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[Let's Talk About It on May 14, 2025.]
[00:00:37]
AND OF COURSE, WE KEEP ROCKET, UH, RECORDS AND DOCUMENTATION IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF, UH, INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD NEED FROM, FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR HOME, FROM YOUR BUILDER.
WE HAVE ALL THOSE DOCUMENTS, ALL THE INSPECTION RECORDS, AND YOU CAN REQUEST THEM AT ANY TIME.
USUALLY TAKES ABOUT THREE DAYS TO GET.
THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING SAFETY.
THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELFARE FOR THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ENFORCEMENT OF BUILDING CODES, LOCAL ORDINANCES.
WE CLOSELY WORK WITH RESIDENTS, AS I JUST MENTIONED, AND CONTRACTORS, DEVELOPERS TO SUPPORT SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE
[00:05:01]
CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES.THIS IS, UH, ONE OF TWO SLIDES OF THE PERMITS, THE PERMITS THAT, THAT WE REQUIRE A WORK THAT NEEDS, UH, A PERMIT TO BE ISSUED.
WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL ADDITIONS AS PATIO COVERS, STORAGE SHEDS.
UH, IF YOU GET OVER THE 250 SQUARE FOOT, YOU NEED ENGINEERING FOR WIND STEEL ROOFING.
IF IT'S OVER A HUNDRED SQUARE FOOT.
YOU ALSO NEED, UH, A PERMIT FOR THE, THE ROOF REPAIR OR ROOF REPLACEMENT, WHICH ALSO GETS YOUR ENGINEER TO GIVE YOU A WPI EIGHT FOR WINDSTORM, EXCUSE ME.
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT, AIR CONDITIONING REPLACEMENT, GAS RECONNECTIONS, ELECTRICAL RECONNECTIONS, IRRIGATIONS POOLS, FOUNDATION, REPAIRS, BUILDING, DEMOLITION.
AND THE LIST GOES ON WITH PAVING PAYMENT AND TEMPORARY SIGNS, HOUSE OR BUILDING.
UH, MOVING WINDOWS AGAIN WITH, UH, WINDSTORM CERTIFICATION, FENCES OVER SEVEN FOOT GENERATORS, SOLAR PANELS, AREA DRAINS, GRADING AND BOAT HOUSES, AND BULKHEADS.
I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE THAT ARE NOT LISTED.
ALRIGHT, THIS IS THE BIG QUESTION.
WHO SHOULD PULL THE PERMIT? I WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT HOMEOWNERS ARE ABLE TO PULL THEIR OWN PERMITS.
IF THEY'RE HOMESTEADED AND THEY'RE DOING THEIR WORK ON THEIR HOME, NOT RENTAL THE PROPERTY AND NOT FLIP HOUSES.
UH, BUT YOU ARE WAY BETTER OFF, AND I'LL DISCUSS THAT IN IN DEPTH WITH YOU WHEN YOU COME TO THE TABLE.
TO HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT IS LICENSED, INSURED BONDED TO PULL A PERMIT FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AT YOUR HOME.
IT JUST PROTECTS YOU WHERE ALL EVERYTHING'S ONLINE.
CONTRACTORS CAN REGISTER ONLINE.
YOU CAN MAKE THE PAYMENTS ONLINE.
YOU CAN TRACK YOUR JOB, YOUR, THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR PROJECT, THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR TRADES.
VERY SIMPLE AND VERY EASY TO DO.
NOW, WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF I DO WORK WITHOUT A PERMIT? WELL, THERE'S A, A SMALL LIST JOE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH, UH, TELLING ME WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
UH, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO TAKE BACK FROM THIS IS THAT IF YOU HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT IS DOING A MAJOR JOB OR EVEN A SMALL JOB, YOU WANT TO DOCUMENT DOCUMENTED.
YOU WANT A SECOND SET OF EYES ON IT TO MAKE SURE IT MEETS SAFETY AND CO AND ALL THE CODES, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT SPECIFIC JOB.
YOU ALSO WANNA ENSURE THAT YOU ARE NOT AFFECTING YOUR NEIGHBOR.
FOR INSTANCE, WITH DRAINAGE, IF YOU WANT TO REDO YOUR DRAINAGE AT YOUR HOME, UH, A HANDYMAN CAN PROBABLY DO THAT.
BUT IF HE DOESN'T PULL A PERMIT AND YOU FLOOD YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE.
SO IT'S, UH, IT'S VERY CRUCIAL THAT YOU FOLLOW THE RULES.
WE'LL WORK WITH YOU ON THE RULES.
WE'LL HELP YOU GET THROUGH ALL THE RULES.
IT'S NOT JUST, HERE'S YOUR PERMIT.
GET YOUR JOB, DO IT WE'LL, INSPECT IT.
WE'RE, WE'RE NOT LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
WITH THAT, I'LL GIVE YOU, JOE, THANK YOU.
I THINK THAT'S THE LAST, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE THAT SAYS THANK YOU.
SO, IT LOOKS LIKE I'M NEXT ON THE KARAOKE.
I'M THE SERVICE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER.
UH, I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR EIGHT, EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS.
I WAS AT CODE OFFICER, UH, FOR THE CITY, SO I KNOW I'VE SPOKEN TO A LOT OF THE HOAS HERE OVER THE PHONE.
SO OUR SLIDE IS PRETTY MUCH, MUCH STRAIGHTFORWARD.
UH, WE'RE GONNA BE FOCUSING ON THE MOST COMMON VIOLATIONS WE HAVE HERE IN LAKE CITY.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE A TABLE IN THE BACK WITH TWO CODE OFFICERS.
UH, SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY TYPE OF CONCERNS, OR THERE'S AN ADDRESS THAT YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, GO BACK THERE AND WE'LL, WE'LL DEFINITELY HELP YOU OUT.
SO, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
SO WHAT IS CODE ENFORCEMENT? SO, THE LAKE CITY NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES, UH, IS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING A HIGH QUANTITY OF LIVING BY ENSURING ALL PROPERTIES MEET MINIMUM BUILDING AND SAFETY STANDARDS.
THAT IS THE REASON WHY YOU NEED A PERMIT HERE IN LAKE CITY.
WHEN YOU DO RENOVATE, UH, REPAIR, UH, ANY TYPE OF, UH, RENOVATION, A BIG RENOVATION ON A PROPERTY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MEETS THE MINIMUM CODE.
WE ENFORCE LOCAL LAWS AND ORDINANCES RELATED TO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, ZONING, AND SAFETY BY INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS, CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS, AND
[00:10:01]
WORKING WITH PROPERTY OWNERS TO RESOLVE VIOLATIONS THAT IMPACT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND APPEARANCE OF OUR COMMUNITY.WE, OUR MAIN GOAL IS VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE, RIGHT? SO THE MOST COMMON VIOLATIONS IN LEAGUE CITY IS WEEDS AND GRASS, TRASH, DEBRIS AND RUBBISH, UH, ILLEGAL SIGNS.
