My county permit office nightmare took 7 weeks to clear a simple home office sign off

Everyone says getting a home occupancy permit is straightforward. I applied for my freelance real estate office in my basement in Denver back in March. The city kept saying I needed a fire inspection, then a separate electrical check, then another form I missed. Seven weeks and 4 trips later I finally got the approval. Has anyone else dealt with a local permit office that just kept adding random requirements?

3 comments

3 Comments

henry1508d ago

Gotta start documenting everything they tell you in person and get names. It's the only way to keep them from adding new hoops every time you show up.

ray_burns7d ago

@vera_green69 nailed it. The runaround is maddening. Sorry you got caught in that same paper shredder, it's like they enjoy adding new hoops every time you show up.

vera_green699d ago

Honestly, I used to think people just weren't reading the instructions right when they got stuck in permit hell. Then I tried to get a simple sign off for a little desk I put in my garage to do online tutoring. They first said I needed a zoning variance, then a structural engineer report for a shelf, then some random environmental checklist. It took me almost two months too, and I had to drive down there four times because nobody told me all the steps upfront. Really changed my whole view on how broken these offices can be.