Cesspool permit process

[Radiopeg]

Can you start your building permit process piecemeal, as in getting permit for a cesspool for a house you might not build for a year or two? Then an outbuilding permit, and then a whole house permit? Or does it have to have the house permit come first, all other permits being a part of that whole house permit?

Life goes on, with you or without you.

[lquade]

sorry to say, the cesspool has to be part of the house permit.. also the water tank. but, if you have over an acre on ag land, you are allowed to build a "farm building" separate from the house i believe. hopefully some one will chime in here. but i tried to get a cesspool permit and sorta pay as i go, and the county said no deal, it had to be on a house plan permit. it seems they go out of their way to make it hard for the owner builder or someone who doesnt want to borrow money and do the whole thing at once.

[Rob Tucker]

The cesspool or septic system plan will be determined by the number of bedrooms to gauge occupancy. No house plan, no bedrooms to count. I'm not saying it makes perfect sense.... just the way they do it.

[John S. Rabi]

quote:

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Originally posted by lquade
...if you have over an acre on ag land, you are allowed to build a "farm building" separate from the house i believe.

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It doesn't have to be on over an acre, but in order to build a "farm dwelling" you have to follow different rules. You have to submit your plans to the Planning Department first, including a map of showing EVERY SINGLE PLANT, to get it approved. Once it's approved your next step is to submit the plans to the Building Department.

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[YurtGirl]

You can't permit any structure on your property until you have a permit pulled for a residential structure. Whether it's finalled or not doesn't matter much, but a residential permit has to have been issued.

For that you need your cesspool or septic engineering (if under an acre, then septic, if over, then likely a cesspool), architect stamp, site map, house plans and catchment design. All to submit. So no payment plan.

Once you have that, then you can permit outbuildings.

Not sure what John is talking about above, but why not just call it storage or workshop and avoid any plant counting and other hoops?

If it's under 6' tall and 120sf, no permit is needed. That code will likely change soon to 12' tall and under and 120sf or less, no need for permit.

[Radiopeg]

Thanks, we were certainly trying to start on pay as you go. We just don't know what we want in a house yet, but under 4 bedrooms I'm sure. Well, we put up a gate and a less than 6 foot fence and horrors an unpermitted cesspool while we squat on our property and wait for WA real estate to pick up. I don't want to go there. But I want to be there. Maybe we can just rent a potty for the messy non gray water stuff. I'd feel less guilty.

Life goes on, with you or without you.

[Rob Tucker]

If an unpermitted cesspool is installed and correctly constructed and capped you can later seek a permit for it. Your engineer may or may not show it as "existing" but either way it can be inspected and approved by your engineer at the time of a house permit.

[dmbwest]

Thanks for that Rob, neva knew.

YG FYI,

EXCEPTIONS: A permit is not required for:

(1) Work located primarily in a public way, public utility towers, bridges, and poles, mechanical equipment not specifically regulated in this code, and hydraulic flood control structures.
(2) Temporary structures used during the construction of a permitted structure, temporary buildings, platforms, and fences used during construction or for props for films, television or live plays and performances.
(3) Re-roofing work with like material and installation of siding to existing exterior walls which will not affect the structural components of the walls for Groups R-3 and U Occupancies.
(4) Temporary tents or other coverings used for private family parties or for camping on approved campgrounds.
(5) Television and radio equipment (i.e. antennas, dishes) accessory to R-1 and R-3 Occupancies. Supports or towers for television and radio equipment 6’-0" or less in height.
(6) Awnings projecting up to 4 feet and attached to the exterior walls of buildings of Group R-3 or U Occupancy; provided that the awnings do not violate the provisions for "yards" in Chapter 25 (Zoning) of the Hawai‘i County Code.
(7) Standard electroliers not over 35 feet in height above finish grade.
(8) Installation of wallpaper or wall covering which are exempted under the provisions of Section 801.1, Interior Finishes, Chapter 8, IBC.
(9) Repairs which involve only the replacement of component parts of existing work with similar materials for the purpose of maintenance, and which do not aggregate over $4000 in valuation in any twelve-month period, and do not affect any electrical or mechanical installations.
(10) Painting and decorating.
(11) Installation of floor covering.
(12) Cabinet work for R-3 Occupancy and individual units of R-1 and U Occupancies which are not regulated (under Section 310.3.12 Cooking Unit Clearances of this code). Wall mounted
6 -1
shelving not affecting fire resistance or structural members of wall. This is dealing with clearances to cabinets and range clearance to combustible.
(13) Work performed under the jurisdiction of Federal Government and/or located in Federal property.
(14) Swimming pools for one and two-family dwelling units less than 1’-6" in depth
(15) Department of Transportation, Harbors, - section 266-2, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes.
(16) Fences 6’-0" or less in height.
(17) Detached structures for animal shelters, storage sheds, towers, and similar uses not more than 6’-0" in height.
(18) One detached single-story type building for equipment or tools storage, animal shelters, playhouses, or similar non-residential use, provided that the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet and the building height from grade to top of roof does not exceed 12’-0". Detached decks or platforms less than 30" in height above grade. (Building cannot be located within building setback as required by the Zoning, Chapter 25 of Hawai‘i County Code. Verify setback requirements with the Planning Department).
(19) Playground equipment, excluding assembly or similar waiting areas.

That and you CAN permit a "storage shed" sans "residential structure" with E and P too.

Radiopeg ... Maybe this http://www.natureshead.net/ for now ?

aloha,
pog

[Rob Tucker]

Pog,

I base my statement on my own experience. I had bought a property with a derelict home and existing cesspool which predated statehood. I had the old house torn down (demolition permit) and when I then went to pull the house permit I was given a card, by the Health Department, to be filled out by the engineer or architect which certified the condition of the existing cesspool.

That was done by exposing the cap and plug, removing the plug, and taking a flashlight and determining the depth, width and condition of the cesspool. The inspection card was signed my the architect and the Health Department then signed off of on the cesspool - and the new house building permit was then approved by the county.

So there is a process to approve a preexisting cesspool. I would suggest that when asked when it was installed that you would say "I have no idea". In my case it had been built in the 1930's and was in perfect condition.

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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Originally posted by YurtGirl

You can't permit any structure on your property until you have a permit pulled for a residential structure. Whether it's finalled or not doesn't matter much, but a residential permit has to have been issued...

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You can pull permits for Ag structures, and non-residential structures prior to residential permits. You do NOT have to have a residential structure first. The problem is with out a residential structure permit you have some extra HELCO hoops to jump through if you are going on the grid.