FairHavenRes, could you please post the link where residents can search building permits? This would be a very helpful resource. Thanking you in advance.

I believe you may have to create a login first. Go to cityofnewhaven.com and click on "Online Services." Under Interactive Services, the first link takes you to the building permits site. You can create a login, sign in and then click on "Look-up Permits," where you can search by permit number or by address. The direct URL is https://www.viewmypermitct.org/preloginviews/loginpage.aspx?tid=10

Thanks, FairHavenRes! I clicked the direct URL you provided above, then clicked "For Home Owners, New User Registration". After registering they sent me a confirmation email to activate the account. Very helpful!

Correction: Permit # B-13-362 was issued on 4/15/2013, not 2003. Sorry about that!

But the permit is for a new roof only: " REMOVE/REPLACE ROOF COVERING ON EXISTING ONE FAMILY. INSTALL 1/2" CDX PLYWOOD SHEATHING, 15 LB. FELT, ICE/WATER SHIELD AND NEW ASPHALT SHINGLES WITH SIX FASTENERS PER SHINGLE. D O'NEILL INSP: R WALSH 203-946-6124 CERT OF APPROVAL".
No work was being done on the house--just the large addition to the garage. I notice that since this issue was posted, work has ceased.

Right, that's what I posted; the only recent building permit is for a new roof, hence no permit for the alleged construction work on the garage.

I contacted John Raffone at the Building Dept.
His response:
“I did have contact with this home-owner and he was very cooperative about gaining the approvals to expand his garage. Hopefully this will be resolved soon... I believe he is on the right path to make this safe and legal.”
I also stopped 2 police officers walking the neighborhood to let them know that the blue quad that regularly terrorizes the streets around here—and that’s stored in the basement of 20 Lamberton St. as I type—no doubt will be moved into its more spacious accommodations as soon as the new garage is completed. Because of the no-chase policy, perhaps the new garage actually will make it easier for the police to seize the quad and finally get it off the street for good.