Interpretation of IRC minimum service requirements.

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I already have a couple semi trailers and the goal is to "clean it up". I want thinks indoors and and not look like a horder. I don't need a building the size I am building, but I have learned you can never have one too big.

Hbliss, the intent is to install a composting (no water) toilet, which will eliminate black water. I also intend to have tanked potable water with a series NSF listed intensifier pump that will pressurize the water system for functional faucet and shower. This is don't in every RV and wet camper in America. This brings us to the gray water, which the county has shown at least some flexibility in a tanked gray water system, or at the very least a largely reduced septic. Technically the gray water would have a BOD load low enough, I would not really need a tank, but that should probably be included, but at much reduced capacity due to reduce need for BOD microbial breakdown.

Is any of this ideal? Not really, but my end goal is to cover the bare requirements to get a cert of occupancy for the shack.

Apparently this tiny home movement is rather large in other parts of the country and there is now an appendix in the IRC for tiny home provisions that will continue to expand.
 
hbiss said:
That's exactly what I thought. You want to build a "shed" or residential accessory building all by itself on a piece of land that has no residence for it to be an accessory to. Since it won't be a residence they have no choice but to call it a commercial or farm structure and tax you accordingly. I don't see that being much different anywhere.

-Hal
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True, but value of a shed might be lower then the dwelling, and may or may not result in lower overall taxes, depends on how nice of a shed one wants to build. Simple pole barn that is relatively unfinished inside definitely cost much less than even a simple finished dwelling, but then assessed values can be skewed by the potential such a property may have. If you want a dwelling accesory building but also must have a dwelling to go with it, value increases as well.
 
Coppersmith said:
Why don't you just park a large enough enclosed trailer there to use for your storage. It's not a building so no building codes apply.
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...or a couple of cargo containers-- 20, 30, or 40 foot long. Pour a pad and plop them into place.

Although... if you're out on the property and Nature calls, it would be nice, in the middle of February, with the wind howling, and the snow mounting up, to be able to duck into a nice, closed building and take care of things without the risk of frostbite!

Of course, that almost requires that the plumbing is warm enough not to freeze the pipes.

NB-- design the plumbing so that all the pipes point 'downhill' to a central drain valve.
 
fastline said:
Apparently this tiny home movement is rather large in other parts of the country and there is now an appendix in the IRC for tiny home provisions that will continue to expand.
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As I remember, there are Tiny Homes and Tiny Homes on Wheels. The latter is considered a camper or travel trailer and can utilize composting toilets and bottled water as you describe. However if it's built on a foundation, slab, piers, etc. it becomes a permanent structure, building codes kick in and it must be supplied with utilities regardless of size.

-Hal
 
PaulMmn said:
Although... if you're out on the property and Nature calls, it would be nice, in the middle of February, with the wind howling, and the snow mounting up, to be able to duck into a nice, closed building and take care of things without the risk of frostbite!

Of course, that almost requires that the plumbing is warm enough not to freeze the pipes.
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Toilets don't require water. A five gallon bucket, a trash bag, and a bucket potty seat (a toilet seat designed to sit on top of a five gallon bucket) works fine. Throw a cup of cat litter in between uses. Throw out the bag before it gets too heavy. Can be used inside a cargo container or shed, but it will still be cold.
 
Coppersmith said:
Toilets don't require water. A five gallon bucket, a trash bag, and a bucket potty seat (a toilet seat designed to sit on top of a five gallon bucket) works fine. Throw a cup of cat litter in between uses. Throw out the bag before it gets too heavy. Can be used inside a cargo container or shed, but it will still be cold.
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But no wind... from outside.
 
Getting pretty of topic I suppose but to answer a couple questions, I have spent hours studying appraiser property assessment cards and have a pretty good idea how they will valuate things. The can't jump off the wheels and come in with a crazy number. It has to be inline with comparables. Both the big building and the tiny home. They will also draw a line around the structures and call that "residential land" and apply that value as well. Even with all their boosts in values, I am still WAY better off here.

