The purpose of building permits and inspections has never been about bureaucracy or red tape. It’s about life safety, property protection, and accountability. Every section of the building code exists because somewhere, at some point, something went terribly wrong. Yet despite this, there are still property owners and contractors who question the need for oversight.
History proves that when work goes unchecked, corners get cut and when corners get cut, people can die. Building codes represent the minimum standard, not the gold standard, and permits paired with inspections are the only way to ensure those minimums are met. The goal of this article is to highlight how real-world tragedies, legal battles, and systemic failures prove the need for rigorous code enforcement and public awareness.
When Oversight Fails: A Brief History of Tragedy
Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse (Kansas City, 1981)
114 people were killed when two suspended walkways collapsed due to a design change that was never properly reviewed or inspected.
Lesson: Field modifications without oversight can lead to catastrophic structural failures.
Surfside Condo Collapse (Florida, 2021)
98 people died when the Champlain Towers South collapsed. Deferred maintenance, known structural issues, and a lack of rigorous oversight were key contributors.
Lesson: Long-term safety depends on more than just initial construction. It requires persistent enforcement and accountability.
Berkeley Balcony Collapse (California, 2015)
Six people died due to a balcony failure caused by water intrusion and dry rot. The contractor reportedly used cheaper materials and cut corners on waterproofing.
Lesson: Code details matter, especially when hidden from view.
Ronan Point (UK, 1968)
This partial high-rise collapse due to a gas explosion and weak connections led to major building reforms in Britain.
Lesson: The way a building is assembled and how it’s inspected matters, especially under force.
Unpermitted Conversions and Fatal Fires (USA-wide)
Illegal garage apartments and makeshift units often lead to preventable fatalities due to lack of egress, smoke detection, or fire separation.
Lesson: Skipping the permit process often means skipping life safety requirements.
Litigation Trends: When Cutting Corners Ends in Court
Construction defect litigation has exploded in recent decades, often tracing back to a common thread: lack of oversight. Whether the work was unpermitted, poorly inspected, or performed by someone cutting corners, the legal aftermath is rarely cheap or quiet.
Residential construction defect claims cost builders and insurers over $5 billion annually in the United States. In states like Florida, Texas, and California, the number of lawsuits tied to unpermitted work and code violations continues to climb. In Florida, nearly 30 percent of property insurance claims in some years involved homes with undisclosed or unpermitted work that didn’t meet code. Water intrusion and structural deficiencies are the two most common root causes in defect claims, and both are directly tied to code compliance and inspection.
High-profile examples:
Millennium Tower (San Francisco)
A luxury high-rise began sinking and tilting. Permits were issued, but scrutiny during inspection was lacking. Settlements exceeded $100 million.
The Fontainebleau Las Vegas
A $3 billion project failed amid claims of substandard materials and plan deviations, leading to liens and lawsuits from dozens of subcontractors.
KB Home Settlements
One of the country’s largest builders settled multiple lawsuits related to framing, waterproofing, and installation defects. Many homes had passed inspections, but manufacturer instructions were ignored and timelines rushed.
Why Minimum Standards Matter
There’s a dangerous misconception that meeting minimum code is good enough to ensure a well-built structure. The truth is minimum standards are exactly that—minimums. They are the floor, not the ceiling. And without someone verifying that work meets that floor, there’s no protection at all.
Building codes don’t guarantee luxury, comfort, or longevity. They exist to prevent failure, injury, and death. And while many contractors operate with integrity, the industry also includes developers and builders motivated by speed and savings.
That’s not an attack. That’s a reality. The inspection process exists to ensure that code compliance is maintained even under pressure, not as a barrier to progress, but as a safeguard for the public.
Permits and Inspections: The Last Line of Defense
Most property owners assume that if they hire a licensed contractor, everything will be done right. But licensure alone doesn't guarantee quality. It doesn't guarantee code compliance. And it definitely doesn’t guarantee that corners won’t be cut. That’s where permits and inspections come in.
Permits create a public record of what's being built, when, and by whom. They allow for independent verification by professionals trained to enforce minimum safety standards. And inspections aren’t about catching people doing something wrong. They’re about confirming that things are being done right.
When work is done without permits, it often goes unseen until it fails. And when it fails, it’s not just about repairs. It often leads to litigation, insurance disputes, or even worse, loss of life.
This Isn’t Just My Job. It’s My Responsibility.
I’ve served as a Building Official, Inspector, and Plans Examiner in two different states, with over 40 years of experience in the construction industry. I’ve worked alongside contractors, engineers, architects, and tradespeople. I’ve seen the best of what the industry can produce, and I’ve seen the damage that can be done when corners are cut, permits are skipped, or inspections are treated like an inconvenience.
The work we do in this profession is about more than just code books and plan sets. It's about protecting people—residents, business owners, tenants, and visitors alike. When I'm reviewing a set of plans or walking a jobsite, I’m not just thinking about local ordinances. I’m thinking about the family that’s going to live in that house. The elderly person in that condo. The child swimming in that hotel pool.
Because this isn’t just about the towns we live in. It’s about the places we go. When you stay in a hotel while on vacation, you’re trusting that the roof won’t collapse. When you sit in a restaurant, you assume the mezzanine above you won’t fail. When your kids jump into a resort pool, you count on the system being properly grounded and safely constructed.