STAGNANT WATER, WHICH INCLUDES THE MOST COMMON ONE, WILL BE EPT POOLS, UH, JUNK VEHICLES, ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLES, FENCE MAINTENANCE, TREE MAINTENANCE STANDARDS, BUILDING WITHOUT A PERMIT, GARBAGE COLLECTION, UNSAFE BUILDINGS, DANGEROUS STRUCTURES.
AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT USED TO BE THE ICON OF LEAGUE CITY, UH, THERE BY BEACON ISLAND.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, DUE TO THE HURRICANES THAT THAT KEPT HITTING IT, UH, IT BECAME, UH, AN UNSAFE STRUCTURE.
UH, SOME OF THE PANELS WERE ACTUALLY FALLING OFF, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, A STRONG WIND COULD HAVE BROUGHT SOME OF THOSE PANELS TO THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE LIVING NEARBY.
SO THE, THE OWNER OF THAT, UH, OF THAT STRUCTURE, UH, THEY, THEY, THEY DID A REVIEW AND SAW THAT IT WAS UN STRUCTURALLY UNSAFE.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY IT WAS REMOVED.
SO, ACCUMULATION OF RUBBISH AND THE GROWTH FOR WEEDS.
SO THIS IS THE ORDINANCE HERE, SECTION 54 DASH 33.
SO BASICALLY IT SAYS THAT, UH, IT'S UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON OR OWNER OCCUPIES, UH, ANY PROPERTY OR LOT THAT, UH, IN THE CITY THAT ALLOWS RUBBISH BRUSH AND OTHER, AND SLIGHTLY, UH, OBJECT OBJECTABLE OR UNSANITARY MATTER TO ACCUMULATE OR BE CARRIED BY WIND OR RAINWATER FROM SUCH LOT OR PREMISES.
SO, UM, ONE OF THE MAIN ONES THAT WE DO HAVE FOR RUBBISH HERE IS WHEN A RENTER LEAVES, RIGHT? HE HAS ALL HIS ITEMS ON THE CURB, AND IT DOESN'T GET PICKED UP BY A METAL WASTE.
UH, WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS, PEOPLE RUMMAGE, RUMMAGE THROUGH, THROUGH THE PROB, THROUGH THE ITEMS, AND THAT LITTLE PILE BECOMES FIVE, 10 FEET WIDE, AND IT'S ON THE STREET, OR IT GETS DRAGGED ON, AND IT ENDS UP IN THE STORM DITCH.
SO, RUBBISH IS, IS A BIG ONE FOR US.
UM, THE ORDINANCE STATES THAT ANYTHING OVER 12 INCHES, WE DO GET CALLS WHERE, UH, CONCERNS ABOUT A PROPERTY BEING, UH, HIGH GRASS AND WEEDS.
UH, WE TEND TO, OUR PROCEDURES IS, IS MEASURING THE GRASS, MAKE SURE THAT IT'S EXCEEDS 12 INCHES.
AND THEN WE TALK TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.
IF IT'S LESS THAN THAT, USUALLY WITH THIS WEATHER, WE'LL GIVE IT A COUPLE DAYS 'CAUSE IT'LL SURPASS THE 12 INCHES.
NOW, THESE IMAGES, UH, MAY OR MAY NOT BE HERE IN LAKE CITY.
SO, UH, SO THIS IS ONE OF THE HIGH GRASS AND WEEDS, UH, THE RUBBISH ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE BACK, THE UNDERBRUSH AND THE HIGH WEEDS ILLEGAL SIGN OF REGULATIONS.
THIS IS MOSTLY FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, BUT WE DO HAVE A COUPLE PROPERTIES HERE IN LAKE CITY, UH, THAT ARE HOME OCCUPATION, WHICH MEANS THAT THE BUSINESS IS RUNNING FROM A HOME.
UH, SO THEY CANNOT HAVE ANY TYPE OF SIGNAGE.
SO THOSE SIGN REGULATIONS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ONES.
BANDIT SIGNS ON THE RIGHT OF WAYS, UH, REAL ESTATE SIGNS, UH, WE FIX HOMES, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THOSE ON, ON THE TELEPHONE POLES.
SO WE, YEAH, IF WE SEE THEM, WE TRY TO REMOVE THEM.
ALSO, UH, WE WANT TO THANK CITIZENS ON PATROL.
THEY GO OUT THERE AND PICK UP, UH, THESE BANDIT SIGNS TOO.
UH, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT HAVE, UH, CODE, UH, REFERENCES.
THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE COMING FROM A CODE BOOK, JUST LIKE BILLING DEPARTMENT HAS AN INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE.
UH, THE CITY HAS ADOPTED WHAT'S CALLED THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.
AND THAT DEALS WITH, WITH SOME OF THE FENCE, UH, MAINTENANCE ISSUE.
THE STAGNANT WATER, UH, THAT'S THE ONE WE USUALLY GET CALLS ON, ON POOLS BEING UNKEPT.
UH, WHAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES IS A PROPERTY GETS SOLD AND IT TAKES A WHILE SO THE POOL DOESN'T GET MAINTAINED.
SO, STAGNANT WATER, IT SHOULD BE UNLAWFUL FOR THE OWNER OR ANY LOT OR OTHER PREMISES IN THE CITY TO ALLOW A PERMIT HOLES OR PLACES WHERE WATER MAY ACCUMULATE AND BECOME STAGNANT TO BE OR REMAIN ON SUCH WATER PREMISES, OR TO ALLOW PERMIT
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THE ACCUMULATION OF STAGNANT WATER THERE ON OR TO PERMIT STAGNANT WATER TO REMAIN THERE ON.SO USUALLY WITH STAGNANT WATER, WE TELL 'EM, HEY, YOU GUYS HAVE TO FIX THE PUMP.
RIGHT? SHOCK IT, MAKE IT CLEAR AGAIN.
UH, IF WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A PROPERTY OWNER NOT BEING THERE, IT'LL BE A VACANT HOUSE.
UH, WE TEND TO THROW MOSQUITO DUCKS.
AND WHAT MOSQUITO DUNKS DOES IS BASICALLY DOESN'T LET THE LARVAE PRODUCE THAT WAY.
NO MOSQUITOES CAN COME FROM THERE, OR THEY MINIMIZE IT.
JUNK VEHICLES, THAT'S ANOTHER MOST COMMON THAT WE HAVE HERE IN LAKE CITY.
UH, BASICALLY ANY INOPERABLE DISMANTLED, UH, UM, UH, IF IT'S BEEN INOPERABLE ON THE DRIVEWAY FOR OVER 45 DAYS, UH, IT'S CONSIDERED A JUNK VEHICLE, EVEN IF A VEHICLE IS FAIRLY NEWISH.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE TERM THAT THE STATE PLACES ON, UH, FOR THEM.
SO IT NEEDS TO BE OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, THIS, WE WOULD HAVE TO TELL 'EM THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM PUBLIC VIEW.
