It’s like playing code roulette.
That’s the perfect way to put it. I once had an inspector get hung up on the type of screws I used for a ledger board—literally measured the thread pitch. Next week, another guy just peeked at my joist hangers and said, “Good enough.” Makes you wonder if consistency is even in their vocabulary. I get that codes matter, but sometimes it feels like they’re just flexing their own personal preferences.
Makes you wonder if consistency is even in their vocabulary.
Yeah, I’ve had that same “code roulette” feeling. One inspector checked my deck post anchors with a level, then the next guy just eyeballed them and shrugged. My trick is to over-document everything—photos, receipts, you name it. It’s not foolproof, but it helps when they start nitpicking. Sometimes I think they just like to keep us guessing...
Sometimes I think they just like to keep us guessing...
Man, that’s the truth. Had a duplex reno last year—one inspector flagged my window egress as “borderline,” then his colleague signed off without even measuring. I started keeping a binder with every permit, sketch, and even text messages from contractors. It’s a hassle, but it’s saved me more than once when someone tried to backtrack. Still, I try to remind myself most of them are just doing their job... even if the rules seem to change by the day.
You nailed it with the binder idea. I’ve had city folks contradict each other on the same day—one says my 1920s porch railing is “historic,” next guy tells me to rip it out for code. It’s exhausting, but having every scrap of paper handy has saved my skin more than once. Honestly, sometimes I think they don’t even know what the rules are for older homes. You’re right though, most aren’t out to get us... just caught in their own maze of rules.
Had the exact same thing happen with a 1915 duplex—one inspector flagged my original windows as “unsafe,” next one called them “character-defining.” Like you said,
Keeping every permit, photo, and email in a folder (physical and digital) has bailed me out more than once. I’ve found it helps to ask for stuff in writing, too. Not foolproof, but at least you’ve got a paper trail when the stories change.“sometimes I think they don’t even know what the rules are for older homes.”
