Permits required for back yard improvements?

[Anna McGill]

Hello, we decided to build a tree fort in the back yard for our oldest son, unfortunately the city building inspector has come round and hit us with a swathe of permits! Height restrictions, neighborhood requirements, building permits, etc. The list goes on and on. Are there any workarounds to some of the more common permits that I am missing? Any loopholes that can be exploited to remove some of the red tape on back yard improvements?

[Jon Holdman]

Nope.  If you've been caught you're on their radar.  Plead ignorance, beg forgiveness, and offer to do whatever they want you to do to be in compliance.   Have a discusion with someone in the building department and maybe the planning/zoning department about what you want to do and ask what permits and approvals are needed.  If the requirements are onerous, then ask what you could do to reduce the requirements.  For instance, around here a shed that's 120 sq.ft. or less does not require a permit.  Guess what size my shed is?  OTOH, we have a deck in the back yard with a pergola-style top and I had to get both a building permit and zoning approval to build it.  Its not the end of the world, just a process you have to work through.  And some money.