SO IT WOULD HAVE, IT CAN BE SOMEWHERE ELSE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS, EXCUSE ME, OR INSIDE THE GARAGE, RIGHT? ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLES.
UH, THE ORDINANCE 1 25 DASH FOUR 19.3.
UH, THESE ARE PROHIBITED PARKINGS.
UH, WHAT WE SEE HERE IN SUBDIVISIONS IS UNIMPROVED PROPERTIES OR PORTIONS OF PROPERTIES.
AND WERE NON-RESIDENTIAL AND MULTI-FAMILY DISTRICTS REQUIRED LANDSCAPE AREAS.
SO THAT'S PROHIBITED PARKING, FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR FRONT YARD, RIGHT? SO WE DO GET CALLS ON THIS AS WELL, OUTSIDE AREAS, NOT DESIGNATED FOR PARKING ON AN APPROVED SITE PLAN.
SO THAT'S YOUR FRONT OR YOUR SIDE, UH, AREAS WHERE, WHERE THE, YOUR HOUSE IS AT.
GENERALLY, WE SPEAK TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, UH, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT ALLOWED HERE IN LEAGUE CITY FENCE MAINTENANCE, THIS IS ONE OF THE CODES FROM A CODE BOOK, WHICH IS THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE 3 0 2 0.7 ACCESSORY STRUCTURES.
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS, UH, CODE IS THAT IT'S KIND OF SUBJECTIVE.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS LOOKS LIKE A DILAPIDATED FENCE, BUT LET'S SAY THAT THE FENCE IS ACTUALLY UP AND IT'S NOT MISSING FENCE PICKETS.
HOW CAN WE DETERMINE THAT IT'S DILAPIDATED? WELL, UH, ONE OF THESE SITUATIONS IS WHERE WE KIND OF LIGHTLY, UH, PUSH THE FENCE TO SEE IF IT'S STRUCTURALLY SOUND.
SO THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS DAMAGING THE PROPERTY.
SO IF IT LOOKS LIKE THIS, IT'S, IT'S GENERALLY DILAPIDATED, OR IF IT'S, IF IT'S, UH, IF IT HAS SOME OF THE FENCING AND IT, YOU'LL SEE A POST SUPPORTING IT.
THAT MEANS IT'S NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND TREAT MAINTENANCE STANDARD.
THE, THIS ORDINANCE HERE IS ONE OF THE COMMON ONES IN THE COMMUNITIES IN THE OLDER SIDE.
FOR EXAMPLE, SOUTH SHORE, UM, SOME AREAS OF BAY COLONY, THE ORDINANCE IS PRETTY LONG, BUT THE MAIN FOCUS IS THE TREE BRANCHES.
IF IT'S LESS THAN 15 FEET OVER THE STREET, IT NEEDS TO GET TRIMMED.
IF IT'S LESS THAN EIGHT FEET ON THE SIDEWALK, IT NEEDS TO GET TRIMMED.
THIS IS WHAT CAUSES DAMAGES TO OUR, UH, BUSES.
I-C-C-I-S-D BUSES, UH, FIREFIGHTER TRUCKS, EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
SO WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY SEE IT HAPPEN, THEY TEND TO CALL US.
SO, UH, AND THIS WAS THE KIND OF, THIS IS THE KIND OF ISSUE THAT WE NEED ASSISTANCE FROM THE HOA, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY HO HOMES, THERE'S SO MANY HOUSES, AND THERE'S ONLY A GROUP OF US.
SO THIS IS WHERE WE TR WE TEND TO REACH OUT TO THE HOA TO MAKE THE CITIZENS AWARE, HEY, THIS IS AN ISSUE, TR TRIM YOUR TREES, AND THAT THAT'S WHAT WE WANT, RIGHT? WE WANT VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
JOE, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
UM, I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION.
MOST HOMEOWNERS DO NOT, UH, UNDERSTAND THE TREES IN THEIR YARD, EVEN THOUGH IT'S COMING OVER THE, OVER THE STREET IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
THEY THINK IT'S, AND, AND I'LL REPEAT IT IF EVERYBODY NEEDS ME TO THIS ORDINANCE HERE IS FOR HOMEOWNERS, NOT FOR THE CITY ITSELF.
BECAUSE HOMEOWNERS BELIEVE IN MOST CASES,
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A STREET IS IN AN EASEMENT OR CLOSE TO THE ROADWAY, AND THAT THE CITY WILL TAKE CARE OF IT.CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TREES ON THE EASEMENT IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE.
THE HOMEOWNER IS, AND MOST HOMEOWNERS DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND I THINK THAT'S, UH, WHERE WE HAVE SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS TRYING TO EDUCATE THE MM-HMM
SO IN THIS CASE HERE, PEOPLE LOOKING AT IT SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A HOMEOWNER'S ISSUE.
IF YOU HAVE A TREE LIKE THIS, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE IS OUR LADDER TRUCK IS CLOSE TO 13 FOOT TALL WITH THE LADDER, SOME AREAS IN LAKE CITY, WE CANNOT GET A LADDER TRUCK UNDER THESE TREES, OR IT WILL DAMAGE THE TREE ITSELF.
SO WE'RE ASKING THAT IF YOU SEE THIS SITUATION, IF YOU LIVE IN A HOA, CONTACT YOUR HOA OR CONTACT THE OWNERS.
AND YES, THERE IS AN EXCEPTION TO THAT.
IF YOU'RE A TREE THAT HAS ELECTRICAL LINES YES, THEN THE ELECTRICAL COMPANY IS ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE, CORRECT.
AND YOU NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS AS A HOMEOWNER, MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO ELECTRICAL LINES WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH YOUR TREES.
SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
IF, IF THE TREE IS ENCROACHING ALL TO THE POWER LINES.
YEAH, WE, WE'VE DONE UP A CALL, TEXT TO NEW MEXICO OR CENTER POINT, WHATEVER, UH, THE PROVIDER IS.
AND THE ORDINANCE IS VERY SPECIFIC.
IT SAYS ODOR RESPONSIBILITY, AND IT HAS A SECTION THERE.
SO THE ORDINANCE DOES SAY IT'S THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TRIM THOSE TREES.
AND THAT'S THE FLYER THAT WE DO GIVE OUT TO, TO RESIDENTS.
WHEN WE DO SEE THE LOW BRANCHES, IT GIVES THE ORDINANCE, UH, IT ALSO TELLS YOU HOW HIGH IT NEEDS TO GO.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST PUT A LITTLE PICTURE THERE.
ALSO AS A, AS A, UM, AS AN EDUCATION TOOL BUILDING WITH OUR PERMITS.
THIS IS THE COLLABORATION WE HAVE WITH BUILDING DEPARTMENT PLANNING, BUILDING ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
WE ALL COLLABORATE, UH, ON A LOT OF PROJECTS, BUT THAT'S THE MAIN REASON THAT WE'RE HERE.
