Garden City - Building Inspector?

Hello everyone,

I went to my house today and found a business card wedged in the doorway for a building inspector from the village of Garden City. I am currently replacing my kitchen cabinets and appliances, and painting the walls of the house. I also had replacement windows put in and one of the windows was changed to a patio door. Additionally, I changed the outlets to GFCI in the kitchen so that it's up to code. My question is, is what I am doing illegal or against the village rules? I am not sure what to do about the business card. Do I call the inspector?

Any help is appreciated.

Re: Garden City - Building Inspector?

Anything plumbing or electrical would require a permit and work to be done ONLY by a licensed professional. Any structural changes would also be the same.

I can tell you changing a window's size requires a permit. If you simoply replaced the window with one of the exact size (not changing the opening) does not need a permit but to change the size of the opening does need a permit. So changing your window to a door is a no no or making the window larger with the installation of the new one, also requires a permkit.

As for simply changing windows...if you only change less than half of the windows and just replace them, it would not require a permit. But if you are replacing more than half or all of your windows, you would need a permit. Now i don't know GCs rules exactly as villages rules vary but I know this is a rule for many inc villages.

Painting does not require a permit. Anything electrical likely needs a permit, such as changing wiring, adding outlets, etc.

Incorporated villages have more requirements than most towns, for permits, esp GC. You can hold off on calling but they WILL keep coming back for sure. And they will likely find out for sure you adding the door where the window was. You can change your cabinets, that does not require a permit, but if it involves electrical work, it does then require a permit for the electrical or even if you change the plumbing, etc...

Message edited 12/26/2009 6:20:14 PM.

Re: Garden City - Building Inspector?

well, the inspector showed up again today and so he's now coming tomorrow to inspect the whole house. What should I expect? This is definitely not good, although everything is basically ready for painting.

Any helpful suggestions?