That trust exists because of the work we do. And if we don’t take it seriously, no one will.
History proves that when work goes unchecked, corners get cut and when corners get cut, people can die. Building codes represent the minimum standard, not the gold standard, and permits paired with inspections are the only way to ensure those minimums are met. The goal of this article is to highlight how real-world tragedies, legal battles, and systemic failures prove the need for rigorous code enforcement and public awareness.
When Oversight Fails: A Brief History of Tragedy
Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse (Kansas City, 1981)
114 people were killed when two suspended walkways collapsed due to a design change that was never properly reviewed or inspected.
Lesson: Field modifications without oversight can lead to catastrophic structural failures.
Surfside Condo Collapse (Florida, 2021)
98 people died when the Champlain Towers South collapsed. Deferred maintenance, known structural issues, and a lack of rigorous oversight were key contributors.
Lesson: Long-term safety depends on more than just initial construction. It requires persistent enforcement and accountability.
Berkeley Balcony Collapse (California, 2015)
Six people died due to a balcony failure caused by water intrusion and dry rot. The contractor reportedly used cheaper materials and cut corners on waterproofing.
Lesson: Code details matter, especially when hidden from view.
Ronan Point (UK, 1968)
This partial high-rise collapse due to a gas explosion and weak connections led to major building reforms in Britain.
Lesson: The way a building is assembled and how it’s inspected matters, especially under force.
Unpermitted Conversions and Fatal Fires (USA-wide)
Illegal garage apartments and makeshift units often lead to preventable fatalities due to lack of egress, smoke detection, or fire separation.
Lesson: Skipping the permit process often means skipping life safety requirements.
Litigation Trends: When Cutting Corners Ends in Court
Construction defect litigation has exploded in recent decades, often tracing back to a common thread: lack of oversight. Whether the work was unpermitted, poorly inspected, or performed by someone cutting corners, the legal aftermath is rarely cheap or quiet.
Residential construction defect claims cost builders and insurers over $5 billion annually in the United States. In states like Florida, Texas, and California, the number of lawsuits tied to unpermitted work and code violations continues to climb. In Florida, nearly 30 percent of property insurance claims in some years involved homes with undisclosed or unpermitted work that didn’t meet code. Water intrusion and structural deficiencies are the two most common root causes in defect claims, and both are directly tied to code compliance and inspection.
High-profile examples:
Millennium Tower (San Francisco)
A luxury high-rise began sinking and tilting. Permits were issued, but scrutiny during inspection was lacking. Settlements exceeded $100 million.
The Fontainebleau Las Vegas
A $3 billion project failed amid claims of substandard materials and plan deviations, leading to liens and lawsuits from dozens of subcontractors.
KB Home Settlements
One of the country’s largest builders settled multiple lawsuits related to framing, waterproofing, and installation defects. Many homes had passed inspections, but manufacturer instructions were ignored and timelines rushed.
Why Minimum Standards Matter
There’s a dangerous misconception that meeting minimum code is good enough to ensure a well-built structure. The truth is minimum standards are exactly that—minimums. They are the floor, not the ceiling. And without someone verifying that work meets that floor, there’s no protection at all.
Building codes don’t guarantee luxury, comfort, or longevity. They exist to prevent failure, injury, and death. And while many contractors operate with integrity, the industry also includes developers and builders motivated by speed and savings.
That’s not an attack. That’s a reality. The inspection process exists to ensure that code compliance is maintained even under pressure, not as a barrier to progress, but as a safeguard for the public.
Permits and Inspections: The Last Line of Defense
Most property owners assume that if they hire a licensed contractor, everything will be done right. But licensure alone doesn't guarantee quality. It doesn't guarantee code compliance. And it definitely doesn’t guarantee that corners won’t be cut. That’s where permits and inspections come in.
Permits create a public record of what's being built, when, and by whom. They allow for independent verification by professionals trained to enforce minimum safety standards. And inspections aren’t about catching people doing something wrong. They’re about confirming that things are being done right.
When work is done without permits, it often goes unseen until it fails. And when it fails, it’s not just about repairs. It often leads to litigation, insurance disputes, or even worse, loss of life.
This Isn’t Just My Job. It’s My Responsibility.
I’ve served as a Building Official, Inspector, and Plans Examiner in two different states, with over 40 years of experience in the construction industry. I’ve worked alongside contractors, engineers, architects, and tradespeople. I’ve seen the best of what the industry can produce, and I’ve seen the damage that can be done when corners are cut, permits are skipped, or inspections are treated like an inconvenience.
The work we do in this profession is about more than just code books and plan sets. It's about protecting people—residents, business owners, tenants, and visitors alike. When I'm reviewing a set of plans or walking a jobsite, I’m not just thinking about local ordinances. I’m thinking about the family that’s going to live in that house. The elderly person in that condo. The child swimming in that hotel pool.
Because this isn’t just about the towns we live in. It’s about the places we go. When you stay in a hotel while on vacation, you’re trusting that the roof won’t collapse. When you sit in a restaurant, you assume the mezzanine above you won’t fail. When your kids jump into a resort pool, you count on the system being properly grounded and safely constructed.
That trust exists because of the work we do. And if we don’t take it seriously, no one will.
