inspections called on home built 1850

Status
Not open for further replies.

mmaddux

Member
hi all I purchased a house built in 1850's in sept. upon doing some repairs to a few floor boards and walls i needed some wiring replaced knob and tube to bathroom and 2 14-3 wires going to dryer and hot water tank. which i knew had to be replaced. while doing the repairs on these 2 rooms mind to say a electrician was repairing the wiring. I received a stop work order from the city I live in saying i needed a electrical permit. To bring it up to code. is there any thing in the NEC that can stop this new inspector in town from inforcing nec codes that are being tooken out of text. I'm not made of money and bringing 150 year home with a 50 amp meter. up to nec and building code has been estimated at 15,000 in repairs which has been offered to me at a deffered rate by the city he works for., it sounds crooked. please help if any one can. p.s we have no hot water know or way to dry clothes lights for the bathroom are know ran off extension cord because electrician had to stop. he said the inspector was out of his jurisdiction house was built before 1911.
 
Re: inspections called on home built 1850

In many areas (mine included) the work you are performing would require a permit, this does not mean all wiring would necessarily need to be brought up to date, but the portion/s you are replacing would.

I would research your city's codes and amendments to building codes before conceding.

Another issue to consider is insuring the house, you may eventually be pressured by your insurance company.

You might also think of being able to sleep well with your family in the house with this old wiring.

Roger
 
Re: inspections called on home built 1850

Well your elecrician should know when permits are required,and in your case i think one is needed.
No you do not need to bring the house to code if your living there.You most likely do need a rewire but thats up to you and you can hire any licensed EC
 
Re: inspections called on home built 1850

Thanks for the info.I would sleep better knowing the electric was replaced but on a limited budget I can only afford so much at a time the electric panel is in the room that the floor needed repaired and he wants a permit for the panel and all the wires coming out of that room I talked to the insurance company and they said that it didn't need updating since there was just lights in the bathroom and were glad I was having some repairs done. They did a walk through before I moved in.
 
Re: inspections called on home built 1850

licensed EC I called a company that I knew from work and been there in the yellow pages they have been in business here for as long as I can remember 40+ years and the owner of un mentioned is on board of examiners he can't do the work but the people under him do.
 
Re: inspections called on home built 1850

although the house was built 150 years ago, wiring was probably done as recently as 50 or so years ago. The 150 year portion of your complaint is irrelevant. What is relevant is that you started performing work for which a permit was required. Almost all jurisdictions require permits for electrical work. many jurisdictions charge extra permit fees for work started without a permit, sometimes triple.

15k may be high for a simple electrical remodel, and it may not. I would try to talk to the county or authority that has jurisdiction about limiting the scope of the required permit to only the work started. Any electrical work must be brought up to current code enforced by the jurisdiction.

merely because your house is older than the building codes does not allow you to perform unpermitted work on it.

politeness and an attempt to follow legal and required processes may get you further than being resentfull and playing hurt when you are in the wrong.

paul
 
Re: inspections called on home built 1850

What state are you in as in Indiana only circuits being replaced or any new circuits installed have to be done to the current code. and any work under $500.00 is not subject to a permit. and also in this state a home owner can do work on their own home that their going to live in. But I'm glad to see that you did hire an electrican to do the work. I might be able to look at your state laws to see what's required.
 
Re: inspections called on home built 1850

When remodels are done without permits usually the trash is hidden from street view.Seems odd that an inspector visited your house,unless he seen a pile of trash waving a flag
 
Re: inspections called on home built 1850

Just for the sake of information, in the state of Florida, an average of 10 to 15 electrical contractors a year get their license suspended or revoked for performing work without a permit. About the same number of persons are charged and convicted of perfoming unlicensed work.

In both cases, the fines are severe and sometimes jail time or community service is required. This is just what the state does, the local officials bring charges as well, which means you may not loose your state license, but could losse the right to perform work in that community.
 
Re: inspections called on home built 1850

Thanks for all the info everyone. I live in ohio and I have talked to some other inspectors at work and they agree with all that everyone has said to the extent that I have to comply which I will do but they feel for they know me well and think its unfair. Its just the first time such an instance has happened in this community of 45,000 he is just being stubborn I have submitted the permit and I am at his mercy, he will not take payment for it as he is suppose to do. The old rule here is Don't mess with another man's castle. all of us here have to deal with inspectors at work not at home. wait till he needs work done on his home he will have to call one of my many friends the construction field. also the adopted code hits the whole county. I will sick the county Inspector on him. Favors run deep after 25 years in construction.
 
Re: inspections called on home built 1850

I'm having difficulty understanding the hostility being expressed here. A permit is required to do the work, big deal. Swallow your pride, get the permit, and do the job right so you know it is safe and practical. As a contractor, this should be quite obvious and expected. Being well known has no bearing on the requirement and allows nothing for exception.

If the inspector is requiring more than the local jurisdiction specifies, take appropriate exception but be careful about burning new bridges.

Bob
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top