It is a shame we have forgotten the old ways and in many ways outlawed them. Here we can't use lumber cut on out own land. it has to have a stamp on it that is "big brother" approved. The way that house was built was beautiful. Thanks Ed
Several States have "native species" laws that allow for some ways around the stamp requirement. I'm currently working with my State representative on just such a law. It would allow anyone to use the lumber cut from timber off
their own property to build any agricultural or residence on their property without a requirement for grading.
We tried to get it passed last year, but ran into some opposition because we tried to put a grading system in place that small mill owners could certify their own products for sale, so this year, we cut it back to just personal use, and I think we have a good chance at getting it passed.
Feel free to use it, contact your own legislator and put them to work. Shame to live in the middle of the hardwood belt and have to import lumber (often inferior lumber) from the West coast or Canada simply because of a grade stamp.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 43, Chapter 28, Part 3, is amended by adding the following as a new, appropriately designated section:
(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the 典ennessee Homestead Timber and Lumber Act.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) 滴omestead Timber means any species of hardwood or softwood trees growing within the borders of this state and within the borders of a person痴 own property.
(2) 滴omestead lumber means any lumber sawn entirely from 滴omestead Timber as defined in Section 1 (b)(1) and used exclusively on the owner痴 property.
(c) Any person who uses homestead timber or homestead lumber may choose to be exempt from state or local building codes requiring timber or lumber to meet or exceed American Softwood Standard PS-20-70. All homestead timber and homestead lumber shall be branded with the owner痴 registered brand as provided in TCA 43-28-3.
(d) If the branded homestead timber is sawn into lumber by a commercial sawmill, the sawmill owner or authorized representative shall provide documentation to the property owner certifying that the homestead lumber was produced exclusively from logs of the homestead timber delivered to the mill.
(e) If branded homestead lumber is dried, re-sawn, resurfaced or otherwise remanufactured at a facility other than the sawmilll, the mill owner or authorized representative shall provide documentation to the property owner certifying that the products were produced exclusively from homestead lumber delivered to the mill.
(f) The certification provided pursuant to subdivision (d & e) shall include:
(1) The quantity by species of homestead timber or homestead lumber received and quantity of homestead lumber or lumber product produced;
(2) The property owner痴 address for the location where the homestead timber or homestead lumber is to be used;
(3) The name and address of the commercial sawmill or other milling facility where the homestead timber was sawn or homestead lumber or lumber product produced;
(4) The date on which the homestead timber or homestead lumber was received and cut at the commercial sawmill or lumber or lumber product produced.
(5) Signature of the commercial sawmill痴 or milling facility痴 owner or authorized representative and signature of the property owner and date homestead timber or homestead lumber or lumber product was received by the property owner.
(g) The owner shall notify a potential buyer or buyer痴 agent in writing of the construction of structures built from homestead timber or lumber.
(h) The responsibility for the structural integrity of the homestead timber or homestead lumber or lumber product used on the owner痴 property shall rest solely with the property owner.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
