Permit Process

I’ve had pretty good luck dealing with the SF Building Dept. Over the counter permits aren’t that difficult to obtain and I’ve found the city employees to be helpful and generally congenial.

I assumed the Corte Madera building department, which happens to be directly across the street from our house, to be just as well run and efficient. What’s that saying? Assuming makes and ass out of you and I?

Of course it’s easy to blame Covid (Covid is responsible for anything and everything wrong in my life these days but I have to say the folks behind the counter in Corte Madera deserve blame!). Emails that go unanswered for days, lack of direction or assistance, and rude customer service had me not only losing sleep but also money as our house sits vacant month after month.

Due to a gross miscommunication, we proceeded working while waiting for the permit to be approved. Then one day, as we were about to leave on a 10 day vacation, the red notice appeared on our front door.