It is a razor's edge: You decide to do some home improvement work, add a fence, install a pool, even add on to your home. Do you take out the permit, do everything by the book, be a good cub scout? Or do you, as most I think must do, try to cut some corners, hope the neighbors don't squeal and press on regardless, irrespective of trifling things such as building codes, and public safety, and permits? I fall into the former camp. I take out the permit. I pay the fees. I secure the insurance. I do the job right, then invite the City Inspector over for his little look-see. I do everything by the book anyway, so what's the big deal? Here's the big deal. I helped a friend who was installing a pool. He needed a little work done, nothing big, which required a permit. Fifty bucks is the minimum permit. But wait! You also have to register to be a certified contractor in the City. Cha CHING! Another one twenty-five. But wait! In order to be certified, you have to buy a surety bond for the city, that way if you totally screw up the job, the insurance pays for it. Not your liability insurance, which they also require. That surety bond? Another one twenty-five. So far, you're into your "favor" for three hundred, and you haven't even done the work. Here's my suggestion: Make the building permit FREE. Make it so that anyone can take one out, then crack down on the people who have no clue what they're doing and have no bidness doing any kind of contracting. The way it is now, only the cleanest of clean contractors even bothers to take out the permit, drop the money, have the inspection. Make the scoundrels pay. read more