places to build with little permits needed?

[UUmom2many]

I just hit a hard wall. Trying to owner/builder where we are is going to be impossible since we're not hiring a contractor, taking out a morgage etc.

I'm wondering for those of you that are or have owner/built what place do you live that you dont need permits, etc. or at least very little?

[TnAndy]

All that is required in most counties in TN are:

Zoning permit.....pay a fee to the county so they can tell you how high you should build your basement level if you live in a flood zone.

Electrical permit: Issued by the State for insurance purposes.....inspections by the local inspector, but you can do your own wiring as long as it complies with code.

Septic permit: Health department does a tank/fieldbed layout, and inspects before cover up.

no building permits or anything that would prevent you doing your own construction.....though I'm sure down the road, it's coming......for your "protection"....

[ErinP]

western Kansas: Septic permit/inspection.

The end.

[UUmom2many]

Just to get the building permit we have to have our plans stamped and sealed by an architect, something that we found will cost thousands to over ten thousand dollars for a dirt floor pole barn w/no electric or plumbing for livestock that's 36' squared.

For the house we have to have energy calculations, wind load calcs, culvert permit, septic permit, special assessment tax, 911 fee, flood elevation certificate, 2 different letters of compliance, 2 sets of drawings, site plan, elevations, floor plan, floor framing system, plumbing layout, foundation plan, wall sections including telling them what kind of bolts we're going to use.

While I understand why, they make it impossible for someone building debt free to manage it if they're a middle class one income family. Our entire dream is being shredded since we bought the land almost 2 years ago with hopes to do this. Just having the plans approved that we draw from an architect is going to be tens of thousands for a small regular house.

We don't know what to do now.

[Sparrow]

You can owner build where I am as long as you don't have a mortgage but you do need a permit and you can't sell your house for 3 years.

[UUmom2many]

where are you Sparrow?

[TnAndy]

2 suggestions:

Use a set of stock building plans that come already stamped....

Or..... "Stamps-R-Us"......

Edit: Vote with your feet.

In Tn, there is no permit at all for any kind of ag building.

[bluefish]

In Wyoming, it varies by county, but in the one we lived in, if you were outside city limits, there wasn't a thing. Where we are now in Montana, we need septic permit/inspection and electrical inspection. That's it.

[Sparrow]

Sorry, forgot to say I'm in NW (upstate) South Carolina.

It was less than $300 for a permit for a 1500 sq ft house and the septic permit, I think, was only $50 or $65. It's the price of a water tap that will break you, a few years ago I paid $700 not where I live it's up to $1350, I told them no thanks and they dropped it to $1200. lol

[mudburn]

I like where I am in KY. Since we have more than 10 acres of land, we considered agricultural. I can build whatever I want however I want (the way it should be). If I want to live in a barn, that's my business, not anyone else's. If I want to connect to the grid, I have to have a septic permit (in some counties, you actually have to have the septic system installed). There is an inspection process for the wiring through the power company, if you connect to the grid. I prefer that those who wish to protect me from myself stay away and not dictate how I live or what I live in. I'll mind my own business, and they ought to mind theirs. Permits and required inspection processes all equate to extra taxes and gov't interference.

mudburn

[thequeensblessing]

Here in Adams county ohio the only permit you need is a septic permit. Ordinarily in this township you need to purchase a 10 dollar building permit (based on a hand drawn layout of your home even) however, as an agricultural entity, you need not get the permit.

[Batt]

Missouri, most counties. We built owner/builder and only had to get a septic permit because we lived within 1/4 mile of a lake(9600 acres). The electrical company wanted to look at the main panel before they made the final connection (about 30 seconds). I have since added 900+ s/f, 2 barns, 2 chicken houses(small) and almost finished with a greenhouse. No additional permits. That is a period BTW.

[Mark Twain]

As Adron says "Missouri"
My land straddles two counties, Taney County requires a building permit $15.00 and a septic permit while Ozark County requires nothing except the state mandated regulations for a well.
Colorado is the opposite extreme, just to build a 12x20 extension to a garage I had to have engineered drawings of building plan I already had designed on a computer program (add $500) plus a county building permit (add $600).

Of course, wages in Colorado exceed even Kansas City and St. Louis not to mention the Ozarks but I'm moving back just to be able to afford retirement.

[Belfrybat]

Coleman County, Texas. No permits needed for building, but septic has to be approved. It cost a friend of mine $35.00 total for the septic inspection/ approval, and he was building off-grid.

[Beeman]

Keep in mind that in areas with no codes and no permits you usually get contractors that build accordingly. In other words anyone and everyone is a contractor but few have any knowledge of what they are doing. This makes having any work done very frustrating and existing houses are usually poorly built.

[ErinP]

But for people like the OP who are NOT using a contractor, or taking out a mortgage, permitting is simply an extra headache that they shouldn't have to deal with.

[Navotifarm]

But can't you simply buy architect-approved plans very cheaply? You already have your dream house planned, right? So find one from a plans company as near as possible to what you want. "Generic plans," as it were. You buy them with however many sets and overlays are required by your authorities. You don't say what you are going to build out of. If it's crushed oyster shells or cardboard bales you will have a tough time but if it's dimensional lumber then 84 Lumber has (or used to have) a staff architect who can take the stock plans and make the changes yo want with his cad system. Maybe free. You do not HAVE to hire a contractor. You can be your own contractor and sub out some of your work.
The first thing to do is find out what the requirements are (as you did about the plans) and then how to meet the requirements within your budget. Why reinvent the wheel with a private architect when there are zillions of stock plans already? I started a thread on here on this topic and got kind of beat up by certain persons but the principle is sound - find out what the regulations are and how to satisfy them uh creatively! Within your budget. Good luck. Or hey, sell your Florida land to some rich New Yorker and move to West Virginia laughing all the way!

[Mike in Ohio]

Originally Posted by thequeensblessing

Here in Adams county ohio the only permit you need is a septic permit. Ordinarily in this township you need to purchase a 10 dollar building permit (based on a hand drawn layout of your home even) however, as an agricultural entity, you need not get the permit.

In Ohio it varies by county and township. So in Carroll County where our farm is, some townships are zoned and others (such as Union Township) are not. The only permits you need are well (this is a state requirement), septic (property needs to pass a perc test) and a driveway permit (something like $5 - just to make sure the numbering is correct) when you put in a driveway.

Mike

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by Adron

Missouri, most counties. We built owner/builder and only had to get a septic permit because we lived within 1/4 mile of a lake(9600 acres). The electrical company wanted to look at the main panel before they made the final connection (about 30 seconds). I have since added 900+ s/f, 2 barns, 2 chicken houses(small) and almost finished with a greenhouse. No additional permits. That is a period BTW.

Here they brought Electric close to the House put the Meter in,we hooked all the rest up.Same at our property at Warsaw.

big rockpile

[ronbre]

to build a house here you need permits for the house, foundaiton, elec, well, etc..but most other building you do or other things you do to your property you seldom need permits..it depends on how large the buildings are..

we didn't get permits for our garage, decks, sheds, or any cement work other than our house