WE'RE HERE TO ENFORCE IT, RIGHT? UH, SO WHEN THE GENTLEMAN, WHEN BUILDING DEPARTMENT GOES OUT THERE, DOES THE INSPECTION, YOU KNOW, WE TEND TO GO OUT THERE AS WELL.
SO THIS IS THE CODE THAT, THAT WE USE GENERALLY, IT'S FROM THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS IF YOU RENOVATING, IF YOU'RE ADDING, REPAIRING, MOVE DEMOLISH, UH, YOU REQUIRE A PERMIT.
NOW I PLACE THE BILLING DEPARTMENT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER THERE, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE SOMETIMES QUESTION, DO I NEED A PERMIT OR NOT? RIGHT? SO THE NUMBER THERE IS TO CALL BILLING DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE, WE'RE HERE TO EDUCATE.
WE THERE, DON'T, DON'T SECOND GUESS YOURSELF, RIGHT? DON'T, DON'T CONSTRUCT A PATIO COVER THAT'S ATTACHED TO YOUR HOUSE.
AND THEN WHEN WE GO OUT THERE,
COLLECTION IS ANOTHER COMMON VIOLATION.
SO, UH, WE CALL THIS ILLEGAL ROLL OFF DUMPSTERS.
SO CONTRACTORS, WHEN THEY'RE BUILDING, UH, THEY TEND TO BRING THEIR ROLL OFF DUMPSTERS.
UH, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT HAS TO BE A SPECIFIC ONE THAT THE SUBCONTRACTOR OF THE CITY, UH, THE COLLECTIVE OF THE COLLECTIVE, UH, GARBAGE, UH, COMPANY, WHICH IS AMER WASTE.
IT HAS TO BE A SUBCONTRACTOR TO THAT.
BUT THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ONE FOR RENOVATIONS, UH, NEW DEVELOPMENT WHERE THESE ROLL OFF DUMPSTERS TEND TO APPEAR, AND WE HAVE TO ENFORCE OUR ORDINANCE.
UH, UNSAFE BUILDINGS, DANGEROUS STRUCTURES.
SO THESE 12 ITEMS HERE, LISTED, LISTED, THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES.
THIS IS WHAT DETERMINES THE HOUSE TO BE AN UNSAFE, DANGEROUS STRUCTURES.
NOW, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF 'EM HERE IN LAKE CITY.
ONE THAT POPS, POPS IN MY HEAD IS PINE MILLS OFF OF MEADOW PARKWAY.
UM, STRUCTURE DOES FALL, UH, DOES HAVE SOME OF THESE ITEMS. SO OUR NEXT STEPS IS WE TRY TO HAVE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER.
IF IT'S NOT REACH, THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTIFICATIONS ARE, UH, ARE SENT AND OUR DUE PROCESS IS, IS DUE.
UH, AND THEN WE TAKE IT TO THE ZONING BOARD.
NOW, THE ZONING BOARD DETERMINES THE HOUSE TO BE COMPLETELY OUTTA SHAPE SO THEY CAN MANDATE WHETHER THE HOUSE GETS REPAIRED OR IT GETS DEMOLISHED, RIGHT? SO, UH, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF STRUCTURES HERE THAT WE WILL BE BRINGING TO THE ZONE, TO THE ZONING BOARD
[00:25:08]
EXACTLY LIKE THAT.IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THAT'S MY EMAIL ADDRESS.
MY, WE DO HAVE BUSINESS CARDS IN THE BACK.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US IF YOU GUYS NEED ANY, ANYTHING AT ALL.
SO, UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING FROM BOTH PERMITTING AND CODE COMPLIANCE, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR FOLKS THAT ARE HERE TO ASK QUESTIONS, GIVE COMMENTS, FEEDBACK.
UM, WE WENT OVER A LOT OF WHAT WE DO.
HOPEFULLY WE TOUCHED ON THE WHY ENOUGH.
IF YOU'RE STILL QUESTIONING WHY WE DO SOMETHING THAT WE DO OVER THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT WE'VE GONE OVER TO TONIGHT, PLEASE EXPRESS THAT TO US.
PLEASE LET US KNOW, UH, GIVE US FEEDBACK ON ALSO WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE.
WE HAVE COMMENT CARDS FOR THAT AS WELL AT YOUR TABLE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, MS. SARAH AND I WILL BE WALKING AROUND WITH THE MICROPHONE, SO THAT WAY PEOPLE AT HOME CAN, OR THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE, UH, CAN HEAR THE ANSWERS AS WELL.
SO, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR PERMITTING ON ANY PERMITTING QUESTIONS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ASK AT THIS TIME? OKAY, MR. CONES, THANK YOU FIRST.
AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO GIVE A GREAT HANDOUT TO RALPH AND TO JOE AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS PERMITTING.
THEY DO HAVE A HARD JOB, BUT, UH, I WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT RALPH REAL QUICK.
RALPH IS A, AN EXCELLENT BUILDING OFFICIAL.
AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS, INSTEAD OF SAYING NO TO YOU, RALPH WILL COME TO YOU AND SAY, HOW CAN WE GET IT DONE? AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN THE CITY, BECAUSE NO IS SHOULDN'T BE AN OPTION.
IT SHOULD BE HOW CAN WE GET IT DONE IF IT MEETS THE CODE REQUIREMENTS? SO I SAY TO YOU, RALPH, THANK YOU, UH, JOE, THE SAME WAY ON, ON CODE ENFORCEMENT.
UH, IT'S A HARD JOB WHEN PEOPLE START GRIPING AT YOU ABOUT PERMITS.
BUT I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
I GET CALLED ALL THE TIME, RALPH.
UM, WHEN IS A PERMIT REQUIRED FOR A HOMEOWNER? IF I'M DOING ELECTRICAL WORK OR PLUMBING, AND IT'S MY HOUSE, CAN I DO THE WORK WITH OR WITHOUT A PERMIT? AND THAT'S A KIND OF A TOUCHY SITUATION, BUT I THOUGHT I'LL ASK THAT QUESTION TONIGHT.
YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DO THE WORK YOURSELF.
IF YOU'RE A HOMEOWNER NOT FLIPPING THE HOUSE, UH, YOU CAN PULL A PERMIT, WE WILL SCRUTINIZE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A LICENSED CONTRACTOR.
BUT THE GOOD THING THAT YOU'LL HAVE IS AN INSPECTION.
SO WHATEVER WORK YOU'VE DONE MEETS THE QUALIFY, THE, THE CODES, UH, IT'S SAFE.
AND WHENEVER YOU GO SELL THAT HOUSE, YOU GOT DOCUMENTATION SAYING THAT YOU DID IT, BUT YOU DID IT.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, AND THANK YOU, RALPH.
I'M GONNA BRING YOU THE MICROPHONE SO THAT WAY PEOPLE CAN HEAR YOU.
THEY SAY, UH, NO QUESTION IS A DUMB QUESTION.
