mechanical permit and building safety inspection

[Abe Mazliach]

I own a house that I rent out to a couple. A City Code Compliance Specialist came to my rental unit and told me the direct–vent wall-heater was installed without a plumbing gas permit. He told me to obtain a mechanical permit and building safety inspection for the heater and have a licensed contractor conduct the work per California state law. He said this is to ensure the heater and gas line are installed per code and are safe to operate.

I have owned this house almost 4 years but the wall-heater was there before I purchased the house. It looks like it's been there for a long time. I feel like the City inspector is being unfair to me as I didn't install the wall-heater. Why wasn't the previous owner or the owner who installed the wall-heater asked to obtain a permit?

Do I have any grounds to complain to the City Planning Department to being told to get a permit, have a licensed contractor test it and have it inspected?

I would appreciate any advice on this matter. Thank you, Abe

[Scott Choppin]

@Abe Mazliach While this seems like something to possibly try to get out of, I look at it this way, they may be saving you a lot of pain and money down the road. What you don't want, is a heater that leaks carbon monoxide into the unit and hurts somebody or worse. It will be worth the cost of getting the permit, having it inspected/repaired by licensed folks, then you can at least say you did all that you could in the event something goes wrong. Obviously the heater worked fine before, and many times cities are doing this to produce new fee revenue, but I say do the work, in the long run it will be safer.