I recently contracted a good friend of mine to re-roof to commercial buildings in Miami Beach, each one was about $4,000 sq ft. He told me he was going to get a permit and that he always just calls it in to not have to hassle with the wait, however this time he did but the guy forgot to run the permit and the roofs have already been finished. The GC refuses to pay me without some a closed permit, and I had to pay the guys for the work, so without the payment for the GC I am in the hole $24,000. They were two flat roofs, and what he did was put one ply of the base #75 and the GAF modified Bitumen paper over that, the fiberglass he said was not needed because the modified paper has fiberglass in it, he showed me the product approval papers and it also said that the fiberglass was optional. Now I have heard something called a Permit after the fact, where I can call for an inspection even after the work was done. Will this work for me? And how do I go about getting it, if I do not get the permit and get paid I don't what I will do. Thanks for any help.
If your good friend normally calls them in, try to work through him. He will have more contacts, clout, credulity than you can come up with. If you contracted the roofing to the GC, why did someone else do the job???? Something doesn't smell right.
First, my bet is you'll find that your friend is lying and he never did anything to get a permit. But I would proceed on the basis of what he's told you. He claims he "called in" the permits and whoever he talked to screwed up. So, I'd tell your friend the jam you are now in and tell him you want him to go down to the building dept with you and straighten it out. Ask him how much the permits cost and how he paid for them over the phone. That should be interesting. I'll bet you'll get a lot of BS double talk from your friend. Does your friend even have the appropriate license, registration, etc that most major cities require contractors to have?
In any case, if the GC won't pay you, someone is going to have to go down and fess up, most likely you by yourself. In some cases, you can obtain approval after the fact. It all depends on the dept, the inspector, your attitude, and what the work done was. I've heard of cases where it was given. I've also heard of cases where folks who didn't obtain a building permit were forced to tear down things like decks, because the inspector couldn't see the footings, attachment to the house, etc. The most important thing to do is be nice to the bldg dept folks, no matter what happens. They may have some sympathy for you.
You have a case against your friend for whatever amount you wind up out. Hopefully you have a written contract. Of course, getting a judgement and collecting it are two different things.
if you are the owner, i would call the permit office from the general contractor's office and iron this out, then go there with the mandatory id and property survey copies or whatever they require, and cash or checkbook, or charge cards as they may require. here's their press release below or go to them at link on bottom of:
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"Date: April 1, 2004 City of Miami Beach Launches Online Building Permit Processing
-- Provides 24/7 Self-Service Access via the Internet -- Miami Beach, FL -- The City of Miami Beach announces the launch of an online service designed to provide increasingly higher, more efficient levels of customer service by streamlining the building permit process. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the online building permitting gives building professionals and Miami Beach residents self-service, online access to permit information and services. Miami Beach City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez said, "We are delighted to offer this service as another expansion to the City's e-government services. By expediting the permitting process for building professionals, the online permitting system helps us to fulfill our goal of providing first-class service to our community. We are proud to serve as an example for other communities in using internet technology to increase efficiency and measurably enhance the level of service to our residents and businesses." With a few clicks of the mouse, the online building permitting system enables users to apply for and receive a final permit electronically in minutes, without assistance from department staff. The service is currently available for trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire sprinkler and fire alarm permits with a valid/issued master building permit), which account for as much as 50 percent of the permits issued by Building and Fire departments. The online system also automates the entire process of scheduling inspections. A contractor can utilize the system to access a list of required inspections for a particular permit, request a certain day for the inspections, and obtain confirmation directly from the jurisdiction's inspection scheduling database module. Miami Beach Building Director Phillip Azan said, "We're very excited about the opportunity to improve our customer service capabilities and streamline the permitting process. My department is continually seeking ways to deliver effective building code services while optimally managing our internal resources and increasing our own efficiency. The online system is another tool that can effectively help us to achieve each of these goals." The City is implementing additional technology initiatives that will further enhance its ability to serve its customers efficiently. An Information Kiosk is now available at City Hall (first floor lobby) with live links to permitting services, property information, and the City's and Miami-Dade County's websites. Other initiatives will be launched within the next 90 days including wireless hand-held computers for field inspectors allowing for instant real-time update of inspection results and an automated customer flow/queuing management system that manages customer waiting periods. For more Information, please contact Evelyn Sanchez, Building Information Systems Specialist, at 305-673-7000, extension 6751. Click here for Online Permitting
I agree, except I think he has credibility. He should call the guy at the permit office he called before, and maybe he can even predate the permit. Not that I approve of that, but you probably shouldn't lose out because a clerk messed up.
Many towns require a permit. Two years ago when I was having the roof of our warehouse replaced, they needed two. One for the flat roof, one for the shingled roof. Contractor forgot to get the second one and they were there to shut him down. I had to run to the town hall with a check.
Get on the phone. You may be able to apply for a permit as usual, have it issued, then call back three days later to say the work is done if they even care. In my case, the inspector never inspected anything, just took the money for the permit. It is a cash cow to pay for the inspector's department.
Anyone here is only giving you opinion and speculation. Only the town building office can give you the facts.
Well has anyone heard if the inspectors are really strict on Mimai Beach??? I was told that the inspector only inspects the flat roof when its done, because you can not a leave a flat roof exposed while waiting for inspections in case it rains, is this true???
It is damn hard to get arrested in Florida - you have to try hard :o) Doubt that unlicensed contracting work is a felony, though. Mebbe falsely claiming to be licensed?
According to the signs along the main roads (AT least two on the toll road near Homestead and another that I passed on the Overseas Highway near Marathon) it is a felony in Florida to DO contracting without a license. According to a local plumber in Marathon, this was in response to some of the people coming down to help (themselves) after the hurricanes and most counties get really upset if you don't have licenses.
In that neighborhood, it would have to be a sensitive issue. Can't FORCE the city to enforce code here. AA contractors not welcome :o) Their work can't pass the first time - stars are not lined up right, no cirrus clouds on eastern horizon, too much pollen in the air, sonic boom within the past 3 years - all reasons to red-tag their work. :o)
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