Square footage question??????

[John_M]

Let me start out by saying that I am very lucky to have a good job, with a good future and a nice piece of property in addition to my beautiful (but small) home!!

My cabin is being built and we're getting closer to finishing all the time.  My wife and I have made a lot of sacrifices to have what we have.  I have done everything myself except the foundation.  Now I know that taxes are part of life in our country and I'm willing to do my share.  What's killing me is as we improve our property, our assessed value goes up and so does our taxes.  We need a permit for this and a permit for that and sometimes I feel it's just a way for them to keep tabs on what we're doing, so they can reassess us.

The latest dilemma we have is we want to erect a garage/shed.  We want it to be big enough for what we need.  The biggest structure we can build without a permit is 144 square feet, which is basically a 12 x 12 building.  This size doesn't really meet our needs.

Since I'm tired of new permits and more taxes....does anyone see a problem with building more that one of these sheds right next to each other and not needing permits?

In other words....could I theoretically build 10 of these structures right next to each other and be in compliance?    I'm obviously not going to build 10 but at least 2 for now.....maybe a third one somewhere else on the property later on?

Curious about everyone's thoughts on this!

Thanks!

[diyfrank]

I asked our inspector this question and was told there was a minimum distance between structures. I couldn't build them side by side.

I could build more than one outbuilding without a permit.

[RainDog]

I asked our inspector this question and was told there was a minimum distance between structures. I couldn't build them side by side.

I could build more than one outbuilding without a permit.

Yeah. I don't believe they can share the same roof structure either.

[MountainDon]

The correct answer probably depends on what other "if's, and's or buts" are written into the collection of zoning bylaws for your area. My county rules have something written into them that more or less states that if you do something that itself is allowed, but if the manner it's done can be demonstrated to show intent to subvert the rule, then you are in doo-doo.

[John_M]

...if you do something that itself is allowed, but if the manner it's done can be demonstrated to show intent to subvert the rule, then you are in doo-doo.

I want to live in a state where they use the word "doo-doo" in their bylaws!!

[Rover]

There might be a by-law that limits the number of accessory buildings you can have on your property.

[Freeholdfarm]

You'll have to check your local regulations.  Here we can build more than one outbuilding under 200 sf, but they have to be at least six feet apart, and that includes the roof overhangs.

Kathleen

[pagan]

I asked an attorney if I could build a pond and then put a house boat on the water so I couldn't be taxed for having a house. He thought it was an intriguing idea but that I was really dealing with semantics and he didn't think it would actually work. Kind of like having two outhouses because you can only use one for six months at a time. He said the town would very quickly change the code to restrict or tax you "properly."

[RainDog]

I asked an attorney if I could build a pond and then put a house boat on the water

Love it!

I'd have to guess that the end result would be sorta like what you get when you spit into the wind, though. 

[fishing_guy]

I asked an attorney if I could build a pond and then put a house boat on the water so I couldn't be taxed for having a house. He thought it was an intriguing idea but that I was really dealing with semantics and he didn't think it would actually work. Kind of like having two outhouses because you can only use one for six months at a time. He said the town would very quickly change the code to restrict or tax you "properly."

You mean like Illinois did with "Riverboat" casinos?  The first ones were ACTUAL riverboats...with actual landings...it didn't take long before all they had surrounding them was a thin strip of moat...

[pagan]

Pretty much the same idea. A boat cannot be taxed as a house because it's a boat, just like an RV isn't taxed as a house. I'd have to register the boat every year but the registration fee is far cheaper than property tax on a house.