WTF is that it’s an ordinance, even though it doesn’t make sense. Sounds like there were some things you were supposed to do that you didn’t do, and all your outrage isn’t going to make the problem go away. As they say in the old country, “your papers are not in order.”
Well, you should design the thing to be able to withstand a freak storm. I wouldn’t want my “built to code” house or carport to come crashing down because the planners figured we’d “never” get the storm that just happened.
15 pounds – per square foot?
If it’s heavy, wet snow, then that’s about 9 inches. Watch out, that sucker is about to go!
That would seem to be a reasonable load for a carport in this part of the country.
I know it wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do, but fight my ignorance, what exactly would happen if you just said “Fuck yo’ snow load!”, and just finished the car port anyway?
Quite obviously, St. George would then experience a freakish blizzard that piles several feet of snow onto the carport, causing it to collapse and crush him to death, thus earning our esteemed OP a Darwin Award. So really it’s a win-win for him.
I’ll grant you the oddity of the snow load, but what’s your issue with the rest of the requests and requirements?
Environmental reports for a new roof? Have you ever done that?
Either OSB and tar is to code or it isn’t. Why require an environmental report every time someone replaces a roof?
Isn’t a desert by definition an area that receives little to no precipitation?
Hey, Rico, it could be worse! They could be ganging up on you.
Do these reports need to be done by a licensed contractor or like, can you just adhere to their format and write them yourself?
What is your carport made from? Wood joists or steel joists? Most manufacturers of these products have tested them with loading. I assume you will be able to just supply the inspector the report that shows the loading tests done on them. If you are using something like 2x12’s beams the building code itself has spacing requirements for specific loading…
Good luck–I think you just need to find out what he wants and figure out a way to give it to him. I have often found building officials to be hard asses on day one to put the fear of jesus in you–and then back down if you respond.
Rico what ever you do don’t get confrontational with the guy. Tell him you want to follow the rules, but you are having a bit of trouble understanding them. Ask him to help you understand them.
Say things like, you know I understand what things like a snow load calc would be needed for a new structure, but this is a repair to an existing structure. Why isn’t the calc that was done when the structure was permitted when it was built be good enough?
Why do I need an EIR for a repair to my house? Make sure always to refer to the job as a repair. You are repairing an existing roof.
Lather rinse repeat with all of his requirements.
Personally, it sounds to me like he thinks it is new construction, and the requirements for new construction.
Contrapuntal I wouldn’t worry about that, have you ever seen Rico? It would take 50 of them just to hit him. 
What about whether the rules apply to the roof of a structure that’s not a dwelling? Or do they consider even a carport a dwelling?
I have not had that pleasure. Are you saying he’s wily, fast, or little?
They must be done by a licensed contractor.
What tweaks me is if we would have left the old, leaky, floppy, tin roof alone, they wouldn’t have even noticed and done anything. The old roof would have supported maybe 5 lbs of snow, it was so bad. That’s why we decided it needed replacing.
No he’s only about twice as tall as I am. While I am short, I am not that short.
He could change his name to Giant Freaking Mod and it would fit.
I sympathize, Rico, code enforcement can really seem like a racket sometimes, and it’s even more expensive for homeowners when it’s honest. The rules were enacted partly out of consideration for people who buy homes and would like some assurance that they won’t be suddenly buried in the rubble as they sleep, but also at the behest of contractors who may not be able to match the do-it-yourselfer in skill, and lose badly in labor and materials costs, but can still buy the red-tape concession on your block. So first, play the game and call a couple of contractors and ask them to quote you a price for the job. Just for fun, see if the inspector will suggest a name – if he does, you know all you need to know about him, and may be able to negotiate with him directly.
Or find an ally in the local planning department, or whatever you call it out there. See if he can tell you the first step, and what it will cost. Quote him to the guy he told you to call, and rinse and repeat. Talk to everybody before you write checks to anybody. Finally, check your mortgage and tax assessor’s website and find out how home repair/improvement affects your tax bill.
After you’ve done all this, go to K-mart and spend fourteen dollars on a vinyl tarp for your car.
Yep, a neighbor called it in, I’ll bet, likely 'cause you pissed them off, or they are just one of those crazy dudes with too much time.
My SWAG is that 15# is the minimum design standard embraced by the building code which has been enacted by your municipality. If the AHJ or authority having jurisdiction hasn’t taken exception to that line item (which they seldom do, because that opens another can of worms), then the document stands, whether or not it makes sense to you.