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Small Cabin Forum / General Forum / Anyone here from Chenango County NY?
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lowspeed
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2021 13:31
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I want to build a small cabin (about 900sqf)

But I want to build it myself.

Anyone knows how I can avoid engineering plans etc?

Also we would like a composting toilet and grey water (Shower, dishwasher etc go to a underground type septic, that is not professionally installed) I was thinking barrels cut length wise set upside down over a dug out trench with crushed stones and cover the whole thing.

jsahara24
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2021 13:16
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Have you talked with the zoning officer from your municipality? I am a further north in NY and they only required engineered plans if you were building more than 1500 SF. I just had to provide plans showing what I was building, with joist/rafter/stud/insulation sizing, so they could review against the IRC.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2021 15:18
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Call the town. Building codes are usualy a town code in cheanango, at least in my town in Cheanango they are. No where in NY can you do any of the gray water stuff you want to do.

If you dont mind what town?

lowspeed
Member
# Posted: 10 Mar 2021 09:32
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I believe Town of Coventry.

So I have to have a full blown septic system? Those are super expensive...

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 10 Mar 2021 10:27
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Your best bet is to call the county office in Norwich and ask who the town building inspector is for that town. My town dosnt need engineered plans.

Yes drywells for gray water are illegal all over NY. So are outhouses. There is a way to build a outhouse over a septic tank that you have pumped.

lowspeed
Member
# Posted: 10 Mar 2021 12:06
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Quoting: Brettny
Your best bet is to call the county office in Norwich and ask who the town building inspector is for that town. My town dosnt need engineered plans.



I don't know... The more you ask the more they start looking for things to deny...

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 10 Mar 2021 19:23
Reply 


So what's the plan then try and build a 900sqft cabin with no permits? That's prety small town and someone will notice if you can see it from the road.

lowspeed
Member
# Posted: 10 Mar 2021 22:16
Reply 


Quoting: Brettny
So what's the plan then try and build a 900sqft cabin with no permits? That's prety small town and someone will notice if you can see it from the road.



No, I guess you're right. We can do a small Septic, should be less than 4K I hope.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 11 Mar 2021 08:27
Reply 


Call them up and ask.

A 1,000gal septic tank is about $1200. Leach chambers about another $500-1000 so $4k is possibly. Labor/machine price is a majority local thing. Ask around. I can tell you the best deals are not found on the internet.

lowspeed
Member
# Posted: 11 Mar 2021 21:06
Reply 


I called! Got quoted 12K! UNREAL. PLUS need engineer....

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 12 Mar 2021 09:39
Reply 


You need engineer stamped plans for a cabin or septic?

lowspeed
Member
# Posted: 13 Mar 2021 14:47
Reply 


for septic. unreal.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 13 Mar 2021 18:43
Reply 


Renting a machine for a week and getting an engineer to draw up some plans shouldn't cost 12k. And if it does a $1400 composting toilet is sounding real nice I bet.

Eddy G
Member
# Posted: 14 Mar 2021 21:27
Reply 


I was born raised and spent the majority of my 57 yrs on this planet in the city.
Up until 5 yrs ago I had never even heard of a composting toilet.
Our cabin came with a chemical RV toilet that dumped into a 55 gal drum buried under the cabin..it was Under maintained and disgusting. I ripped it all out and was able clean it all out like it was never there.
So when I put in a new bathroom I did a ton of research..
It took a little work to convince my wife but once the compost toilet was in and the bathroom was done she quickly got use to it and now it’s just another fixture.
Honestly I’ve come to really appreciate the thing.
Water is a valuable commodity, a septic system would be a ridiculously huge and inconvenient investment
The ease and benefits of composting at our cabin made it a no brainer...

That’s the long way of me saying look into compost toilets...
I’ve highly recommend the BonJon diverting toilet.
I have no affiliation other than owning one..

lowspeed
Member
# Posted: 15 Mar 2021 10:06
Reply 


Quoting: Eddy G
I was born raised and spent the majority of my 57 yrs on this planet in the city.
Up until 5 yrs ago I had never even heard of a composting toilet.
Our cabin came with a chemical RV toilet that dumped into a 55 gal drum buried under the cabin..it was Under maintained and disgusting. I ripped it all out and was able clean it all out like it was never there.
So when I put in a new bathroom I did a ton of research..
It took a little work to convince my wife but once the compost toilet was in and the bathroom was done she quickly got use to it and now it’s just another fixture.
Honestly I’ve come to really appreciate the thing.
Water is a valuable commodity, a septic system would be a ridiculously huge and inconvenient investment
The ease and benefits of composting at our cabin made it a no brainer...

That’s the long way of me saying look into compost toilets...
I’ve highly recommend the BonJon diverting toilet.
I have no affiliation other than owning one..



Composting Toilet is great, in fact we'll still use that even with septic.

BUT the problem is that you still need septic for shower, cleaning dishes etc...

What are you doing for that stuff?

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 15 Mar 2021 12:21
Reply 


We dont have plumbing yet up at our property so we are useing dish tubs. I just fling the water into the woods. Shower is a shower stall with no floor so it goes on the ground. We have a handwashing sink that also drains the same way.

lowspeed
Member
# Posted: 15 Mar 2021 12:37
Reply 


Quoting: Brettny
We dont have plumbing yet up at our property so we are useing dish tubs. I just fling the water into the woods. Shower is a shower stall with no floor so it goes on the ground. We have a handwashing sink that also drains the same way.



According to the CODE person, it's not allowed anymore...

krstrout1
Member
# Posted: 16 Mar 2021 11:36
Reply 


# years ago I paid $250 for engineered plans, stamped. I found a local contractor to put the septic in for $3500.00 I am roughly 50 miles north of Herkimer NY. Black water drains are not allowed.

krstrout1
Member
# Posted: 16 Mar 2021 11:36
Reply 


Sorry 3 years ago.

scott100
Member
# Posted: 16 Mar 2021 14:42
Reply 


You can do what you want with composting toilet and graywater, etc if it is a remote cabin per NYS code rules here:

https://www.dos.ny.gov/dcea/pdf/TBhuntfishcab.pdf

This was originally designed for the Adirondack Park but got extended to the rest of NY at some point.

Of course, you will have to get the blessing of your local inspector. The way I had it explained to me by our guy (a few years ago or more) was that the building had to be built to code concerning the structure and footers and would need permit. It could not be connected to electricity and he was fine with an outhouse. He told me though, that if I wanted to do a well, I would also have to do a septic system. Also, this applies only to a recreational place. You wouldn't be able to live in it full time. To the best of my knowledge this tech. bulletin still applies, but you should do your own research and talk to your local inspector.

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