When is a permit required

[Hamsterbite]

Got a question that has to do with tiny houses, but not on wheels so figured it was off topic, but there might be some crossover here.

I keep reading that most building dept's don't require a homeowner permit for structures less than 100 square feet. Does anyone know if this is pretty much universal? I understand that other rules still may apply, (such as min setback) depending on where you want to put it, and that anything with plumbing and electric needs to be permitted. Assuming all the other criterea was met, how do you go about calculating the square footage? Is it just the footprint area, or would they also include loft space and/or a second story? We're talking pretty rural and out of sight to anyone that wasn't trespassing.

Anybody?

[GerryS]

Good luck with this. I think you'll probably have better luck asking on sites more dedicated to tiny houses and not tiny trailers.

I share your interest, although 100 sq feet of home is just a little TOO small. I'm more interested in 1000 square and about 3000 in garage and workshop and a piece of land about 2500 foot long by 75 feet wide I'm the middle of no where....

[CarlLaFong]

Codes vary. Some places are very lax, others are draconian in their laws and requirements. Ask your local department of building and safety

[bdosborn]

Every where is different. I'm assuming your property is in an unincorporated area. Google "building department, Your County, Your State" and see if you can find on-line information specific to where you want to build. For example, we live in unincorporated Jefferson County and here's what our building department web page looks like:

http://jeffco.us/building/index.htm

Read through what's published and then set up an appointment to talk to a plans reviewer. They can give you all the answers to your questions.

Bruce

[Gary and Cheri]

The last few years I have been completely redoing the exterior of my vacation home. Ripping off siding, replacing all the windows and a new roof. At each stage I approached the building inspector's office to ask about permits and every time I was told no permits required.

My brother who lives 30 miles away has to pull a permit if he paints his house.

Yes, no two cities are the same. Good luck with yours.

Gary

[jmkjr72]

like has been said you need to go to your town or city hall and ask them what permits are needed
for example in the township i live in we do not need a permit for anything smaller then 200 sq feet
yet you go into the city of green bay and you need a permit for everything
heck if you swap out your bathroom counter top in the city of green bay they require you to have a licensed plumber disconnect and reconnect the sink

[droid_ca]

I know the town that I live in if you have an extra lot you can apply for a pardon in the bylaw to place a structure on it, my friend has a house on one lot and he wanted to put a wood shed on the other lot and that is what he did....but to have just a lot with a small building on it I do believe that is not allowed here. If I were you I'd see if you could find your local bylaws on line or at the library and research it yourself, that might be the best possible way with out them getting nosy and forcing you into getting permits that may not be needed

[Hamsterbite]

Thanks all.

I'm mainly just kicking around ideas right now. The property is incorporated, but it's up the side of a small mountain under dense tree cover, so very unlikely to attract any attention. The idea is to make it look like a fancy woodshed, and use it as a multipurpose space...office, camp site, etc...There is an actual house owned by a relative on the same 4 acre plot.
10x10 is too small for me to consider living in unless times got REALLY bad, so it's more of a plan B. Without the height restrictions of a tiny house on wheels, a taller loft space is possible and could sleep several people if necessary. The second story might even be able to cantilever out a foot or two over the 10x10 footprint. I know I will never get a building dept to permit something this small as a house, but there's no reason I couldn't build a well insulated shell with a woodstove or propane heater, battery bank/generator and DC lighting. Solar wouldn't be an option, but a wind turbine might be do-able. Throw in some propane appliances and a composting toilet and you've got yourself an off grid bug out location/cottage.

I'm most committed to building a house on wheels though...much easier to get around permitting, and if someone complains, you move it or sell it.

[droid_ca]

When my friend built his shop it is under 100 square feet he went to look about the permit they said he didn't need one, after that he put a murphy bed inside and hooked up the garden hose, he says it works great

[aggie79]

Got a question that has to do with tiny houses, but not on wheels so figured it was off topic, but there might be some crossover here.

I keep reading that most building dept's don't require a homeowner permit for structures less than 100 square feet. Does anyone know if this is pretty much universal? I understand that other rules still may apply, (such as min setback) depending on where you want to put it, and that anything with plumbing and electric needs to be permitted. Assuming all the other criterea was met, how do you go about calculating the square footage? Is it just the footprint area, or would they also include loft space and/or a second story? We're talking pretty rural and out of sight to anyone that wasn't trespassing.

