RW> While on the heels of Geoff Duke, Tim Hutzler said:
RW> H Tim,
 
Hi;
RW> I know it sounds a bit odd, but yes; a plumber (tradesman) has to
  > be a certified plumber here in Sac County. A contractor or
  > owner-builder on the other hand, does not.
 
Okay, I can live with that.
TH> Have you remodeled any *mines*? 
RW> Nope, but I've been in a bunch of 'em in the Sierras. I thought I
  > saw a piece on TV where a guy is remodeling old nuclear missile
  > silos into "houses". It may have been in one of those up your
  > way....?
 
I heard about that show. And, yes there are three abandoned silos
north of Chico.
TH> Up here in Butte I designed/engineered/built my house. They only
  > required calcs from an engineer to proove that my design was
  > sound. I
RW> Anyone can design a house as long as they can draw a decent plan
  > and the design conforms to the conventional construction
  > provisions of the UBC.
Not anyone wants to calculate roof load, though the formulas are
available.
RW> When it varies from these, an engineer's stamp is required.
 
The attitude here is that the county wants someone to sue, if their
inspectors get sued for a roof failure.
TH> did *all* the work, they required no certification. I would not
  > live,
RW> That's the one good thing left is that you can still go buy a
  > piece of land and build on it yourself, well after 7 or 8
  > agencies have ok'd your design and you've paid beaucoup bucks in
  > fees! :-(
 
How true. 
RW> The inspectors are only enforcing compliance with the building
  > code...
Which is not positive law, BTW.
 
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