CBO Portsmouth VA We are trying to stop flippers Denies Permit

[Chris Miller]

Let me first say I own a few houses in the City of Portsmouth I do not plan to own anymore there. It is in fact on my No buy area list. Tenant forgot to cut grass before leaving out of area I get a bill, Tenant car broke down and is in the yard while he works on it I get a bill, you get the point. 

I have a house that I applied for a building permit, after waiting for a couple of weeks I called up the permits department only to find out I was denied and they sent everything back which I included copy of the deed showing I was the owner, Class A license, Scaled Plans. Shocked I ask why I was denied when I showed proof of ownership the clerk says because that is not my primary residence and my return address was Hampton and she made the decision to mail me back my stuff which included plans, proof of ownership, my Class A Contractors license along with other documents  ect. { I never received it she didn't even give me a courtesy call to let me know I was denied}. I mentioned the Virginia Landlord Tenant Act and my right to pull permits on my own property she said she didn't care about that and she {the clerk} made the call because it was not my primary residence.  I ask to speak to the building official. CBO Told me they are trying to STOP FLIPPERS and I needed a contractor license and that they will not issue me a permit. I told her I sent my Contractors license with the application, she asked me to resend everything and that it is a requirement in the City of Portsmouth that It must be your primary residents in order to get a permit or have a valid Contractor license. I said no problem. I included my Class A license along with everything else and sent it back to her again. 

I then, shocked out of my mind get a call back after another week of waiting for them to tell me I am being denied for pulling permits. City Building Official then tells me I need to have a Business License in Portsmouth in order to pull permits. They will not issue me a permit and I need to go to Commissioner of Revenue and pay for my business license. I explained I have never had to do that anywhere else. She said that is policy . She did mentioned she researched me and can see I have not done any work in Portsmouth before but that didn't matter I still had to get a business license in Portsmouth. 

I have not sold a house, do business nor live in Portsmouth, I am now being forced to get a business license in Portsmouth even though I have NO future plans of having anything to do with this city. 

I have a buyer ready for me to finish this house and I cant even sell it to her until I get these permits. I am being forced to get this business license in this city. 

Any one else had to deal with this? No other city in the Hampton roads area and outskirt have made me do this. Any suggestions will be gladly appreciated. 

Thanks