Anybody?

I am "one of those type of people" in that I work for a city and oversee building inspection, planning and zoning, and code enforcement.

Most cities have zoning and building codes that do not require permits for accessory structures - sheds, storage buildings, etc. - if they are less than a certain size usually 100 or 120 square feet. This assumes there is no electrical or plumbing work in the accessory structure which would require permit(s).

The best advice as several have said is to contact your local jurisdiction. Believe me from my experience the adage of "better to ask forgiveness than permission" does not apply here. It is not usually city or county employees raising questions about your construction. Most often issues are raised by your neighbors or the over zealous HOA representative that contacts the mayor or councilman.

Better to find out before you start.

[Hamsterbite]

Got a question that has to do with tiny houses, but not on wheels so figured it was off topic, but there might be some crossover here.

I keep reading that most building dept's don't require a homeowner permit for structures less than 100 square feet. Does anyone know if this is pretty much universal? I understand that other rules still may apply, (such as min setback) depending on where you want to put it, and that anything with plumbing and electric needs to be permitted. Assuming all the other criterea was met, how do you go about calculating the square footage? Is it just the footprint area, or would they also include loft space and/or a second story? We're talking pretty rural and out of sight to anyone that wasn't trespassing.

Anybody?

I am "one of those type of people" in that I work for a city and oversee building inspection, planning and zoning, and code enforcement.

Most cities have zoning and building codes that do not require permits for accessory structures - sheds, storage buildings, etc. - if they are less than a certain size usually 100 or 120 square feet. This assumes there is no electrical or plumbing work in the accessory structure which would require permit(s).

The best advice as several have said is to contact your local jurisdiction. Believe me from my experience the adage of "better to ask forgiveness than permission" does not apply here. It is not usually city or county employees raising questions about your construction. Most often issues are raised by your neighbors or the over zealous HOA representative that contacts the mayor or councilman.

Better to find out before you start.

Thanks Aggie79. You are the expert I was looking for! I will open a dialogue with the building dept. and seek permission first. Luckily there are no HOA's or neighbors within sight or earshot of the potential build site. I certainly wouldn't want to find out after the fact that there were some sort of back tax implications.

[skline25]

If the jurisdiction is using the International Residential Code (IRC) no permit is needed for: Nonhabitable one story detached accessory structures, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet (18.58 meters squared)or a height of 10 feet (3048 mm) measured to the highest point. IRC, R105.2 (1) Remember though any jurisdiction may have a different set of codes that they are using.

[aggie79]

If the jurisdiction is using the International Residential Code (IRC) no permit is needed for: Nonhabitable one story detached accessory structures, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet (18.58 meters squared)or a height of 10 feet (3048 mm) measured to the highest point. IRC, R105.2 (1) Remember though any jurisdiction may have a different set of codes that they are using.

Or they may have local amendments to the International series of codes. Most jurisdictions do have local amendments.

[Mary C]

My brother lives in Texas and can build without permits I live in GA and the county requires a permit to build any structure that has a fourth side. If it has wheels and can be easily(subjective) moved you don't need permit to build but a permit to park. Which is controversy in the making (does my teardrop apply as it can be moved? or is it exempt because it has a tag? I haven't broached that with the tax commissioner. I wanted to build an out house right over the pipe to the septic. I can build it three sided. then is a drape or curtain make a fourth side? there was a long pause............................Mam it has to have four sides for us to issue a permit. But if I build an outhouse It has to meet certain requirements how deep, wide, long and how near to the well and has to be permitted and inspected. It is then taxed as to the .....one hole or two but if it is existing then it is excluded. They have never had an out house on septic. but if I have running water (a garden hose from the side of the house to fill toilet tank outside) I have to get a plumbing permit and the work has to be performed by a licensed plumber. When you get through laughing just know I gave up the idea. I just thought it would be nice to have a place to go and wash hands and a hose to wash off mud outside near the barn.

Mary C.

[mezmo]

Mary,

Get around that "4th side" requirement by building it
round or triangular !