Outhouse in Alabama?

Weagle weagle! · #1 03/11/13, 10:47 AM

Anyone have information specific to AL? Long story short (but willing to share if anyone interested), due to certain factors, we are seriously considering transitioning from small city life to vacant land way out in the county way sooner than we originally planned. Would like to set up a somewhat primitive, temporary place until we have the money to set up a permanent home. Unfortunately there is no way to set up septic centrally located for both

CarolT · #2 03/11/13, 11:21 AM

You will have to check local laws. I believe you must have the "perk" test run regardless. You must be sure it is not going to contaminate any water you will be using for drinking, etc. Depending on usage, there are very small septic systems that aren't too expensive _and_ don't require running into possums in the middle of the night...

Harry Chickpea · #3 03/11/13, 12:37 PM

You'll specifically want to contact the county health officer for your county before you make any plans for your PERMANENT dwelling. Don't worry too much about a temporary setup. What we did while living in the travel trailer was to take the honey buckets out into a forested area on our land well away from anything or anybody. Within about a week you couldn't tell anything had been dumped. Remember that cows and goats don't flush.

The rules for people living in crowded conditions are more stringent than for those living rural. Also remember that in Alabama people have to ask permission to come on your land. If you want to be a stickler, you can demand written permission from you.

Weagle weagle! · #4 03/11/13, 12:52 PM

Thanks to both of you. Harry we were thinking of the travel trailer also. Now that the weather is starting to warm we thought we would start doing camping type trips to get the kids (and us adults too) used to the idea of not being plugged in all the time. We will have access of course to home, so I considered the buckets idea to bring home...hubby has to go by our "city" home for work. I am just trying to line up solutions in case home sells sooner rather than later...probably wishful thinking on the part of a planner :-)

Harry Chickpea · #5 03/11/13, 01:04 PM

If you look around, you likely can find a travel trailer or old RV fairly inexpensively. If you already have land, what part of Alabama? We spent a lot of time and energy before settling on a spot.

FWIW, you WILL want the power company to drop in a trailer pole or construction pole before June. Even if you park under a tree, travel trailers need AC in the summer heat. There is usually a wait of a few weeks in getting a pole set, and often you have to do it on your own to the power company specs.

Weagle weagle! · #6 03/11/13, 01:42 PM

Harry,
Luckily we have quite a pick of trailers as several hunters that work with hubby are looking to get rid of theirs. Our land is in NW Cullman County. Took us a year to find the perfect land for us. At the time we started looking we had a ten year plan, turned into a four year when we offered on the land and it took months to close. Shortly after, we decided town is growing way too much in the next couple of years and coupled with the fact that our savings outside of of stocks isn't making much, we decided the best way to invest for the later years is to have zero debt, our house, asap. So we are going to focus on slightly less savings and pay as we go from here on out. I just got the costs for power pole and water meter today and should have both in by the end of April

Harry Chickpea · #7 03/11/13, 04:10 PM

Looks good. Be aware that the standard trailer pole only has the 200 amp breaker, and no provision for the twenty or fifty amp ones you may want for an outdoor socket to plug the trailer in. You'll want to specify that you need a setup that allows those, and it'll cost a little more.

Looks like you did ok on avoiding major tornado paths:
http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/custom/2073223

CarolT · #8 03/11/13, 05:53 PM

Downtown Cullman wasn't a major tornado path either....

I'm in north central Cullman county, welcome!!

If you are paying as you go, restrictions aren't as bad, it's the money lenders that make you jump through hoops.

Weagle weagle! · #9 03/11/13, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

Looks good. Be aware that the standard trailer pole only has the 200 amp breaker, and no provision for the twenty or fifty amp ones you may want for an outdoor socket to plug the trailer in. You'll want to specify that you need a setup that allows those, and it'll cost a little more.

Looks like you did ok on avoiding major tornado paths:
http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/custom/2073223

Didn't think to even ask about different set up for travel trailer so thanks :-) we picked our land based on where we rarely hear tornado warnings :-)

Weagle weagle! · #10 03/11/13, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarolT

Downtown Cullman wasn't a major tornado path either....

I'm in north central Cullman county, welcome!!

If you are paying as you go, restrictions aren't as bad, it's the money lenders that make you jump through hoops.

That tornado came a little too close to us....Cullman is the city we are bailing out of....just growing too much for us. I hear you on the lenders, that held up our closing on the sellers end...didn't get land released ahead of time, bank wanted to make them refi and get appraisal on what seemed to be a small amount owed...so we ended up giving them a while to come up with payoff...they completely withdrew every loan and account with that bank!

Ravenlost · #11 03/11/13, 09:59 PM

Nice to see someone else from my neck of the woods. I grew up in Winston County. My son lives in Huntsville. I always liked Cullman...hate to hear it's growing so much.

Big Dave · #12 03/11/13, 10:03 PM

Saw a real nice one in the Movie Green Mile. It was in the prison guards back yard. They were in ALABAMA ???