The major thing is I decided that tiny home (shed) will actually be needed anyway so I am covering a few different bases. Use it to store bulk fuels and keep those out of the shop, lawn equipment, and other things that go boom. A safe shed if you will, to reduce risks in the big building.

Hbliss, the bigger building is going in at 6000sf.
 
Lots of folks build shops with apartments in them.

Are you not able to do that here to satisfy your requirements? Seems like that'd be more useful than erecting a standalone 150 sf structure you don't really want.
 
Cow said:
Lots of folks build shops with apartments in them.

Are you not able to do that here to satisfy your requirements? Seems like that'd be more useful than erecting a standalone 150 sf structure you don't really want.
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I was going to suggest that way back instead of him banging his head against the wall for this outhouse. But he seems to have his mind made up.

Heck, forget the apartments. Make it all commercial and divide that up and rent some of it. Offices, stores, another contractor, whatever the area will support. The rent can pay your taxes and maybe even part of the mortgage.

This is the way people get the building they need. They get renters to pay the expenses.

-Hal
 
Actually, I designed all this up a year ago for a dwelling inside the building. Perfectly doable. BUT, all existing complications still apply, but more are added such as fire wall, having a door where I don't want it, railing over the top, etc. Not to mention I will eventually pour concrete in the big building and that "shouse" will be right in the way. Basically it would need removed. The little shed really won't cost much more AND I have found a long list of uses for it. Keeping fire hazards out of the big building will be nice.
 
fastline said:
Actually, I designed all this up a year ago for a dwelling inside the building. Perfectly doable. BUT, all existing complications still apply, but more are added such as fire wall, having a door where I don't want it, railing over the top, etc. Not to mention I will eventually pour concrete in the big building and that "shouse" will be right in the way. Basically it would need removed. The little shed really won't cost much more AND I have found a long list of uses for it. Keeping fire hazards out of the big building will be nice.
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So the big building is your shop and the little building is your living quarters? I’m glad to see someone FINALLY has their priorities right! Now how did you convince you’re wife of that?


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hbiss said:
Now I'm really confused. This is the first I'm hearing of a 6000sf "bigger building". o_O

-Hal
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Me too. I thought this was all about wanting to build a dwelling accessory building but zoning won't let him do that without a dwelling on the premises. A 6000 SF shop or storage building will be a little harder to convince the assessors it is a dwelling accessory, unless maybe all that is ever inside is RV's, boats, or other personal type items. It is still going to have commercial or agricultural potential value though on the assessment as well as if you ever want to sell it.
 
What, the shop is too small??:unsure:

Once I have a residential tax base, I have something to argue about. They cannot arbitrarily increase my value beyond the value of the building and there are a LOT of buildings where I am, even toy sheds this size. Bunch of high rollers.
 
Hopefully this will clarify. You are not permitted to build ANY residential out building without first having a dwelling. That dwelling could be inside the building or separate. The ONLY way is build as commercial or ag, which is taxed more than double.
If you build a dwelling, any out building can be considered an "accessory structure" and taxed as residential. Thus both the small dwelling AND the bigger out building would be taxed as residential, thus less than half the taxes.
 
fastline said:
Hopefully this will clarify. You are not permitted to build ANY residential out building without first having a dwelling. That dwelling could be inside the building or separate. The ONLY way is build as commercial or ag, which is taxed more than double.
If you build a dwelling, any out building can be considered an "accessory structure" and taxed as residential. Thus both the small dwelling AND the bigger out building would be taxed as residential, thus less than half the taxes.
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You must not make it obvious if there is any commercial or ag use of that building or you may get the zoning people on your case about it. They may look into it some anyway just because it is a large building, but if you are only using it for personal use then it can be fine. Park RV's, boats, ATV's, mowers, non commercial vehicles in it and you might be fine, park commercial vehicles in it, it will draw questions, park other people's vehicles inside or even outside on pretty regular basis, that might draw questions about activity going on there as well could be operating a repair shop, detailing service, etc.

What do you intend to use it for?
 
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