What If....

[Ducking the Inspector]

Hello, I'm building a small Country Plans home, and have scenerio I would like to run by you guys.

I'm building in an area with no building inspections (no certificate of occupancy), but with an oppresive electrical code (aka I'm not alowed to do any of the work).  I've tried to hire an electrician to get a temporary power pole set up.  I kind of got into it with the inspector a few months ago when he told me I wasn't allowed to do any elelctrical work on my house, and now he has made it clear to the electrician I have hired that he has a hard on for me.  He's making life miserable enough on my electrician that he is about to throw in the towel and not even finish the work.
I'm in a rural area, and there aren't many electricians around.  The one is hired is the only one I could get to actually show up and give me a bid.

So, here is my what if....

I've had enough of the "man" telling me that I'm not allowed to provide myself with one of the most basic things in life, a house.  I'm building a very small house, and the power needs would be very small.  I already have a propane tankless waterheater, wall mouted heater, and stove (could go with a propane fridge as well).  The only electricity I would need is for a couple of lights, a laptop, and a cell phone charger.

I know that solar systems are subject to inspection as well, but if I kept it small and halfway incognito, what could an inspector do?  They can't block the sun can they?  

Just curious as to what could be the worst case scenerio if I gave the electrical inspector and the power company a big one finger salute.  

[MountainDon]

The inspector red flags you. He gets the county to make some kind of a notation on the property so it can't be sold ever with that unapproved electrical work. Oh yes, and they can throw in a per day fine for the violation. Maybe other evil things I haven't thought of.    Could they make you tear it down?  


What sort of things is he doing to cause the electrician grief? Is it all really just being real tight on the electrical code, or is the inspector treading where he has no business going? If he's over stepping his authority there should be avenues to have that investigated. I wouldn't want to have to go that way, but if he's acting incorrectly that may be what is needed.

[Don_P]

I see Don wrote while I was thinking of bad stuff, so here's more..

The worst cases of anything I know is removal of the building at your expense. Somehow I don't see this coming to that but the possibility exists. He will catch you from your description of the relationship.

The inspector is not allowed to require things beyond the code or the NEC it references. Things should be done to code anyway. If he is failing work then he should be asked the code sections he is using for grounds for failing it. In other words he should be asked to document the reasons for the failure in writing. Is he right? If so then try again. If you feel he is stepping into the realm of making up laws then requiring documentation should end that. I have had to work to the strictest interpretation before but if its there in black and white, I'll do it. I've been in your electrician's shoes and it isn't much fun to be stuck in the middle. I generally tried very hard to stay well above code, doesn't stop him but takes some of the wind out of his sails.

If he is making bad interpretations then an appeal is one way. An appeal is not to grant you a variance from code but to clear up a misinterpretation of code. That is one method of redress. The second is to go the political route. Mayor and/or board of supervisors. This isn't correct or nice but sometimes it is the only option. If the guy is just doing his job and you are trying to evade code then this is very improper. If he is acting outside the law then this may be the only alternative. I've seen this used properly and most shabbily, honestly search yourself before going this route. If you don't agree with the law, the cop isn't the problem, go after the law. A tough but fair inspector might just save your neighbors life from a bad electrician one day. I've seen 2 good inspectors move on after being unfairly attacked this way, in both instances the attackers were trash and the road just got rougher for everyone afterwards. The county attorney tells them to play exactly by the book after that, there are no judgement calls. I can get the waitress fired for taking my comments wrong and giving poor service, but it might not be the right thing to do. It is a human interaction, only the two of you know the real story so I'll leave it there. Good luck.

[Ducking the Inspector]

The inpsector hasn't really done anything other than follow the code to the letter as far as I know.  Just turns out that the electrician that I have has also got into it with this guy in the past.  So both of us are on his shit list, and the electrician doesn't really want the headache at the moment.

I have NO problem with doing things up to code, but If this electrician decides he doesn't want to do the work, I'm kind of left without any other options.  

