Honestly, if they can’t answer basic questions, makes me wonder if they even get it themselves...
You nailed it with that one. I’ve been in the trenches with city inspectors and lawyers more times than I care to count, and it’s wild how often the “experts” get tangled up in their own jargon. Had a client last year who wanted to build a detached workshop. We kept getting hung up on what the city planner called a “nonconforming use.” I asked three times, “Does this mean we can’t build, or does it just need special paperwork?” The guy kept quoting municipal code at me like I was prepping for the bar exam. In the end, it turned out we just needed a neighbor’s signature and an extra form.
I get that the rules can be complicated, but you’d think if this is their day job, they’d have a way to translate it for the rest of us. I’ve started bringing a notebook to every meeting and writing down what I *think* they mean, then reading it back to them. Sometimes you see the lightbulb go off and they realize they’re making it harder than it needs to be.
Not sure if it’s always that they don’t know, though. Sometimes I wonder if they just forget what it’s like not to speak “lawyer.” Or maybe they’re trying to sound more official than they need to. Either way, you’re right—if they can’t break it down to the basics, you’re left wondering if you’re missing something important.
At the end of the day, you’re the one who has to live with whatever gets built (or doesn’t). Nothing wrong with pressing for clear answers. If that means asking them to explain it like you’re five, so be it. Better a few awkward moments now than a big headache down the road.
I’ve started bringing a notebook to every meeting and writing down what I *think* they mean, then reading it back to them.
That’s actually a smart move. I had a similar run-in when I was trying to add a mudroom. The inspector kept referencing “egress requirements” but wouldn’t just say if my window was big enough or not. After three site visits and a lot of back-and-forth, it turned out my original plan was fine. Sometimes I think they just get stuck in their own language and forget we’re not all code experts. It’s frustrating, but double-checking everything has saved me more than once.
