Hillsborough cracks down on unpermitted building

TAMPA People all across Hillsborough County have built additions to houses and businesses without obtaining the required permits.

How widespread is the problem?

The Hillsborough County Property Appraisers office, using new imaging software that shows wide-ranging views of property, is finding millions of dollars worth of untaxed construction, from enclosed carports to an entire house appraisers didnt know about.

Were going to do it for all 500,000 parcels in the county, said Bill Ward, a spokesman for the property appraisers office. Were doing commercial too, and were finding a lot of stuff.

The scofflaws are saving themselves the money theyd spend on permits and perhaps on the costs of better construction materials and methods. But theyre also risking the safety of their families, friends or customers, county officials say. Pulling a building permit triggers inspections and reviews that ensure compliance with building codes.

In other words, permits prevent shoddy construction.

Unpermitted construction also doesnt show up on the tax rolls, depriving local governments of dollars needed for police and fire protection, schools, parks and libraries.

A hotbed of this unlicensed activity appears to be the working class community of Palm River, southeast of Tampa. David Moore, an activist there, documented five houses within one or two blocks of his home that were built without proper permits.

Its very evident when somebodys building, sawing, Moore said, explaining how he found out about the work. I checked on these properties. Its amazing what I found.

The countys building code compliance section confirmed that building permits were never issued for additions and out-buildings at three of the homes Moore brought to the Tribunes attention. Owners of the other two houses obtained permits after the construction was started because someone had complained to code enforcement.

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Hillsborough cracks down on unpermitted building