BUILDING PERMITS!

[Makers_Mark]

I will be starting a barn/workshop project this spring and I've been wondering...to permit or not to permit? Just wondering what you guys have been doing as far as building permits, and if so, how were your taxes affected.

 

[BB_TX]

My property is outside any city limits and the county did not require a permit for my shop. But I would recommed that if a permit is required, you best get one. If you start without one and they find out, you could have big problems. Especially if you did not locate the building where it would be allowed.

 

[rdbrumfield]

By all means check with the building department. If you don't play by the rules you will have more grief than one life allows if they catch up to you without one.

 

[HickoryDean]

Depends where you live in this great country of ours. I've seen counties that even compare year-to-year aerial photos of property which their assessor also uses to increase ad valorem (property) taxes. And then there's my (civil) parish in Louisiana where they only use the electric company as their enforcer. This latter method pretty much leaves add-ons risk free (but they sure love to give you a hard time on that residence).

 

[rancar]

<font color=blue>I will be starting a barn/workshop project this spring and I've been wondering...to permit or not to permit?</font color=blue>

It depends upon the type of building, where you are located, what the municipal building regulations require, what you intend to use the building for, etc. I've seen and heard of small barns going up in my community without any building permit and the homeowner is OK. Municipality doesn't care. If, however, the barn is fairly large, will be used to shelter animals, used for numerous ancillary purposes, etc, then it may matter. Cardinal rule is if in doubt do definitely check with the local building dept, building inspector, or code enforcement officer.

....Bob

 

[hazmat]

We've all heard the horror stories of the super-**** building inpsector giving someone a hard time.....

Keep in mind that the building codes are in place for your protection. Keeps you from being screwed by shotty construction from a contractor. If you are doing it yourself it keeps you honest.

I recently had a wood stove installed. The inpsector didn't like the hearth pad, said it required 6 layers of wonder board (or whatever the fire resistant board is called). The code is that it shall be installed according to manufacturer's instructions if it is UL listed. I showed him the instruction manual that came with the UL listed stove calling for 1 layer if it had a bottom heat shield. He took a copy for his record and signed off on the permit while advising me to "Check to be sure that tile doesn't get too hot" They aren't all evil.

Regarding the taxes, they'll get you one way or another/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif Better to be on good terms with the town, than to sneak one by them.

 

[Makers_Mark]

I live in a rural area of NJ (it's changing though - suburban sprawl). It's a 200 yr old farm. I want to knock down an old delapidated garage and put one up in the same exact spot. I was thinking if I did it fast enough they wouldn't notice. I guess I should ask what other farms in my area do. I do plan on following all the local codes though. It's just that here in NJ - they rape us with taxes. I know there are other variables that should be taken into consideration. I guess I just have to be willing and able to pay the piper when they come knocking on my door. The inpectors here are somewhat sympathetic towards farms. (in the end I'll probably get a permit). Maybe I'll move off the grid.

 

[cowboydoc]

In my state I don't have to have a permit because I'm building on a farm/ranch. They will still find out about it though. In our area the wonderful meter reader lets the county know about any new buildings. He gets a fee for each new building or improvement to property that he tells them about. Pretty rotten deal if you ask me. They pay a narc with our taxes!!! /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[ScottAR]

In my part of AR, in the city, if it's bigger than a doghouse with a roof, a permit is needed. Permit price is figured on a percentage of project total cost.
In the county, they don't care what ya do.

 

[Makers_Mark]

I guess I'll head on over to the building dept and feel him out. Maybe I'll show him some chicken scratch drawings and ask his opinion. I'll tell him its shelter for my tractor. No electric or anything. Then I'll pump 1000 amp service into the sucker - put some stadium lights up. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif