California Data Sources

[Tim The Enchanter]

You cannot count on Realist to have the right zoning, and especially not to tell you what it means.
I am forever checking legal non conforming for lot size smaller than zoning requires.
Some areas have block after block like that.
So wtf did they change zoning on these old places?
You can't fix stupid is why, I guess.

 

[ZZGAMAZZ]

I'm curious:

--Did the investigators presume that "legal, non-conforming" was the only alternative to "legal, conforming," or conduct due diligence to determine the retrospective developmental standards that were in effect on the date of construction?

--Did they interview the jurisdictional authority to determine how non-conforming aspects of the real property are defined, i.e., aspects of the property that fail to conform to current developmental standards might-not be defined as "non-conforming," as oxymoronic as that might seem.

As others have implied, your failure to have noticed the discrepancy is inexcusable, and egregious if it reflects your routine scope of work absent EA's--which might not be considered as acceptable because of the steep downhill trajectory of the slope. If so, the nit-picking might reflect the tip of the nit, with the report that was brought to your attention purposely selected in the hope that you will more fully realize that compliance to the rules of the jurisdictional authority are absolute, with the caveat that they differ from entity to entity, and with the exception that one can never be certain of the implications of an apparent discrepancy without conducting the appropriate measure of due diligence. (Makes for an honorable profession for those with gumption.)