Recently, Denham Spring’s city planning and development department released a public notice for the 2016 Flood Event Permit Close-Out Initiative, sparking many questions about building permits and inspections.
The initiative comes as an attempt to combat the multiple “open” building permits that still exist in connection with blighted properties and damages done by the August 2016 flood event. Several permits remain open simply because a final building inspection was never completed, leaving a majority of the successfully repaired properties to be considered incomplete.
“We really need to get these things closed out,” Rick Foster, building official for the planning and development department, noted. “We have gone out and sent letters out two other times since the flood, reminding people to call for a final expectation. This time is more intentional.”
When inspections for structural, electrical, and mechanical repairs are not carried out or don’t meet current safety standards, then complications arise for not only the current property owners but future owners as well. Having these final inspections are key to officially closing any permits for the building so that electrical utility services can be transferred back to the present or future property owners.
Additionally, inspections are carried out with the simple intention of making sure buildings have reinstalled critical safety items such as smoke alarms and Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) in kitchens and bathrooms.
In the past, a house fire occurred in the Denham Springs area that led to fatalities. According to Foster, the owners had never scheduled a final inspection of the house or its safety repairs. It’s instances such as this that display the importance of ensuring final inspections and safety measures have been taken care of properly. Thankfully, Denham Springs does have a program where individuals can call the fire department and receive smoke alarm installation services for free in their homes and businesses.
With the notice for the 2016 Flood Event Permit Close-Out Initiative, there has been a definite increase in schedules for final inspections for these renovated or refurbished properties. Foster noted that his department has had about “20-25 [inspections] a day” over the past two weeks, with several more penciled in for this coming week. Several of these inspections can take only around 10 minutes before the open permit is finally closed out.
“We try our best not to burden them,” Foster added. “We don’t want people to be scared to call in. We are here as a resource.”
Since the 2016 flood, many homes have been damaged, demolished, repaired, or condemned – with some having even experienced all of the above – and several individuals still suffer from post-traumatic stress and financial concerns from the event. It’s understandable, then, that dealing with the fall out of the flood can be a painful and oftentimes harrowing process.
Foster, whose department has been dealing with the effects of the flood for several years now, noted his understanding. “We know that people’s lives were…turned upside down. We hate that [final inspections] bring these thoughts and feelings [about the flood] back.”
“We just have to wrap up these permits and be done,” Foster stated. “We don’t want anybody to spend any more money, we’re just trying to make sure everyone’s safe.”
Individuals who receive letters regarding an open permit have a 14 day window to schedule inspections or request extensions for repairs and can contact the permit department at 225-667-8326 or City Hall, 116 N. Range Ave.
