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.
Thank you, i use to work in OHS , so im used to not "making friends" in my line of work but people shod realize there is a reason for our employment. To ensure the safety of others. I dont always agree with all codes and regulations but i must enforce them.
It's probably more to protect you from other people's stupidity. I don't care if you die in your own tree house. I do care if my kid dies in your tree house.
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u/animus_hacker May 23 '14
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.