This is a great discussion. I have experience buying a house in a country with few to no building codes or inspections. The result was a house with horribly unsafe electrical wiring, plumbing that leaked, drain pipes clogged with concrete, concrete door frames that literally collapsed on us, and I could go on. I also have experience building my own homes in the US and have dealt with power drunk inspectors, overly complex or confusing codes, and poor understanding of green building practices. You have to take responsibility to educate yourself, find resources that will back up your arguments, and be prepared to spend extra time educating and advocating for yourself. Apply for variances, cultivate friendships with inspectors, and always remember that you catch more flies with honey. We also find that if you design and plan carefully you can complete more controversial projects after you have your certificate of occupancy and eyes are off you.
