to call and find out what you need to do". That's complete BS.
agreed- that smelled fishy to me
In this day and age it would not surprise me if they purposely do not list it all on the paper so they can F with you down the road if they choose to. Make more work for them......job security. Why else would it not be printed clearly on the permit!
@@funone8716: There you go! But hasn't that always been the norm, and particularly with government employment, state or federal, it's all about job security. It's practically impossible to fire one of them, because they just get relocated to somewhere else. Add a Union in the mix, and your stuck with them for life. I used to work for a glass installation company years ago, that would give out free baseballs every summer, to every kid that walked thru the front doors, with their parents. It had nothing to do with being a great guy, that really loved his customers, kids, or baseball. It was all about, what those kids, would do with those baseballs, once they left the shop. Not all of them, mind you, some kids are responsible. But a lot of them aren't, especially when you get'em in groups.
To make a long story short, he knew that box of baseballs, would pay for themselves, in the extra work it would bring in. Job security, at it's finest.
On a high rise, with hundreds if not thousands of inspections, how would you list out all of the inspections? I don't know how to say this politely so no one gets offended, so forgive me. Respectfully, anyone saying it should be listed on the permit is incorrect. The contractor or owner doing the work is required to call for inspection before covering the work. It's that easy. If you work on anything on your permit you call for an inspection before you cover it up.
@@classyko4552 it is not that hard. All electrical and all plumbing must be inspected and left exposed until being covered. Simple. The inspector can then attach a form saying this wing or floor has been inspected. Easy peasy. Been there done that.
I feel for you. On the one hand, you need to deal with that inspector regularly, so you don't want to poison the relationship. On the other hand, I'd want to hold up the paper and say "Show me on this paper where it says..." and when he whipped out the "It's standard in the industry.." line, I'd say "Do you think a judge would find in your favor if we asked?" Ugh. You did a great job keeping your cool. If I had your job, I'd probably no longer be able to get a permit for ANYTHING in that town. lol
If you knew all the specifications of every inspection without depending on the cities paperwork you would be a building inspector...keep on building awesome stuff you guys are the best.
Actually, he would not be. Most inspectors are people who don't work in the trades or physically cant any more. The job is not glorious and does not pay more than whan can be earned working for yourself or even someone else.
HI Stan, nice job and a great way to handle this whole situation, but just a question about the surcharge/load of the house. If it's a basement wouldn't that mean that there is zero surcharge on the wall other than the sloped soil above and even if doesn't have a basement, wouldn't the frost footing be at least 4 ft down carrying the weight of the house low enough that there still is no load on the wall from the home structure?
Thanks man
Kelly
My late husband built a small addition to the back of a house that ran the entire width. This is in Texas. My husband took detailed notes, pictures & video. The addition was mostly all windows, part office space, part screened in porch. On a hill, so it was a thick slab. 2 years after completion we get a letter from an attorney that we were being sued because the foundation was failing. He went to the house, with the homeowners permission, too take a look. The wife answers the door & after taking a look, it is failing. First question my husband asked was, did you hire a landscaper to redirect the sprinkler system to water this foundation? The homeowner thought he could hire someone cheaper than us. The wife, on video, said no he never hooked it back up. Off a letter is sent from our lawyer, with the structural engineer notes for the addition, our notes & the video. We never heard from them again!
❤️loves Mary :)
But did you get the proper permits when you did the addition?
@@magicmillhouse9586 Absolutely!
Good job on taking pictures and video.CYA pics are very important for scenarios just as this. I am a mason for 35 years now. I always take pictures of what is going to be inspected. Stretching a tape measure and snapping a pic can save you a lot of headache. And if inspectors get out of hand, like on a power trip. You can always replace the inspector with a camera and a engineers signature. But first always try to get along with the inspector. But there are those inspectors that need to be humbled for abuse of their authority they believe that they have on you. Kicking them off your job site and letting them know that they can't be replaced by a signature and a camera seems to work pretty good. For the most part the next time you deal with them they will remember you, and how you went around them seems to be degrading enough. For the next time that we have met on a job after the one they've been kicked off of, it seemed to be a little bit more respectful. By leveling out the playing field hopefully the relationship between contractor and inspector welcome to a mutual respect.
