Don't bother fixing that old window screen law in my town cost me $120

I live in a small town outside of Austin where there's a weird local ordinance that says you can't replace window screens yourself, you have to hire a licensed contractor. Last month my back porch screen ripped, so I grabbed a $12 patch kit from the hardware store and fixed it in 10 minutes. Next thing I know, a code enforcement officer shows up at my door because a neighbor called it in. The city fined me $120 for doing the work without a permit, and now I have to pay a contractor $200 to basically do the same thing I already did. Has anyone else run into a dumb local law that cost them real money for no good reason?

3 comments

3 Comments

nguyen.blake21d ago

Did you try showing them the fixed screen looked similar to the original work?

moore.beth21d ago

Hang on, did you actually show them the screen in person or just send a photo? Because photos can be tricky with lighting and angles and all that. Showing it right in front of them is usually the only way to get them to see it's basically the same, just cleaner. Otherwise they'll nitpick every little shadow and glare. I've learned that the hard way a few times.

phoenix_bailey21d ago

Right, because clients love a good shadow debate.