Homeowners/inspector issue

Here's one to kick around. Whaddaya think? We completed a re-roof last fall. Rather than wait for spring/summer, the H.O.'s, (it's a duplex), requested the work started in Oct., (I think).....The roofing was shortly completed, however snow arrives before we call for the local town to complete it's final inspection....This would typically be of no concern, as the local bldg. dept. most-likely doesn't even get on the roof....However, in this case, one of the HO's has called the bldg. dept. for some reqson or another....To shorten-up the story; The bldg. inspector says he can't inspect the roof due to snow. So, I make an agreement w/inspector to remove snow to allow for inspection. I pay a couple of guys to remove snow & make an appointment w/inspector at jobsite....An hour prior to the apointment, I call the inspector to ask if he can drive himself to the jobsite, rather than me picking him up, as he requested. He tells me he can;'t make it!....Huh?....He say's he'll do the inspection later in the day.

So; I call later to confirm he's going out to make the inspection. I also send my supervisor, (w/ladder), just to make sure no hick-ups....Inspector shows up, (w/o ladder), and tells my super that he can't make the inspection, he doesn't have proper safety gear and that he couldn't make the inspection, "they'd" all be yelling at him.....

Fast-forward 6 mos. (+/-); I'm at the bldg. dept. applying for a permit, so I make another inspection request while I'm there....A few days later, I get an email from the inspector saying he won't do the inspection because an owner has requested to be present....(Huh? again)....Both owners are absentee owners, one lives on the east coast, (I believe), and I don't believe has been out here for the past six months, (I've never met her)....

Any-who....I ask the inspector if he can just make the inspection we paid for with the purchase of the permit....He tells me that the permit is issued to the owners, not the contractor, and that since the owners have requested to be present at the inspection, he will not perform the inspection until all the owners are in agreement/present.

Now, call me stupid and paint me purple, but I always thought the contractor was the responsible permit holder with the issuing municipality....At least, that's the way it's been for us, the past 27+ years....

So now what? We just never get paid, because the owners & municipality keep making up the rules, so-to-speak?

Anyone ever run into such a thing? I wanted to ask the inspector to recite or reference me to such law(s), but didn't want to piss him off any further. We do have to work in the community, and we all know what happens if you piss off the local big bro reps.

Thanks for the comments.... Twill;....Isn't that the truth! Jet;....I know it's total BS....but it's a very small community Robby;....Been there & done ALL of that.....(29 yrs in this biz) Jim;....I'm a bit carefull these days....Once, I had an inspector call the cops on me and file charges; Said I threatened to "kick his arse"....Straight-up lie....I did call him a fricken idiot, as I whipped out the UBC & IRC, along with manuf. specs. to prove him dead-wrong....He made my life hell though...Had to hire an attorney, go to court....The whole friggen ordeal....There's some wicked people out there, and a lot of them work for big bro....

It's maddening to have to accept what these power mongering officials want to dish out but you have to stand up for your rights too.

I've stood toe to toe with some of those boneheads and managed to survive. Yes, they can make your life hard but if you are doing the job properly; what have you got to lose? Sometimes you have to raise holey helll to get something done.

Some of the largest jury awards are the result of government malfeasance. Just do your job, document everything and eventually, if they don't follow the law, file a lawsuit.

For the record, I've never suffered from any revenge factor from inspectors that I've stood up too. I don't think they like me raising hell in city hall about them.

This is total BS.......if YOU pulled the permit then there is absolutely no reason for any "owner" to be present. This so-called inspector is giving you the run around and you need to kick it up a pay grade and go to his supervisor. I never hesitate to "git 'er done" if some pinhead govt. idiot gives me a hard time. Here in FL they're so desperate for building permit fees there is never a hitch. As far as the pay issue goes, if you didn't get paid or file your lien within the prescribed time (90 days here) you're out of luck getting paid unless you file a civil action against the owners. On out-of-state customers who don't plan on being here during the job we insist on full payment in advance or a neighbor holding the final payment check for our crew to bring back once the job is complete.

JET