Not defending the guy, just clarifying based on some info from the article and my experience living in VT. Many (maybe most?) areas of the state don’t even require building to code. I agree with you that it’s not hard. It’s literally the least you can do without it being illegal in many areas of the country, so I’m always surprised when people state it as a brag almost, “built to code!!”
But I was looking at it from another side, too. Just this summer I wanted to get a roof built over an outside porch and some other work done (in Maine now). I’m a builder, and usually DIY, but I was really busy with my full-time job and other things and just wanted to pay someone to take care of it so I didn’t need to shovel snow off the porch again all winter. I hired the highest bidder, who then told me (after getting a hefty deposit) that it would be my job to get the permits, and then had a run around with him and the permit guy for a few months and finally just got my deposit back. I definitely could’ve been more diligent, but also sometimes you think you’re paying for a service that doesn’t deliver. Sometimes you think you’re getting someone competent and it doesn’t pan out.
Not saying I ever considered putting up a huge f-you sculpture, just that I can empathize with the sentiment to a degree. But I’m glad I’m not this guy’s neighbor.
