I RECENTLY INSTALLED A CONCRETE DRIVEWAY AND CARPORT TO MY PROPERTY AND A RUBBERMAID SHED.

NOT REALIZING I SHOULD HAVE APPLIED FOR A PERMIT,NOW THE CITY HALL HAS ISSUED A STOPWORK ORDER,

I NEED ADVICE REGARDING WHAT I SHOULD DO TO REMEDY THIS THE CITY HALL TELLS ME I HAVE EITHER GO TO THE COMPANY THAT INSTALLED THIS AND HAVE THEM APPLY FOR A PERMIT OR CONTACT A LOCAL GENERAL CONTRACTOR TO ASSUME THE RESPONSIBITY OF HELPING ME TAKE CARE OF THIS, ANY ADVICE WOULD BE APPRECIATED,

ALWAYS RELY ON MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES TO ADVISE ME.

THANK YOU, VICTOR

That's pretty standard fare. When you get caught having work done without a permit the city will require the permit to be issued prior to work continuing.

The simple answer is call your contractor and make him get the associated permit. Do not make another payment until he does and do not make the final payment until he passes the final inspection with the city.

In my city, the contractor would be required to be licensed to pull a permit. If he's not then he will likely be required to get a bond and insurance before he can be licensed.

Things are not clear, but you can do some leg work to find out. For example I am a State Licensed Contractor. And when I work in my city (Los Angeles) a home owner may pull a permit for a single family home, but not a duplex or larger. Only a licensed contractor in the related trade, may pull a permit 2 or more units on a property.

When going for a concrete permit, it requires several inspections. If I'm going to pull the permit, who is going to be there and wait for the City Inspector to show up and provide him with the permit progress card to fill out and sign? As a contractor I can't wait there, if so, I'm going to charge a $1,000 extra for a permit. But if you the home owner will call for the appointment and say on site to meet with the city inspector, then my charge for a permit is only going to be anywhere from $100 to $250.

You should pull your paperwork from your contractor together and make copies. The California License Board will punish a contractor working without a permit, unless the contract agrees that the homeowner is responsible for the permit. Your state may have the same rules.

But anyways your contractor should pull the permit and get it inspected. Another contractor will charge you too much to remedy things. If you contractor is not a concrete contractor, he may not be able to pull a permit and should not have taken the job.

I wouldn't worry too much, it's only money.

But as a contractor in good standing I can pull a self inspection permit, where I do my own inspections and submit it for finalization. A concrete driveway calls for many inspections. Grading, rebar/forms, finish pad.

We don't need permits for non foundation flat concrete work here or sheds under 120 sq ft, nor are we required to use contractors with a few exceptions. A carport requires permits because after a wind too many end up in the neighbors pool, a block away...

This is a good reason to have Legal Shield, for advice in such situations. I would probably talk to a patio cover contractor, and concrete contractor and see if one is willing to act as contractor of record, probably for $$$$.

They will need to be sure it's up to code. Then get a permit and inspection. The city mainly just wants money and they will go away.

This happened to a rehab 3 doors down from us a few Years ago. A garage was to go on top of the concrete that extended to the back yard. Because no permit was pulled, the rehabbers had to cut into the concrete so it could be shown that rebar was used and the concrete thickness was code. Well, neither was done and the cement guy had been paid in full and vamoosed. So they were not allowed to build a garage on it, which dropped the sale price quite a bit.

Fear not -

Sometimes it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

When you do get caught, shrug your shoulders and ask them (the city) the best way to proceed in a humble manner. These desk jockeys need to feel self worth from a thankless job. Making them feel like there job is important goes a long way.

So why do I say this?

What were the building codes 60 years ago?

The code (code of conduct) was you work with a master builder until the master builder said you were to be a journeyman. Until then you were an apprentice. Are homes built today better than they were when the master builders name was on it?

Which would you rather have a year 2010 double wide built using HUD standards or a stick built home from 1950? Which one is made out of saw dust?