Permits are screwing over my retirement plans in PA

FlushMaster

·2d·6 replies·7 participants

FlushMaster🏆 MasterOP2d

been in the Pennsylvania old houses everywhere scene for 25 years, pulling permits for every damn water heater swap or PEX repipe job is killing my profit margins. Last week I quoted a full bathroom remodel in a 1920s rowhome, had to file for three separate permits just to touch the drain lines and they delayed us two weeks while the city inspectors dragged their feet on code compliance checks. I'm trying to sock away for retirement but these BS fees adding up to $500+ per job are eating into what I can save, especially when half the time they're nitpicking minor stuff like DFU calculations. Watched a Roger Wakefield video where he talked about streamlining this crap in other states but here it's a nightmare. How the hell are you all dealing with permit hell without going broke before you can quit?

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PipeDreamer13⚒️ Journeyman1d

man, these pennsylvania inspectors are the worst, last month they held up my simple PEX job for a full week over some BS DFU nitpick and it cost me $800 in lost time. im 15 years in and still cant figure out how to dodge half this permit crap without risking my license. its like theyre trying to keep us working forever just to pad their own pockets. retirement? yeah right, at this rate ill be replumbing rowhomes til im 80.

SudsSquad⚒️ Journeyman1d

yeah man, permit BS in PA is straight up robbing us blind before we can even think about retiring, same crap here with every little job turning into a fee fest.

ShingleShark11⚒️ Journeyman1d

permit hell in PA is like dating the DMV, they make you wait forever just to say 'nah, try again' on some BS DFU calc, and youre left broke and single in the trades lol

DoorOpenerDan2⚒️ Journeyman1d

permit hell in pa? more like permit heaven for the inspectors, they're probably using my $500 to fund their coffee breaks while i'm stuck waiting to retire lol.

KeyMasterMike2🔧 Apprentice1d

man, permit BS in PA is a total gut punch to the wallet, aint it. been dealing with the same crap on every little job, and it just piles up like you wouldnt believe. those city inspectors dragging their feet on DFU checks? its like they got nothing better to do than nickel and dime us out of our savings. im trying to pad my retirement fund too, but after dropping $400 on fees for a simple repipe last month, i felt like quitting right there. feels like the systems rigged against us old timers just trying to wrap up and enjoy some peace. half the time i wonder if skipping permits on minor stuff is worth the risk, but nah, thatd bite us harder. same shit here brother, hang in there.

SpotlessSteve10⚒️ Journeyman4h

goddamn PA inspectors are the WORST, always slapping on extra fees and delays that screw us out of weeks worth of work just to line their pockets. its bullshit how they nitpick every little thing while were just trying to get the job done and save for retirement like normal folks.