SO I HOPE THIS QUALIFIES
UM, AND IT'S REALLY JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
UM, ON THE REMODEL REPAIRS, IF I'M REPAIRING SOMETHING INSIDE MY HOUSE, I DON'T NEED A PERMIT FOR THAT, CORRECT? AS LONG AS IT'S NOT STRUCTURAL, BUT IT IS INSIDE YOUR HOME.
SO CABINETS, IF IT'S KNOW COUNTERTOPS, IF IF IT'S AESTHETIC, YOU DO NOT NEED A PERMIT FOR THAT.
I, I DIDN'T THINK SO, BUT I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON CODES? PERMITTING? OH, WE GOT ONE OVER HERE.
AMBER C YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN ON OVER.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE NEEDING TO PICK A CONTRACTOR.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DECIDE ON A CONTRACTOR WHO WILL GUARANTEE THAT THEY MEET ALL THE CODES OR THEY UNDERSTAND ALL THE CODES? WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR? THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF SERVICES ONLINE THAT GIVE YOU THE RATINGS, BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO CALL OUR OFFICE.
FIND OUT IF THE CONTRACTORS THAT YOU ARE CHOOSING OR THE, THAT YOU'RE VETTING ARE LICENSED WITH THE CITY, REGISTERED WITH THE CITY.
IF IT'S A, IF IT'S A, A MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR, PLUMBER OR, UH, UM, UH, AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEIR LICENSED, WE'LL CHECK THAT FOR YOU.
UH, YOU CAN ALSO ASK US, WE, WE CAN'T RECOMMEND ANYBODY, BUT YOU CAN ALSO ASK THE CONTRACTOR THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTENDING TO, TO CHOOSE, DO THEY PULL A LOT OF PERMITS IN LAKE CITY? HE SEEMED TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT WHAT WAS ALLOWED.
HE, HE SEEMED TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT WHAT WAS ALLOWED AND WHAT ISN'T AND HOW FAR AWAY.
[00:30:02]
SO HOW FAR AWAY FROM ELECTRICAL, YOU SEEM TO KNOW ALL THAT.YOU, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE CONTRACTOR THAT YOU'RE THINKING OF GETTING WAS KNOWLEDGEABLE SOUNDED LIKE, OKAY, WELL, REFERENCES ARE ALWAYS GOOD.
UH, GO LOOK AT SOMEBODY'S POOL THAT THEY'VE DONE.
I'M, I'M SURE IF, IF I PUT IN A POOL, I'M, I'M SURE I WOULD LET YOU COME OVER TO MY HOUSE TO, BECAUSE I'M PROUD OF MY CONTRACTOR AND THE JOB THAT HE DID FOR ME.
SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO.
IF THEY PULL A LOT OF PERMITS IN THE CITY, ANY CITY, NOT JUST HERE, BUT IF THEY PULL A LOT OF PERMITS, THAT MEANS THAT THEY PRETTY WELL KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
OF COURSE, IN UNDER PLAN REVIEW, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE HOME AND ALL THAT IS REVIEWED AND THEY, THEY WOULDN'T GET A PERMIT OTHERWISE.
UM, I'M GREG MAZANTI, PRESIDENT OF TUSCAN LAKES, AND WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH ENFORCEMENT OF OUR RULES, WHICH INCLUDE MOST OF YOUR ORDINANCES.
ARE THESE ORDINANCES THAT YOU'VE BEEN QUOTING FROM TONIGHT AVAILABLE ONLINE OR@THELAKECITY.COM WEBSITE? OR DO WE HAVE TO GO TO THE LIBRARY AND DIG THEM OUT THERE?
UH, BUT ALSO THEY'RE FOUND IN MUNI CODE UNDER LAKE CITY.
SO IF YOU GO TO MUNI CODE, YOU GO TO TEXAS AND YOU GO TO LAKE CITY, IT HAS ALL OF OUR ORDINANCES.
IF NOT, YEAH, JUST SHOOT ME, UH, AN EMAIL AND I'LL, I'LL GIVE YOU THE LIST OF, OF THE ORDINANCES, OKAY.
OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE HAVING.
WELL, PARKING IN THE YARD AND, OKAY, THE TREES AND ALL ROOFERS.
YOU ASK ABOUT ROOFERS, EVERY ONE OF 'EM LIE.
BUT IF YOU GO TO CITY HALL, IF THEY'RE NOT LICENSED, MOSTLY THEY'RE NOT INSURED.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DON'T WANT TO DO.
THE LICENSE REQUIRES 'EM TO GET INSURANCE, AND THEY DON'T WANNA PAY FOR THAT INSURANCE.
I THINK YOU TOUCH ON A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT, AND I'VE HEARD RALPH TALK ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
SO MAYBE YOU COULD TALK BRIEFLY, RALPH, ABOUT THE INSURANCE PIECE OF IT AND, AND HOW IT PROTECTS HOMEOWNERS IN GETTING A PERMIT AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THEIR CONTRACTOR DOESN'T PULL A PERMIT AND THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF DAMAGE TO THEIR HOME.
EVERY CONTRACTOR THAT REGISTERS HAS TO BE INSURED, OR THEY WON'T GET A REGISTRATION.
THEY HAVE TO BE, UH, IF THEY NEED TO BE LICENSED.
UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF REMODEL COMPANIES AND GENERAL CONTRACTORS DO NOT HAVE TO BE LICENSED FOR ANYTHING.
UM, THEY WON'T, THEY JUST WON'T GO ONE STEP FURTHER.
DO NOT HIRE ANYONE THAT DOES NOT SHOW YOU A PERMIT.
IF YOU CHOOSE SOMEONE AND YOU'RE PAYING SOMEONE, DO NOT DO IT UNLESS THEY SHOW YOU A PERMIT, PERMIT FIRST, AND THEN THE DEPOSIT.
IF YOU, IF THEY REQUIRE A DEPOSIT, DON'T EVER PAY UNTIL IT'S INSPECTED AND YOU'RE, IT'S FINISHED.
HOLD THAT LAST BIT OF MONEY, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF SOB STORY YOU GET.
UH, IF YOU CAN'T FUND IT, YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT.
UM, THE GENTLEMAN MADE ME LAUGH ON, ON THE ROOFERS, UM, ESPECIALLY AFTER A STORM.
OKAY, IF YOU NEED A NEW ROOF, YOU NEED A NEW ROOF.
YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN A HURRY FOR ONE.
BUT IF YOU'RE IN A HURRY FOR ONE, DON'T BE IN A HURRY TO CHOOSE A ROOFER.
UH, WHAT ELSE DID YOU ASK? WHAT ELSE DID YOU MENTION? INSURANCE? WHAT, WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THEY HAVE TO BE INSURED? EVERY GENERAL CONTRACTOR SHOULD HAVE GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE.
WHAT CAN HAPPEN, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU TRY TO RENEW YOUR INSURANCE OR YOU TRY TO FILE A CLAIM OR EVEN SELL YOUR HOME? TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, RALPH.
