The inspector measured the unfinished deck twice, then compared his numbers with the survey markers. Whitney’s contractor had designed the new structure using the old fence line as the property boundary. Because my fence had actually stood six inches inside my yard, part of the expanded deck framing crossed the required setback and several new footings had been installed where the approved permit did not allow them. The city issued a stop-work order until corrected plans were submitted. Suddenly, Whitney’s “just a fence” had become a renovation delay involving her contractor, surveyor, permit office, and thousands of dollars in work that might need to be removed and rebuilt.
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