Looks like i’m buying some land up north very soon, and was considering housing options.
To build a complete house (debt free trying to do this out of pocket) would take a while funding wise, and would kill me on property taxes. On the other hand if I just built a cabin I could be done by next summer and start enjoying my land.
My question remains, can ya build just a cabin? What I mean by cabin is, no insulation, furnace, or drywall. Just the necessities, a dried in house with plumbing and electrical.
I’m located in michigan and have a feeling I know the answer to this question. I’m just wondering if there is some kind of seasonal CofO that would allow for traditional cabin building.
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here in Maine, it's called a Camp, and it happens all the time.
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Need permits for that camp? The land i'm looking at is on an association. There's city water and electric already there, but they need drawings, permits and all that good stuff. Their only requirements are that the building is at least 1000 sqft and the outside finished in under one year. Neither is a problem but i'm not sure what the towns gonna say without a finished interior.
Oh yeah, always need a permit
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Cool, I guess i'll find out more tomorrow when I call the city and find out more. I'm just hoping to be able to build a simple place to hang out at without having to build a finished house. Guess you could call it rustic.
Over here, on the western side of the mitten are many "cottages," some rather grand, some small, plain, and rustic, with bare stud walls and no heat for year 'round use, as I'm certain there are around your area. Depending upon your local health dept. it's possible to have a privvie, but they'd rather see a septic tank and drain field. Your association rules and township planning rules are your governing factor there. Enjoy the North on the Sunrise Side.
Not a big fan of the privy. I intend to have plumbing and a septic field. My thought is that if its just a scant cottage it will help with the taxes.
I called the city today and the inspector was on vacation, guess their a little laid back up there.
I thought you can only call it a camp as long as you do not use any wood that is longer than 6 foot... (stayed in a lovely camp over the 4rth in Greenville...)
I guess Im having some trouble from your posts .
"Need permits for that camp? The land i'm looking at is on an association. There's city water and electric already there, but they need drawings, permits and all that good stuff. Their only requirements are that the building is at least 1000 sqft and the outside finished in under one year. Neither is a problem but i'm not sure what the towns gonna say without a finished interior.
That usually means the land adjoins somthing for use in the ####. Such as swimming pools , tennis courts , club house, golf course , etc. Something .
Unless you are talking about a water ####. where rural water is sold public normally transferred throgh a city utility.
Of course we dont know your area codes either . Some staes have few and many states that are rural have only water then sewer . With out city water the sewer part is dead .
The best answer here is to find out the codes in the area. If this is inside a city , does it have a code office . Do they conduxt inspections.
It sounds like you are on rural water which will be an ####.
Next what does the #### consist?
Tim
Let me try to explain this a little better.
First I do intend to call the local community development this week and find out what they say.
The association is a group of 3000 lots located on the edge of lake huron and is boarded on its west side by "Grand Lake".
Between these bodies of water is a large forest (the association), they went ahead and provided the electric, water, and paved roads.
There is an association fee which covers the clubhouses other recreational type amenities. I spoke with the board and their main concern about the private lots is that the structures meet minumum standards.
They have to be at least 1000 sqft and built with traditional materials (you cant side your house with garbage bags).
I've already been told that as long as the outside of my house is finished they dont care about the inside. What I want to know is if I build my house can I live/vacation in it without a furnace, insulation, drywall and other finishes.
Bottom line is that I would like to build a simple cabin style vacation house that my family can spend some summer time in not a full blown home.
Well you brought up the city again .
If you are in a city limit that that has an inspection process you will have to finsih it for a CO. If you are out side the limits then you may not as long as you are not under an adopted code.
Piffin knew where I was going with this .
Tim
I guess thats about what I thought. Thanks.
That sounds like a fun place to hang out Mark.
We looked at property on Grand Lake before we bought the property that we occupy on Lake Huron. Grand Lake was interesting but the property that we were looking at was not.
blue
Yeah its nice up there, the kids had a blast. We are looking in the Presque isle harbor assn. and the lot is not right on the water but its a decent size (160x240) and the trees are great (about 75' tall pines & poplars).
We would be within 1 mile of lake huron and grand lake so it would be easy for the wife to throw the kids the minivan and run them to the water.
Edited 7/17/2006 6:12 pm ET by MSA1
Can you build an outbuilding (barn, shed, call it what you like)? Or are you really wanting some sort of CofO?
Eric
Yes I can build an outbuilding but the assn. wont let you live in it. They did tell me that as long as the house is finished on the outside they dont care what the inside looks like.
So as far as I can tell the city would be the only problem with an unfinished cabin (if its not done they cant raise the taxes up from vacant lot cost).
"So as far as I can tell the city would be the only problem with an unfinished cabin (if its not done they cant raise the taxes up from vacant lot cost)."depends.BIL lives in Vt, assessors can't go in houses, so they make educated guesses and assign values.
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter
I forgot about their assumptions. Ran into that with a house we redid in Southfield. Ex-business partner was a hardnose (just because he could). and he wasnt gonna let the assesor in. They told him "okay we'll just guess what ya got in there".
He let him in.