UH, FOR ANY INFRACTION, ANY INSURANCE COMPANY CAN REJECT THE CLAIM.
SO LET'S JUST SAY THAT YOU HAD THAT, THAT, UH, PATIO COVER THAT, THAT JOE SHOWED ON THE PICTURE.
YOU'RE GETTING THAT INSTALLED.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A LADY HERE THAT, UH, THAT IS STILL WAITING ON HER WPI EIGHT FROM THE CONTRACTOR, AND I CALL HIM WEEKLY.
UH, SHE WILL GET IT, BUT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHASE A CONTRACTOR FOR A WPI EIGHT.
THE ENGINEER IS SUPPOSED TO COME AND DO THE INSPECTIONS.
AND THEY SHOULD PROVIDE YOU WITH A-W-P-I-A IMMEDIATELY, WHERE IN HURRICANE SEASON, IF THERE WAS JUST A TREE THAT FELL OVER ON HER PROPERTY, HER INSURANCE MIGHT SAY, NO, I'M NOT PAYING FOR IT.
[00:35:01]
UH, SAME THING WITH FLOOD INSURANCE.SAME IF YOU HAVE, UH, AREA DRAINS THAT NEED TO BE INSTALLED.
AND THEY, THEY'RE, IT'S A, IT'S A LANDSCAPER THAT IS NOT REGISTERED WITH US THAT DOES NOT PULL THE PERMIT AND YOU'RE FLOODING YOUR NEIGHBOR OUT.
SO THIS IS REALLY A, A, A COMMUNITY EFFORT FOR EVERYBODY TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT.
IT'LL SAVE A LOT OF MONEY, A LOT OF HEARTACHE.
AND THE WPIA, JUST FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, IT THAT'S A CERTIFICATE OF WINDSTORM.
THAT MEANS THAT IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE STATE, IT'S BEEN INSPECTED BY AN ENGINEER AND BY THE CITY, WHICH IS SOMETHING YOU'RE GONNA WANT WHEN YOU GO TO SELL YOUR HOME.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANYONE THAT YOU, PARTICULARLY IF YOU GET A NEW ROOF AND YOU DON'T SHOW PROOF OF A PERMIT, THIS CAN REALLY AFFECT YOU WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL YOUR HOME.
IS THAT TRUE RALPH? ANY SMART, UH, REAL ESTATE AGENT WOULD GO AND PULL A, A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FOR ALL THE PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE ON THAT HOME PRIOR TO SELL.
HAVING, IF THEY'RE THE SELLER IS ONE THING, BUT IF THEY'RE THE BUYER, THEY'RE GONNA TRY AND KNOCK THE DOLLARS OFF.
WE'LL BUY IT AS IS, BUT THE MONEY'S NOT AS IS.
AND WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION OVER HERE.
HI, MY, MY WIFE MENTIONED WE'RE CON CONTEMPLATING A POOL, AND SO THE SOONER THE BETTER.
SO THE QUESTION IS ABOUT TIMING.
ASSUMING WE HAVE A REPUTABLE, UH, CONTRACTOR, WHAT IS, WHAT SLOWS THE PROCESS DOWN THE CONTRACTOR OR THE CITY IN GETTING PERMITS? WHAT DOES WHAT WITH THE PRICES? UH, WHAT SLOWS DOWN THE PERMITTING PROCESS? IS IT THE CONTRACTORS? IS IT THE CITY? IS IT A COMBINATION OF BOTH? THEY'RE GETTING READY TO PUT IN A POOL AND THEY'RE WONDERING AS FAR AS TIMEFRAME IS CONCERNED, WHAT, WHAT KIND OF TIMEFRAME ARE THEY LOOKING AT? AND, AND WHEN THEY DO RUN INTO STOPPING BLOCKS, ROADBLOCKS, WHAT CAUSES THAT? UH, A REVIEW FOR A POOL TAKES FIVE DAYS.
SO IF EVERYTHING, IF THE MEASUREMENTS ARE CORRECT, THE DISTANCES ARE RIGHT.
THE EVERYTHING IS JUST HUNKY DORY FIVE DAYS, AND THEY CAN START WORKING.
IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, THEY GET BACK A COMMENT AND THE COMMENT GOES ONLINE TO THE CONTRACTOR.
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS ADDRESS THAT COMMENT.
IT DOESN'T TAKE ANOTHER FIVE DAYS.
WHEN THAT PLAN REVIEWER, THE SAME PLAN REVIEWER THAT'S REVIEWING IT GETS THAT, UH, COMMENT RETURNED TO THEM, AND IT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, THEY IMMEDIATELY GET A PERMIT.
THIS, UH, IT TAKES LONG FOR THE CITY.
WE ARE BUSY AND, BUT WE WILL CALL YOU AND TELL YOU, HEY, YOU AIN'T GETTING IT TODAY.
I'LL, I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO TOMORROW BY 10.
BUT IT, IT, IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG.
THE, THE, THE QUICKER THAT WE GET YOU A PERMIT, THE MORE MONEY THE CITY MAKES, AND WE'RE STILL EMPLOYED.
YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE.
IF YOU'RE, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO HEAR THIS
AND THAT COULD TAKE A LONG TIME.
THAT COULD TAKE UP TO 30 DAYS FOR THEM TO APPROVE IT.
GOT ANOTHER QUESTION OVER HERE.
WHEN YOU'RE DOING A POOL, IF YOUR NEIGHBOR DOES A POOL AND THEN PUTS A FENCE IN CONNECTING THAT POOL TO PROTECT FROM ENTRY FOR SAFETY REASONS, IS THAT FENCE PART OF THE PERMITTING PROCESS WITH THE POOL OR IS THAT SEPARATE? IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT GUARANTEE DO I HAVE WHEN MY NEIGHBOR PUT IN HER POOL, SHE DIDN'T PUT HER FENCE ON MY PROPERTY.
WELL, THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION TO ANSWER BECAUSE I HAVE NOT SEEN A POOL PERMIT WITH A FENCE.
I'VE SEEN POOL PERMITS WITH, WITH OUTDOOR PATIOS.
I'VE SEEN POOL PERMITS WITH, WITH OTHER ITEMS. UH, IF THE FENCE IS NOT OVER SEVEN FOOT, YOU DON'T NEED A PERMIT FOR A FENCE.
SO THAT UNFORTUNATELY IS A CIVIL BETWEEN THE TWO.
SO BY STATE REQUIREMENTS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE POOL SECURED.
SO, UH, EVEN BEFORE THAT, THE POOL WAS GETTING IS GETTING BUILT.
A FENCE NEEDS TO BE THERE FOR PROTECTION.
LABOR COURT'S DO AN EXISTING FENCE THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO DO BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T TELL US.
