How do you BRRR people deal with permits and inspections?

[Michael Roetzel]

I'm doing a rehab on a small house... I've done a lot of basic repairs myself, hired contractors for some of the bigger stuff. One of those items (gas lines) needed permitted and inspected. All fine, but now the inspector is asking me lots of questions about all the other work and saying it had to be done by a licensed pro, permitted, and inspected! He's giving me heartburn.

Now, my state law (Arkansas) says a rental is the same as a primary residence, so I can do anything I want. But municipal law can be different.

How do y'all handle this?