Permitting: Shop with no utilities vs Home

[7Shadows]

Thanks for the heads up Cat

[Carey]

I have never understood why you would pull a permit for a large shed, when planning the same size studio house with little finish called in the plans gets you about the same place, but with a lot more comfort & ease of working in....(all you would add is a simple kitchen/bath with shared plumbing wall, & the electrical, plan for no additional interior walls, & the electric is not a big thing to run) Yes, this would add to the cost, but much less than the concrete slab...plus side? if you do get to the point of adding the house, the bath in your work room is a plus...& most shop guys I know want MORE power in their shop, never heard of a single one that doesn't want power in the shop...

One of the big hurdles for most is getting the finish up to what is called for in the plans for the final, but is not REQUIRED to be in the place to meet code...Why not KISS the plan in the beginning....Now also is the time to be looking at really what you WANT & what you NEED... anything that is close to both of those lists should be in the plan....I also think that windows -lots of 'em (for view & ventilation)- and outdoor covered spaces are some of the reasons to be HERE & nowhere else... after all, most of us are here for what is beyond the walls of our house...

Little things like window are sooo much easier & cost less to plan & put in in the first place and to be going back & doing is wasting labor, time & money...unless you have extra of all of those, plan the initial structure so that you are not redoing things that would have been much easier & quicker to do in the first place...believe me, it is never a cost saving to go back & install these things down the line...and makes for much more wasted effort & materials..

[7Shadows]

Don't worry Carey the 4 walls will have windows even though I didn't type that

What I'm really worried about here I guess is, can you live in a place that is being built once the shell is up? Because if you can then all is well and we'll start the permitting process for the main home and live happily ever after. The reason I wanted "the dry shop" that was finalized was because I figured we would get less hassle staying in a "finaled" and "permitted" building while the real home was going up. We have secured a rental already while we clear our land and start the beginning work but its still pricey and we would like to get to our own "rent free" dry shelter as soon as possible to save money. This was my intent, to build a legal permitted structure, but get into it as soon as possible (even if we have to ruff it for bit) to save some money. We're outdoors people, sometimes camping for months on end and we know how to ruff it in luxury so that doesn't worry us. Having the "not so nice neighbor" does. So we wanted the finaled simple shop building on record if the county got "that" phone call. But if the county is ok, (or at least looks the other way) because we are trying to build our home legally, then all is well and they will soon be collecting our tax money.

[Seeb]

I don't think you can final an accessory building without primary residence on the lot. The county zoning is online, it's aggravating but worth a read

[7Shadows]

Thanks Seeb

[kalakoa]

It's only an "accessory" when a permitted primary use exists.

Yes, you would need a (paper) "ag purpose" to build an "ag building", but HR2646 grants you the right to erect engineered structures without County permits.

Generally, I fail to comprehend why County drags their feet when people try to invest in the local economy, whether by starting a business or just adding to the property tax base. Seems like you'd want the house to be permitted and finaled as quickly as possible so that it can be assessed on next years' taxes -- especially when people are voluntarily compliant, filling out paperwork, paying fees, and asking for permits.

[7Shadows]

Yes, Kalakoa if they will look the other way while we are staying there building and in the primary residence (after the shell is up)as we'll be renting until then, then we are happy campers. If having inspectors around that will report us for being in the structure while its getting finished, then I have to go another route (like building another building on the land somewhere first to "hide out in" while our main residence is being built lol

But this is assuming folks can't stay in unfinished buildings. Maybe if we are quick to deflate the air mattress, all will be well ha ha You know also staying onsite to make sure people are not running away with our tools and materials is important to us too.

[Rob Tucker]

I don't think I have ever heard of anyone being hasseled for living in a building under construction in Puna. The county certainly made no mention of it when I was building my house. I recall some bills at council a few years ago that would have legally permitted occupying an owner built home for two years. There are people here that have been living under the building permit for twenty years straight.

[7Shadows]

****ROB YOU ARE MY HERO****

Thanks for passing on the info, my wife and I are jumping up and down

One permitted legal house coming up

[kalakoa]

Turning the argument around: I've heard of numerous incidents where a County inspector makes up rules on the spot, do what they say or it won't be signed off, regardless of what the building code actually says is "required".

Maybe if the permit/inspection process were transparent, accountable, and efficient, people wouldn't feel the need for complicated workarounds?