IN BETWEEN OUR HOUSES, IT APPEARS THAT SHE IS SIX INCHES ONTO MY PROPERTY, WHICH HAS NOW CAUSED A DRAINAGE ISSUE BECAUSE THERE WAS A DRAIN
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THAT RAN THROUGH THERE THAT WAS A POPUP DRAIN TO DRAIN THE WATER OUT TO THE STREET.SO THAT'S SOMETHING I WHAT DEPARTMENT WOULD I CONTACT YOU? ME.
WHAT WE WILL DO IS COME AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
WE WILL GO BACK TO THE, UH, THE, THE POOL PERMIT.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE INSPECTIONS WERE DONE AND WERE DONE CORRECTLY.
WE'LL JUST REVIEW THE WHOLE SITUATION.
AND IF, IF, IF THERE'S A DRAINAGE PROBLEM, UH, IT, THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU AND TO YOUR NEIGHBOR IS THAT YOU BOTH WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A SURVEY TO SEE WHERE THAT WATER IS NOT GOING.
PROPERTY SURVEY THAT WAS DONE WHEN WE BUILT HER HOUSE WILL NOT WORK.
IS THAT RIGHT? UH, PROBABLY NOT.
I, WELL, I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION AFTER I LOOK AT IT.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE, YOU CAN PUT YOUR INFORMATION DOWN AND RALPH CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND HIS HOW OLD IS THE FOLLOW UP WITH YOU? LATER? ONE YEAR.
BUT WE WILL, THAT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION TO ASK, AND I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE ABOUT THE FENCING ISSUE BECAUSE I'M SURE THIS IS MORE COMMON THAN MANY OF US REALIZE.
I, I'M, I'M ASSUMING THAT THEY JUST BROUGHT THE FENCE UP, UH, TO GET RID OF, UH, MAYBE THE, UH, POOL EQUIPMENT.
I HAVE TO DO, I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE DRAINAGE? I'M NOW GETTING GREEN MOLD ON MY SIDE OF THE FENCE.
WELL, THE, THE POOL PERMIT HAS TO COME WITH THE POOL DRAINS AND THOSE DRAINS NEED TO END UP AT A POPUP AT THE, UH, OKAY.
THAT'S ON YOUR PROPERTY AND ON, ON WHOEVER'S MAKING THE POOL, THE POOL'S PROPERTY AT THE FRONT.
DO YOU SEE WATER COMING OUT OF IT WHEN IT RAINS? I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE FENCE WAS BUILT RIGHT OVER WHERE THAT DRAIN, I KNEW ABOUT THE NEIGHBORS THAT WERE THERE BEFORE BECAUSE WE HAD HAD A ISSUES.
BUT IT APPEARS THAT SHE PUT HER POST ON RIGHT ON TOP OF THAT DRAIN.
WE'LL GET YOUR INFORMATION AND COME TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, WE HAVE ONE IN THE BACK.
I WAS, UH, UH, CONSIDERING REPLACING MY HOT WATER HEATER BECAUSE IT'S LIKE 12 YEARS OLD.
AND I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I SAW ON FACEBOOK ONE OF YOUR POSTINGS THAT HOT WATER HEATERS REQUIRED TO PERMIT.
AND, UH, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY SIMPLE, DOING A HOT WATER HEATER.
UH, SO WHEN I DO THIS, I ASSUME THERE'S GONNA BE INSPECTION AFTERWARDS, UH, IN THIS ONLINE PERMITTING THING THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.
DOES IT GIVE US WHAT THE CODE IS FOR THIS HOT WATER HEATER? YOU KNOW, THAT, IS THERE SOMETHING DIFFERENT I NEED TO LOOK FOR? MAKE SURE THAT I DO BEFORE THE INSPECTION IS DONE, YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS WATER HEATER YOURSELF? YEAH.
WELL, YOU JUST COME IN AND PULL A PERMIT.
WE CAN, WE CAN GET YOU A PERMIT.
YOU, YOU PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT ON ONLINE 'CAUSE YOU'LL HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO NOT REGISTER YOU, BUT GIVE YOU A HOMEOWNER'S PERMIT FOR THAT WATER HEATER.
SO THAT COULD BE DONE ACROSS THE COUNTER.
IT WON'T TAKE MUCH TIME THERE.
THERE'S NOT MUCH TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE COME OUT AND DO AN INSPECTION, IT HAS TO MEET CODE I, WE CAN HELP YOU OUT WITH WHAT CODE IS AS FAR AS THE SECONDARY DRAIN PAN UNDER THE WATER HEATER, HOW TO GET THE, UH, THE POP OFF AND, AND, AND THE T UH, UH, UH, THE THERMOSTATIC VALVE OUTSIDE.
UH, THERE ARE CERTAIN CODES THAT YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW, BUT IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.
UH, YOU'RE GONNA NEED SOME HELP.
WELL, I, I ENJOY DOING IT THE FIRST TIME.
WELL, BUT THE TIME I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT PERMITS.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE, YOU'RE OKAY IF YOU HAVEN'T BLOWN UP IN 12 YEARS,
SO THAT IS A HOT TOPIC THAT I HEAR FROM A LOT OF RESIDENTS, IN PARTICULAR ON THE HOT WATER, UH, HOT WATER HEATER NEEDING A PERMIT.
AND JUST TO KIND OF DIG A LITTLE DEEPER ON THAT, IF IT TAKES FIVE DAYS TO GET A PERMIT, AND THIS IS JUST SOMETHING I'VE HEARD FROM ENGAGING WITH THE RESIDENTS, YOU DON'T WANNA WAIT FIVE DAYS TO GET A HOT WATER HEATER INSTALLED.
SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR A RESIDENT THAT NEEDS IT AND THEY NEED IT NOW? AIR CONDITIONING REPLACEMENTS, WATER HEATERS, ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE? IT'S HALF AN HOUR.
YOU'LL HAVE A PERMIT WITHIN HALF AN HOUR.
RIGHT? YOU WERE, WE WERE, WE WERE DISCUSSING POOLS.
WE WERE DISCUSSING POOLS AND, AND PATIO COVER.
SO POOLS ARE FIVE DAYS, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE HALF HOUR.
RIGHT AFTER THE LAST, UH, STORM WE HAD HURRICANE PERMITS.
I MEAN, UH, ROOFING PERMITS WERE GOING OUT QUITE
[00:45:01]
QUICKLY BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.GENERATORS REQUIRE A PERMIT TOO.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE PUTTING IN THOSE HOME GENERATORS.
'CAUSE PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THAT'S, THAT'S REQUIRED.
I, I'LL GO WITH YOU ON THE WATER HEATER, BUT I WON'T GO WITH A HOMEOWNER AND A GENERATOR BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT, YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT WIRING.
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSED PLUMBER TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER PLUMBING LINES ARE BEING RAN ARE UP TO CODE SAFE WITH THE PROPER DEPTH AND, AND THE PROPER MATERIAL.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE HOMEOWNER CAN BE THEIR GENERAL CONTRACTOR, BUT YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE SOME, YOU NEED THE TWO TRAITS TO TAKE CARE OF THE REST.
