Last year after getting my permits pulled I went through something similar. The trick used to be to show up Tues-Thurs; not near a long weekend, at about 10:30. Not anymore. Last time I went on a Wednesday at 10:30, was done at 1:45. Had it not been for the garage (which is fairly obvious that it was built-unlike a basement) I might have re-considered getting the permits.
I understand that they are short staffed, but really what they are doing is making it so that people might not want get a permit. The kicker is, sitting there waiting and reading all their pamphlets, you see that if you are a contractor you can submit your plans via email and come pick up your permit a few days later. Why can't the homeowner do that? Or allow for appointments? Sure, might be a few week wait to see somebody, but most of my projects I knew about ahead of time.
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