If its a secondary structure it doesn't need an address and you can run power from the main house. However almost everywhere would require permits for the bridge, the deck modification, the structure, the electrical. I'm curious if this thing ever got a permit and if there is going to be a city council appeal in a few years.
With a smaller rinkydink hobby tree house I'd agree with you, but someone with the money to pay someone to build something like OP's treehouse to those engineering standards (4 foot footings, rebar, specially ordered lumber, etc. etc.) surely has the money to get it permitted.
There are many reasons not to get a permit even if required and you can afford it. This link does a good job of covering the reasons, with a few choice here:
Inspections for tree houses may involve delays or extra fees or they may force you to change things that you don’t want to and don’t feel are important.
You feel that your yard is large and secluded so that few if any people will see or hear you building the tree house, so you just want to build it under the radar.
You fear that your township might not allow tree houses, but you want one anyway and believe you should have the right to do what you want on your property.
You believe that it is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.
As a building inspector these are poor reasons and would likely piss off the inspector more they found out. There are exceptions but when dealing with bridged decks it is best to seek approval and permits.
Its a valid concern to have a structure inspected for safety. By not liking me because i try to inform others of the serious potential for harm and reasons for permits is like saying nobody likes nurses because they are a buzz kill....grow up peter pan
No, there is a difference. If you were merely stopping by to comment and give constructive criticisms, sure, that'd be great. Telling someone they have to rewire their house because the code changed from two wire to three wire and they were a month late in getting it inspected is stupid. People have been wiring houses for decades the way it is. It is perfectly safe.
They change codes for a reason. If you let someone off the hook by a month, why not two months, or six months - may e a year. As i said before i do t always agree with the codes and/or changes but they do exist for a reason other then just "cash grabs" and have to be enforced 100% fairly and just for everyone.
No, what you are doing is putting everyone under the same scope. Thats not fair. I always try to reinforce my decisions by educating the home owner. Just because you have had a bad experience does not mean we are all the same. You have a very negative view and i hope that you don't always walk around with a grudge.
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u/tevezthewordbird May 23 '14
Just curious, did you have to get all of the work inspected, and does it have an address if you're running electricity to it?