Had something similar happen when we built our deck. Checked online, everything seemed fine...but apparently there's a setback rule from the property line we didn't even know about. Had to redo the plans and lost weeks waiting for approval. Honestly, why aren't these city rules clearer online? Or at least easier to find? Would've saved us a lot of headaches.
"Honestly, why aren't these city rules clearer online? Or at least easier to find?"
Totally get your frustration here. I've worked on plenty of projects where the city's website was either outdated or just plain confusing. Seems like half the time, important setback or zoning details are buried in PDFs from like 2005...and good luck finding the right department to clarify things. Glad you eventually got it sorted, though—these setbacks can be tricky, but your deck will be worth it in the end.
"Seems like half the time, important setback or zoning details are buried in PDFs from like 2005..."
Ha, exactly this. Reminds me of a kitchen remodel I did last year—city inspector showed up quoting some obscure code I'd never even heard of. Turns out it was buried in a footnote of a PDF labeled "miscellaneous"... classic.
Haha, no joke—when we were building our place, I swear half my evenings were spent squinting at blurry PDFs from the early 2000s. It's like a treasure hunt nobody signed up for... Hang in there, it does get easier eventually.
Totally feel your pain on those blurry PDFs—been there myself. Honestly, navigating city codes can be maddening, but it's also a chance to rethink how we build. When we remodeled, hitting those roadblocks actually pushed us toward greener solutions we hadn't considered before. It might seem frustrating now, but sometimes these hurdles lead to smarter, more sustainable choices down the line. Hang tight, you're definitely not alone in this maze...
