07-09-2009, 03:50 AM
No worries, Jungle Man, there are very few un-permitted houses which have sewer or county water connections. The availability of sewerage and water systems is generally only in areas of dense enough housing to support these systems. When there is enough density of houses to support systems like this, there is enough density of folks who will complain about un-permitted houses that they all get building permits. Attaching to the systems also requires a meter which is installed by the water company, at least on the ingoing side and they don't attach the meter without approved backflow devices.
There are multiple levels of un-permitted homes. The most primitive level is the tent/shack out in the jungle. No electric or sewer service, no water, no mail delivery, telephone lines maybe but with cell phones now most jungle living folks use those, no internet, no cable, no pavement and some of the roads are 4WD access only. Next to the fellow living in a tent can be "regular" permitted structure, however, by "regular" we mean the same lack of services. No electric, sewer, water, mail, telephone, internet, cable or pavement. However, the person built the house to code and got a permit to do it. Frequently, his neighbor will not be happy about that since it brings inspectors to the neighborhood and if the fellow off in the jungle in the un-permitted house is visible from the street, he could be cited.
Another type of un-permitted structure is one where they are using the building for something that isn't allowed. Things such as multiple family dwellings on AG zoning or small lots which can only have one house (usually the house has multiple un-permitted kitchens installed), commercial enterprises on AG or residential zoning, etc. Generally, the structure has a permit but is being used for an un-permitted use.
Several decades ago, the building permit process was a lot simpler and anyone who had enough skill to build a house could get a building permit pretty easily without the requirement for an architect's or engineer's stamp. There was no requirement for a septic engineer stamp, there were no hurricane ties. Basically, a fairly rudimentary sketch could be given to the building department and they would issue an owner-builder permit and that would be it. It is still possible to do that, by the way, but there is a fairly long list of restrictions you'd have to meet such as a concrete slab floor, eaves 30" or less, etc. You still have to use the licensed electricians and plumbers, though.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
There are multiple levels of un-permitted homes. The most primitive level is the tent/shack out in the jungle. No electric or sewer service, no water, no mail delivery, telephone lines maybe but with cell phones now most jungle living folks use those, no internet, no cable, no pavement and some of the roads are 4WD access only. Next to the fellow living in a tent can be "regular" permitted structure, however, by "regular" we mean the same lack of services. No electric, sewer, water, mail, telephone, internet, cable or pavement. However, the person built the house to code and got a permit to do it. Frequently, his neighbor will not be happy about that since it brings inspectors to the neighborhood and if the fellow off in the jungle in the un-permitted house is visible from the street, he could be cited.
Another type of un-permitted structure is one where they are using the building for something that isn't allowed. Things such as multiple family dwellings on AG zoning or small lots which can only have one house (usually the house has multiple un-permitted kitchens installed), commercial enterprises on AG or residential zoning, etc. Generally, the structure has a permit but is being used for an un-permitted use.
Several decades ago, the building permit process was a lot simpler and anyone who had enough skill to build a house could get a building permit pretty easily without the requirement for an architect's or engineer's stamp. There was no requirement for a septic engineer stamp, there were no hurricane ties. Basically, a fairly rudimentary sketch could be given to the building department and they would issue an owner-builder permit and that would be it. It is still possible to do that, by the way, but there is a fairly long list of restrictions you'd have to meet such as a concrete slab floor, eaves 30" or less, etc. You still have to use the licensed electricians and plumbers, though.
Kurt Wilson
Kurt Wilson