I guess I could try to claim that I live in the house now, even though there is no plumbing or insulation.  If I live there it is then my primary residence and I can do the work myself if I pass inspection.  Although I think that is why the inspector is doing everything he can to keep me from getting temp power set up.  He keeps asking the electrician what my plans are for the house, and telling him that I can't do the work myself.

[Ducking the Inspector]

Just saw your post Don P.

I agree that the for the most part the code is inplace for a reason.  The guy I hired is the only one I could find in the area that would actually show up and do the work.  I'm confident that with a copy of the NEC I could wire my house correctly, unfortunately I have to have an electrician do the work since I don't live in my house now.

Guess I'm just running out of options at the moment.   

[Don_P]

It sounds like what we have here is a failure to communicate  .

Have you tried explaining what you just said to the inspector? Basically that you want to do it to code, you'd like his help in gently persuading the electrician to do it to code, but if he runs the sparky off its going to be mighty tough to replace him. If he takes it right then you just gained an ally. If he says "That's not my problem" I'd be mighty hard pressed not to say, "Work on your people skills or it just might be"

[Squirl]

Interesting question.    Does the house have to have electricity?  I have seen the Amish that have a deep cell battery in a small box on wheels and they wheel it around the house for what ever they need and plug it into a solar panel during the day.  Or maybe a solar trailer like mentioned in another thread.  It is not connected to any part of the house.

I would follow the recommendations of trying to work out what you can with people skills before trying to tell people to go stick it. 

[Ducking the Inspector]

I agree that working something out with the inspector would be the best thing to do, but I'm pretty sure he would be thrilled if he ran the electrician off and I wasn't able to find anyone to do the work.    I'll give it a shot though...

Squirl, those solar trailers look interesting. 

Any idea if a mobile trailer like that would be subject to inspection?

[MountainDon]

Even if the trailer was not, the wiring in the cabin/house would MTL be subject to the same inspections as if the building was grid connected, no?  At least that's the way I see it.

[NM_Shooter]

Okay.. this will come as a shock to a lot of folks, but this is what I would do.

I'd halt all work on the project and let the inspector's office know that you are shutting things off for a bit. 

I would attempt to set up a meeting with the inspector at his office, and ask him to provide you with some guidance on how to proceed.  Express to him that this will be your home, and that you especially want it to be safe.  Acknowledge that you got off to a wrong start and you want to change that.   

You might ask him to see if he is confident in your electrician's skills.  If not, time for a new electrician. 

Unfortunately, many of the inspectors I have worked with are on serious ego trips, and they really want to prove to you that they have the authority to make your life miserable.  The sooner you can get through that the better.  (BTW... I also worked with two inspectors who were great folks and really helped me out.) 

Good luck. 

[Jens]

Climb the chain of command if the inspector fails to be reasonable.  First talk to his supervisor, then the mayor.  If that doesn't ease him off enough to get the job done, call your local state rep, they are usually better and more influential when it comes to telling local government what their job really is (which is not to harass taxpayers and make their life difficult).  Above all, let them know that you want to do things above board.  If things still don't work out, express your disgust at the way government makes people break the laws in order to live. 

If none of that works...ever heard of Guy Fawkes?

[RainDog]

If none of that works...ever heard of Guy Fawkes?

Probably just me, but I don't see how blowing up the British Houses of Parliament would convince the inspector of anything much.

But hey, couldn't hurt, right?

Right?

[suburbancowboy]

Seeing that your electrical requirements are so small, I think the easy way around this would be to forgo the grid power and go off grid.  Put in a couple of led battery powered camp lights in the house, buy a couple of deep cycle batteries, 750 Watt inverter,  solar panel kit from habor freight, extension cord and power strip.  For three hundred dollars your problem is solved and you don't have to worry about "The MAN".  Also with a bonus of no electrical bills.

[MountainDon]

I would be surprised if the electrical code stops being an issue if the cabin/home is off grid. Electricity is electricity. If the state forbids DIY electrical I would think it means on and/or off grid.