Stop in for a cup of coffee

Thanks, next month our building permit expires. Break ground or have to renew for $ and who knows if it would be approved. Also, HOA asks you only live on for 6 months, supposed to be building but if you aren't having the police at your "domicile" every night a little longer is okay. I want this for the wife, she's worked all her life and she deserves it.
It might sound simplistic, but can you have a backhoe start digging a foundation trench and claim that you have “broken ground”?