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Small Cabin Forum / Properties / Bldg Codes: lay low or consult lawyer?
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RRS4727
Member
# Posted: 20 Nov 2011 15:21
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I want to build a cottage on our property (already has house, but when family & friends visit, they visit in droves - seems cheaper than an addition)

I searched the building codes in our area (Wisconsin vacation area)
In talking to someone at the county about a "workshop" he said, "No habitable dwellings - running water, etc."
However when looking at the codes, they seem to have conflicting codes.
If it is a home studio:
XXXXXXXX County Zoning Ordinance 59 August 8, 2000
(l) Sanitary facilities shall be provided per county and state sanitary code requirements.

(9) Home offices/studios. The use of a dwelling unit or accessory structure for a home office/studio shall be clearly secondary to the residential use of the property and shall not change the property's residential character. The following shall apply:
(a) Home offices/studios shall not require a zoning permit.

HOWEVER, If it's an accessory structure:
"3.12 Accessory structures. Accessory structures are permitted subject to the following:
(1) Permit required. Accessory structures shall require a regular zoning permit except: (fences, birdhouse, etc)

(2) Living quarters prohibited. Accessory structures shall not contain living quarters.
(g) There shall be no water service, sanitary waste disposal, or electricity connected to the accessory building."

Hmmm. I don't want to be noticed, but I don't want to have to tear down the project after it's done.
Any hints?

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 20 Nov 2011 16:37 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
Reply 


Can you put a camp trailer there? I suspect the answer is yes. Then its perfectly legal to add one of these:

http://cedaridgeindustries.com/default.aspx

smitty
Member
# Posted: 21 Nov 2011 12:11
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if you are in town might make more sense to just have an rv in the drive. put some log siding on it for that cabin look

trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 21 Nov 2011 16:53 - Edited by: trollbridge
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I wouldn't waste my $$$ on a lawyer. Were you planning to have running water and so forth? Also how were you going to furnish the place? How big? I'm assuming that if you have a home already there you could probably get away with a little bit of a stretch in terms of building usage. Just keep quiet and be discreet. Do you have neighbors who are close and can see your place?

What county are you in?

Martian
Member
# Posted: 21 Nov 2011 18:08 - Edited by: Martian
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You might as well forget building something and thinking the County won't find out. I understand that many county tax assessor's offices use satellite pics run thru computer programs that compare year to year pics for new structures, etc. I just looked at Google Earth for my place, which is located in the middle of nowhere, KS, and my new place (amongst the trees; built over the last 6 mo.) is already shown. The pic is amazingly clear! I could even see the sliding glass door leaning up against a tree (I had taken it out to get the shower in).

I'd suggest you draw up some simple plans w/dimensions, setbacks, and aminities take them to the permit office and ask what permits you need for building it; should you decide you want to. You may need to adjust the size or something to meet your desire to not require a permit. It may help you avoid some real headaches down the road.

Tom

soundandfurycabin
Member
# Posted: 21 Nov 2011 23:18
Reply 


I'd ask about the max size for an accessory building used as a home office/studio, as well as to get clarification as to whether a bathroom is allowed. Be prepared to answer if they ask what you will use it for (ex. art studio, so you need a clean-up sink). If the size and bathroom answers meet your requirements and you don't have uptight neighbors, you could probably get away with using it as an occasional guest house. If the answers aren't what you hoped for, then say you want something a bit bigger and ask whether a backyard cottage/granny flat is allowed.

Note that a zoning permit is likely not the same as a building permit.

easyshack
Member
# Posted: 23 Nov 2011 16:00
Reply 


Building codes??? When you ask? then there job is to tell you to pay taxes and fees, but you can't do anything without asking first?
Buy land in free state with less free loaders. The more people on the public dole the higher taxes are and regulation.
I have friends in Texas that built 2 houses, two barns on 40 acres, with no permits or codes.
Some states have more government donut kings than working people who live there.

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 6 Dec 2011 22:59 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
Reply 


We have a "mother in law" law, it allows us to add a liveable space.

Sq footage is limited, I thin 450 sq feet or so.(I know its under 500)

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