At Home In The Woods

[Diamondpilot]

Yes, I have considered putting up a "Construction Office" sign. On the other hand, I agree with CurlyDave that the sign won't fool anyone. Our fate is really under the good (or bad) graces of the inspector.

Obed

Treat him right and he will treat you right. I would not draw attention to the camper and keep the wife and baby out of sight when he is there. If he ask about it just say you are using it as a mobile office and to store the plans, tools, ect. Nothing more will be said.

Chris

 

[bitternut]

You might want to check to see if your town allows special use permits for your particular need. Of course you would have to inquire on the sly just in case they don't. I live in rural ny and am a member of a zoning board and I would guess that you would be granted a permit with your situation in our town. Should be pretty obvious to any town official that you will be residing in your camper for only a short time. They should welcome the additional assessed value to the tax rolls, I know we sure would.

 

[Pops15]

As long as your camper isn't visible from the road or from neighboring properties you should be ok as long as you continue to make steady progress on your house. As long as you don't try to BS the inspector, and your neighbors don't complain you should be ok. Key word being "should". Best bet is to have a contingency plan and that shouldn't be fighting city hall. You don't want them mad at you come final inspection time.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

In my area the older inspectors would work with you. Some of the newer inspectors are more letter of the law type. When I built I had no problem with the inspectors as long as I did it their way. Even if I thought they were wrong, I did it their way, had no problems.

Zoning is a double edged sword. Zoning officials also have a way of selective enforcement.

 

[towmotor]

I live in New England snob country, and we lived in a camper, on site, while we built our house.
I was advised that as long as no one is complaining, most towns are too afraid of being countered legally to do much about it.

Your little daughter, rather than being a liability in this situation, may be your best defence.
I had three daughters when we were in my trailer. The advised word for the zoning official?
"My children have safe, suitable shelter; is your insistence that I leave an offer to provide better shelter?"

It never came to any of that-and I'm glad it didn't-but I wouldn't have hesitated to "activate" my attorney if it had.

 

[srs]

Treat him right and he will treat you right. keep the wife and baby out of sight when he is there. Chris

I agree about treating the inspector right and disagree on keeping the wife and baby out of sight. When the inspector shows up have the wife show the inspector your new "addition". If the inspector has any kind of heart he'll be more inclined to work with you to get you into the house ASAP.

 

[woodlandfarms]

thats prime bigfoot country. keep your eyes peeled.

I thought my area was bigfoot area. Boy that guy (girl?) gets around....

 

[dcyrilc]

I thought my area was bigfoot area. Boy that guy (girl?) gets around....

I believe they're different sub-species. LOL

 

[Bartcephus]

Zoning is a double edged sword. Zoning officials also have a way of selective enforcement.

THe legal terminolgy for that is arbitrary and capricious. Saw the same stuff in Oklahoma City in a "Historic Neighborhood." A couple was refurbishing a run down house and the paint was peeling on the outside. It was clear the property was in renovation. The HA demanded that they "repaint" immediately. They indicated that their plans included repainting but the HA threatened assessments and the like. So they decided to paint the house immediately. They choose a set of clashing purple hues for the house and trim. Neighbors were upset with the new "Barney" house but the HA has no control over the color of the paint. Sometimes revenge is sweet... I still don't understand how they can arbitrarily enforce codes when Obed moved his camper on the property, cleaned up the property, and was within the regulations. Sometimes you can't win against city hall because the cost of the fight is more than it is worth. I call that economic estopple.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I'm working on a project now that has a zoning "issue", the town is making us rezone for a type of building, and on the very next lot, same as our existing zoning, is the same type of building. The same zoning laws were in effect when their building underwent a change of use, they didn't have to rezone, but we have to.