I totally agree with you, each inspector is different, it should be listed in the permit 💯 I’ve dealt with a lot of plumbing and sewer inspections in my day! Glad you had a video
"Required". If it ain't written down, it ain't LEGAL.. The INSPECTOR gets a F A I L U R E on this. The CONTRACTOR gets a thumbs up. He went out of his way the accommodate.
5 years and still looks great. Around my area after 1 year you see these retaining walls falling apart. We don't see too many inspections either.
It is a good thing you had live footage posted on RUclips of the build from start to finish. Yuz guys did a great job. Worked your azz off.
Thanks man appreciate it! So glad I had that footage too...whatta save
Calling and verifying is an absolute waste of time. It absolutely should be called out on the building permit. He clearly disagrees so he should maybe get that changed on the actual permit.
That sounded like a total batch of hog wash in my book. Who is going to call each city to verify which inspections are needed? Right!
@@Dirtmonkey what now? Just letting it go? Is that area not profitable enough to spend the time to get this resolved? Seems like a good chance to see real local government in action
@@georgehoppes6456 Good point. Consider that he doesn't make money as a political activist. In his business, the less time he spends on bureaucrats, the better. Perhaps a local brave viewer might do it.
@Ken Shek :
Fortunately, he can't get it changed on those permits that have already been issued!
😁
I'd call him out at the next council meeting. That is ridiculous, 5 years after a job was completed. That is NUTS!!!
He's telling you to call in. If you start doing that, you'll eventually get someone at the inspection department telling you to read the permit for the requirements. They will wonder why you are calling in, thinking that you're a newbie contractor.
yep RTFM
You did an amazing job. He is a power hungry ungracious git. 💙
🤷♂️
I have so my respect for this guy. He knows his building so well. His knowledge only comes from years of hard work and learning
It's the city looking to tack on a fine for the home owner or company that did the work. Common practice to use when traffic fines, or other violations aren't bringing in enough. You could more than likely find something the city plans or has done that cost more than normally spent in the budget. Basic form of taxation without cause. Easier than raising property taxes.
I am glad I found your channel and I’m definitely reinforced about film documenting my work with clients consent. I am in a different field than yours but I always document before, during and after.
Great advice and methodology. Also a very beautiful retaining wall!
You have my subscription!
I admire your patience. I lost my filter years ago. I'm not sure I would have been as professional as you. I do believe they have deficiencies in their department if they are just now wanting to inspect it after 5 years. You did great. Thank you.😊🙏
He did do great. The problem is he still has to work with him in the future.
Patience definitely ain’t the easiest trait but sometimes required 😆
My filter is pretty short as well. I have to bite my tongue a lot now a days. I don't have the patience for guys like this anymore.
@@Dirtmonkey I am much older than you. That's what happens when you get older...the mouth is faster than your thought process. 😂
I always love it when you have an inspector and you get used to working with them and how everything needs done the way they want. Then that inspector goes on vacation and you get someone totally different and they want things done totally different. What a pain. Also most inspectors did not work in the trades.
We always tried to be consistent in our inspections. Though sometimes the other inspector might see something I missed, or I might see something they missed. It does happen, but we try to be human about it, and if its not a life safety issue may let it ride. As far as all the comments about bribes, I don't think that was the problem, though I have been "jokingly" approached. I always tell them that I know they are trying to be funny, otherwise I would have to report them. And I would.
@@Biker118347
Worthless goverment lackey. I hope the government shuts down and you actually have to live in the real world.
@@calculator1841 Really. What did I do to you?
I just have so much respect for contractors that can pull all the permits and do everything on the table and still run a profitable business. The government makes it nearly impossible.