The first mistake was acceding to the department’s classification of a dinner of invited guests as “public.” Applying for the permit was giving the vampire access to the house. Had they shown up to the private, though large, event uninvited, the health department people could have been “escorted” off the premises. And if they had persisted in trying to disrupt the proceedings or destroying food, they would have been liable for a gigantic suit. As it is, though, applying for a permit is saying, “You can do whatever you want to us and we’ll accept that we are without recourse.”
Yep. When you play "their" game they get to make the rules and they can change them anytime they like and you get to smile and nod and say "yessir: or end up in the pokey.