Couldn't wait any longer. I finally did it. Installed and burning!!

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OrpingtonManor

OrpingtonManor

Member
Jan 7, 2010
78
Bay Area, CA
Backstory: Paid $141 for my woodstove permit. Building inspectors are mostly laid off. City sent a letter saying they would prefer to avoid an on-site inspection, so would I submit documents and pics, not to building inspection dept, but to tax assessor's office. Okay. I waited to hear back. (This is continued from the Permits and Insurance thread. I didn't want to hijack anymore.)

So,
This weekend, I sat here in my 50 degree sunporch. I thought very hard about whether I would want to be this cold while I waited for the city to assess how much additional tax I should pay for the installation of my little Squirrel. I realized that they are not thinking of the human element here. They don't care that I am cold. It's just a business transaction for them.

Although you all are entirely correct about wanting that sign-off in case anything bad should happen, my body was aching from the cold. I came to the conclusion that I would rather be happy than do it by the legal letter. So, I started my break-in fires on Friday night, and then again on Saturday. Other than one anxious moment during the third fire when the stove paint got smoky and smelly, all went very well. A lovely fire (cool secondary burn!) is going, and the room is nice and toasty.

I know I wouldn't be as happy if something had happened. But, I knew I had taken the time to install it correctly. I'll try to feel a bit guilty.
 
Don't feel too guilty...it's cold here in California this morning with the rain and all. I haven't been more than 15' from my stove in the last 24 hours. Stay warm!
 
OrpingtonManor said:
Backstory: Paid $141 for my woodstove permit. Building inspectors are mostly laid off. City sent a letter saying they would prefer to avoid an on-site inspection, so would I submit documents and pics, not to building inspection dept, but to tax assessor's office. Okay. I waited to hear back. (This is continued from the Permits and Insurance thread. I didn't want to hijack anymore.)

So,
This weekend, I sat here in my 50 degree sunporch. I thought very hard about whether I would want to be this cold while I waited for the city to assess how much additional tax I should pay for the installation of my little Squirrel. I realized that they are not thinking of the human element here. They don't care that I am cold. It's just a business transaction for them.

Although you all are entirely correct about wanting that sign-off in case anything bad should happen, my body was aching from the cold. I came to the conclusion that I would rather be happy than do it by the legal letter. So, I started my break-in fires on Friday night, and then again on Saturday. Other than one anxious moment during the third fire when the stove paint got smoky and smelly, all went very well. A lovely fire (cool secondary burn!) is going, and the room is nice and toasty.

I know I wouldn't be as happy if something had happened. But, I knew I had taken the time to install it correctly. I'll try to feel a bit guilty.
Click to expand...
you hit the nail on the head about inspections.....we aren't gonna go there!.....glad you got it installed, stay warm!
 
Sounds to me as though you filed the application, therefore you've done your part. If they come back and disapprove it, that's another matter. Seems to me that no response from them is an implied okay.
 
I also wanted to add, when I contacted my insurance company, they also did not think they needed to do an on-site inspection. They are checking on it, though.

I agree about having done my part.

Many thanks to all of the people here on hearth.com. You all are so generous with your advice. It made it much easier to navigate the installation, and feel confident in the final product because of you.
 
My guess is that all will be well as you've paid the fee. However, be sure to watch how much you are assessed and if it seems high (most are), then go to the board of review and take documentation and pictures. Show them what it actually cost you. I did this with a new barn and got the assessment cut almost in half. Simple: I had documentation and pictures and stated my case (not nasty but level headed). It actually proved to be a very short meeting but it will save many dollars over the years.

As for the insurance, they too very well may be happy with pictures. Our insurance man thought they might need pictures and I did not wait. I sent pictures of our remodel, before and after and the agent was really pleased that I did so. He called about a week later to say he did not have to do an on-site inspection. All is well.

As for the codes and inspectors and such, I am very happy to live in a rural community. I was not required to get a permit or an inspection. I simply put the stove in the same as we have done with other stoves over the years. We are not taxed on the stove or chimney.
 
In 1985 when I installed the insert and the stove in the basement I called everybody and his uncle about permits and inspections. Community development (the building permit guys), the fire chief and the insurance company. Nobody wanted anything to do with it. In 2006 when I lined the chimneys and replaced both stoves I checked and a permit is required now. Young fellow came out and all that happened is that I had to give him a class on NFPA 211 and chimney liners. He had never heard of liners. I never got the bill or a permit.

One stove is inside an all masonry fireplace and the other one is on a concrete floor with a concrete block wall behind it venting into the second flue in the same pile of bricks.
 
BrotherBart said:
In 2006 when I lined the chimneys and replaced both stoves I checked and a permit is required now.
Click to expand...
You must be a model citizen indeed. I would never have even thought to check. But we live in a no zone area too so one gets used not having to do those things and forgets most people do.
 
Backwoods Savage said:
My guess is that all will be well as you've paid the fee. However, be sure to watch how much you are assessed and if it seems high (most are), then go to the board of review and take documentation and pictures. Show them what it actually cost you. I did this with a new barn and got the assessment cut almost in half. Simple: I had documentation and pictures and stated my case (not nasty but level headed). It actually proved to be a very short meeting but it will save many dollars over the years.

As for the insurance, they too very well may be happy with pictures. Our insurance man thought they might need pictures and I did not wait. I sent pictures of our remodel, before and after and the agent was really pleased that I did so. He called about a week later to say he did not have to do an on-site inspection. All is well.

As for the codes and inspectors and such, I am very happy to live in a rural community. I was not required to get a permit or an inspection. I simply put the stove in the same as we have done with other stoves over the years. We are not taxed on the stove or chimney.
Click to expand...
I will keep an eye on the new assessment. I gave them the dollar amount of my stove and chimney on both the application and the final statement. If they assess me high, I know the assessor personally. He lives on my street, and already has helped me with another matter. He is listed in the phone book, and says to call him anytime. I hope he means that.

The insurance company seemed surprised that I was calling them. They didn't want pics. They weren't planning to increase my premium. They made a note in my file that I'd called them.
 
wkpoor said:
BrotherBart said:
In 2006 when I lined the chimneys and replaced both stoves I checked and a permit is required now.
Click to expand...
You must be a model citizen indeed. I would never have even thought to check. But we live in a no zone area too so one gets used not having to do those things and forgets most people do.
Click to expand...

At the end of the "career" I worked as a department head for a county government for three years. I knew better than to give a local government a shot at me. Sat in too many meetings where they referred to citizens as Bevis and/or Butthead. Go at them head on before they have time to make a case. :)
 
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