WHAT'S YOUR MOST COMMON VIOLATION WHEN IT COMES TO PERMITTING? UH, NOT PULLING, NOT GETTING ONE.
WELL, YOU WERE TELLING ME IT'S BUILDING THESE PATIO COVERS WITH THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, HUH? IT IS.
UM, SOME FOLKS WILL BUY A HOUSE AND YOU HAVE A NICE LITTLE OUTSIDE EIGHT BY 10, UH, PIECE OF CONCRETE AND YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND COVER IT UP.
IT, I DON'T, I DON'T BLAME YOU.
UH, I WOULD DO IT MYSELF, BUT YOU GOTTA, YOU GOTTA CONCERN YOURSELF WITH, IF YOU'RE TYING THAT INTO YOUR ROOF LINE, UH, YOU, YOU NEED ENGINEERING.
YOU NEED PROFESSIONALS TO DO THAT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO YOURSELF.
IF YOU HAVE A STRUCTURE THAT IS UNDER 200 FEET, 200 SQUARE FEET, YOU DON'T NEED A PERMIT.
SO IF YOU BUILD THE PERGOLA AND IT'S UNDER 200 FEET, AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT PUTTING CONCRETE DOWN ON THE GROUND TO INTERFERE WITH IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE, YOU COULD DO IT.
UM, I WOULDN'T ADVISE IT, BECAUSE IF IT FLIES AND HITS YOUR NEIGHBOR OR KILLS SOMEBODY, YOU GOTTA HELP US.
UM, YOU'RE GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE.
YOU'RE GONNA BE LIABLE, AND YOUR INSURANCE IS NOT GONNA PAY.
JUST REMIND THEM OF THE TWISTERS WE HAD HERE LAST APRIL.
SO IT, IT, AND, AND THERE IS A, I DIDN'T MENTION THIS WHEN I WAS UP THERE.
I DON'T LIKE DOING PRESENTATIONS.
I GET TONGUE TIED AND I USUALLY LOVE TO TALK
UM, SO IN YOUR FOLDER YOU'LL SEE A PERMIT, UH, RATE SHEET.
IT'LL, IT'LL GIVE YOU THE PRICES OF ALL THE PERMITS.
SO WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH YOUR CONTRACTORS, THIS IS ALL ONLINE.
THIS IS ALL PUBLIC INFORMATION.
YOU'LL KNOW WHAT A PERMIT COSTS YOU.
SO SOME CONTRACTORS, AND I DON'T BLAME THEM FOR, FOR ADDING, UH, THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS AT THEIR OFFICE, BUT SOME CONTRACTORS WILL TAKE A HUNDRED DOLLARS PERMIT AND WANT TO CHARGE 400, $500 FOR IT.
IT'S UP TO YOU TO DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO PAY IT SO THEY CAN REACH OUT TO THE CITY IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PERMIT FEES AND, AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
IF THEY'RE QUESTIONING, HEY, WHY IS THIS SO EXPENSIVE? MAYBE IT'S NOT THAT EXPENSIVE.
AND YES, YOU CAN CALL, WE WILL TELL YOU HOW MUCH A PERMIT COSTS.
GOT ANOTHER QUESTION OVER HERE.
IS THERE A MINIMUM IF I JUST WANTED TO BILL A SMALL DECK.
DOES, IS THERE A MINIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT REQUIRES A PERMIT? THERE IS NO MINIMUM, BUT ANYTHING OVER 200 YOU SHOULD GET A PERMIT FOR.
SO IF IT'S SMALL, I DON'T NEED TO GET A PERMIT.
RIGHT, BUT IS THIS A, A WOODEN DECK? YEAH, JUST LIKE A TRAX.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE BRINGING THE DECKS UP BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GONNA COVER UP, IF YOU'RE GONNA PUT DOWN SOME, UH, SOMETHING FOR A PATIO, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONSIDER YOUR IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE.
EVERY LOT HAS A PERCENTAGE OF COVERAGE THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO.
RIGHT? UH, THE REASON FOR THAT IS, IS, UH, IT'S A MATHEMATICAL REASON.
IF EVERYBODY PUT DOWN A WHOLE BUNCH OF CONCRETE, THE WATER WOULD NOT RUN OFF, WOULD RUN OFF A LOT FASTER INTO OUR STORM SEWERS AND INTO OUR DITCHES.
THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE.
UM, YOU, YOU WANT TO CHECK THAT OUT.
UH, IT'S A MATHEMATICAL FORMULA.
THE SIZE, THE SIZE OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE THAT IS COVERING THE GROUND VERSUS WHAT YOU WANT TO PUT IN.
MOST NEIGHBORHOODS ARE AT A 55% IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE.
SOME, UH, LIKE PGAL THAT HAVE THE OPEN DITCHES ARE AT 50, UH, 50%.
SO THEY, THEY, THEY'VE GOT A LOT TO GROW ON.
UM, THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
BUT IF YOU'RE PUTTING IN A TREX DECK, NOT A PROBLEM, WATER'S GONNA GO THROUGH IT, RIGHT? IT'S GONNA GO INTO THE GROUND.
OH, YOU CAN ALSO USE TURF OR YOU CAN USE PAVERS IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT.
YEAH, IF YOU USE PAVERS, THERE ARE PERVIOUS PAVERS THAT ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT PERVIOUS.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE.
[00:50:02]
AND ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION ON FENCING.I ALSO GET A, UH, A LOT IN THE, UM, THE RESIDENTS WILL ASK ABOUT THE HEIGHT OF FENCING.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM HEIGHT? UH, WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT? COULD YOU JUST TOUCH ON FENCING BRIEFLY? YES.
I, I THE MINIMUM THERE IS NO MINIMUM.
I WOULD, I WOULD ASSUME FOUR FOOT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A POOL, THAT'S THE MINIMUM.
UH, FOR PROTECTION, THE MAXIMUM, THERE IS NO MAXIMUM, BUT OVER SEVEN FOOT YOU NEED A PERMIT.
AND OVER EIGHT FOOT YOU NEED A PERMIT.
AND WHAT ENGINEERING? YES, BECAUSE IT'S A WIND.
SO IF YOUR FENCE IS BELOW SEVEN FEET, YOU DO NOT NEED A PERMIT.
WELL THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR THE FOLKS AT HOME.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER, THE GROUNDS LEVEL
MAKE SURE THE GROUNDS LEVEL, 'CAUSE ONE OF THOSE PICKETS MIGHT CAUSE THE PERMIT TO KICK IN.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WE
SO IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC CONCERNS THAT YOU DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE GROUP, RALPH AND JOE AND THEIR STAFF MEMBERS WILL BE HERE TO, UM, TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS INDIVIDUALLY.
SO THANKS FOR EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
AND THANK YOU TO RALPH AND JOE.
UM, LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE SO YOU CAN ASK THEM YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.