[Bugs]

I live in a rual area in florida, it's zoned A1, and I am going to build me a pole barn soon(the ole shade tree has got to go )I was wondering if anyone can tell me how far from the property line and from my house it has to be to keep the county guys from comeing down on me? I have also been told that you don't have to have a building permit for a pole barn too as long as you don't put the poles over 3 feet in the ground? This don't make a bit of sense to me but that is what the guy across the street told me Maybe he was just messing with me, I don't know, any help on this will sure be appreciated, I have tried to find out the answers to this on line but had no luck Thanks , Bugs

[grouch]

Unless "the guy across the street" is the local building inspector, you'll be better off checking with your county courthouse. It would be a shame to build that garage then be forced to tear it down and pay some hefty fines plus face a possible civil lawsuit from your neighbors.

[Bugs]

The "Guy across the street" has been known to make up his own rules,yes I will have to check with the code guys before I do any building to be sure, I just thought that maybe someone on here has "Done that,been there" before and save me a trip to town and I could figure out where to put it before Monday when they open, my property is so narrow I am limited to places to put a shop, especially if he is right in it having to be 25' from the property line or my house, he claims this is the reason he hasn't built one

I live on a small lake also so most of my back yard stays to wet to put it down there, guess I will find out soon, Thanks, Bugs

[alkyaltered]

By all means you need to contact your county codes office,i'm involved in a dispute now that has held me up for two month's.

In our county there is no offset.

My problem is a property line issue that after nine years surfaced after i informed my neighbor of my intention's.

I had a survey done and actually gained some on him and he's really pissed off now.

However we are pouring the pad next week and the building is on site (steel) so it all worked out.

You do need to be sure because these type of conflicts have a nasty habit of escalaiting.

[poncho62]

Around here, you need to be 4 ft from the property line and you can't make it bigger than 10% of the lot size. And, BTW......You WILL need a permit.

[OneMoreTime]

Just go to your local building permit counter and ask for a residential permit application package..

I worked for an oil comapny building gas stations in 5 different states so have been there done that..

Shott me a PM with any specific questions and I will see if we cannot walk thru to the end of the process and get your permit processed..

OMT

[Bugs]

Yea I think I had better go to the zoneing office in the morning,buy a permit and do it right, I sure don't want to pay fines or have to tear it down, it will be best in the long run to get it straight from the horses mouth so to speak , I have been needing this shop for to long and sure don't want any problems in the future,

My neighbor to the east of me had a metal building built after the hurricans last year damaged his old one so I measured how far he had put from my property line and it was exactly 25', he is on a two week vaction so I didn't get a chance to talk to him about it, I guess this is the reason he built it so narrow and tall, it has an upstairs in it, well thanks again to all of you, I will post what I find out and maybe it will help some other Floridian in the future

[Bugs]

Well I got ahold of the zoning office, not good, my land is zoned A1 which is prime agracultural(sp?) they said you have to be 50ft. from the property line on the sides, and 100ft. from the front which would be fine except my lot is only 108ft. wide and 695ft. deep, so like I told them, leagally I could only build a 8ft wide barn or building this isn't much of a shop,I told them there are barns,shops, homes,carports and canopy's all over the place that aren't 50ft.from the property lines or 100ft. from the road and they just ignored me, I think you have to buy a variance from them to build closer to the lines, I am going to check into this, there has to be something one can do to satisfy them

I asked my neighbor how he got away with building his were it's at and he said it was because there was an old building in it's place before the huricans took it out but he also built the old one,,,,without a permit
So as it stands right now,,, it don't look good as far as my shop goes

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

In Michigan the rules are far different. BUT, you can usually file for a setback variance. Especially if your lot size will not allow. Be careful, as there are all kinds of regulations. Set backs and lot sides. Number of out buildings, Height of building, Some do not allow certain types of buildings, some regulate size to square footage of property. Most (in Mich.) will not allow a building that has more square footage than the dwelling. (apply for variance) Intended usage, (you will have to sign an agreement that no commercial use etc.) Types of doors, number of windows, drainage, etc.

Then comes electrical permits, mwchanical permits (heater etc) (sometimes0 driveway permits.

Been there a few times and going thru it now trying to get a 36x80' erected on 40 acres in the middle of no where, North western Michigan.

[OneMoreTime]

Draw up your plans and submit them to the local building dept..be sure and show some setback like say 20' to allow access to the back of your property. Be nice and play a bit dumb with the building dept and what ever you do do not get mad at the guy at the counter..

When it comes back denied on the basis of the local setback rules then apply for the variance. This is a classic as the rules are not reflecting the reality of what is one the ground.

The app should then go to the hearings examiner at which time you present your case..Most times the hearings examiner will see your point and allow your permit. It is quite common for rules to get changed or put in that so not allow for older undersize lots..

Hope this helps

OMT

[1931 steve]

Originally Posted by OneMoreTime

Draw up your plans and submit them to the local building dept..be sure and show some setback like say 20' to allow access to the back of your property. Be nice and play a bit dumb with the building dept and what ever you do do not get mad at the guy at the counter..

The app should then go to the hearings examiner at which time you present your case..Most times the hearings examiner will see your point and allow your permit. It is quite common for rules to get changed or put in that so not allow for older undersize lots..

Hope this helps

OMT

This is what happened to me, I wanted to build a second story on my house, directly over my existing structure, using the same foot print that I have. Had an architect draw up the blue prints, ect... Applied for the permits and was denied, due to a change in the set back laws, talked back and forth with the officials, and 2 weeks later still had to apply for a variance. The city wanted me to have the second story kick back almost 11 feet in the rear of my house, (could you imagine what that would look like) I went to the Zoning Board of Appeals prepared with additional quotes for the support beams, new drawings, the additional man labor hours and my argument of no further land would be used, plus the added tax $$$ I would be paying to the city for the larger home, the benefit of neighborhood improvement, ect.... Make it sound like you are doing something for them, and do your homework, be prepared and don't listen to the neighbors.

Like OMT said don't get mad at the officials (they can and will make your life difficult). For the most part I think the ZBA is just another way to collect money. And yes I was granted the variance to build what I wanted to build.

Steve

[Bugs]

I want to thank you all for your help on this, I just called the ZBA but they were closed, I left a mesage asking how much a Variance is going to cost me and if I appy for one would they then let me build where I want to, I also got an email from one of them and they said that unless I use the land for agra. purposes that I have to have a permit, I have a pot bellie pig, does this count So I have two of saying no permit is needed and two saying it is, so that part is still iffy, I made a copy of my survey and drew in to scale where I want to build but you are saying to draw up three,in this do you mean a drwing showing the shop in other locations? Then let them pick and tell me which is the best? I am going to get a permit, just to be on the safe side, $50.00 now could save me a lot of headaches on down the line,Thanks again, I will let you know how it goes Bugs (Don)

[Bugs]

A variance is going to cost me $497.00 for the side set back, I don't have to worry about the front, I have plenty of room to spare there, so I guess it is finally time to start shelling out the dough to the county so I can build on "MY" property,(this sucks) thanks again to all of you for your comments and help on this

[Henry Highrise]

Hi Bugs. This is whats great about Mississippi, no building codes or zones out in the county. If your not in the city limits here you can do whatever you want. I like it like that. Later man, the Crappie are biteing, gonna sore lip them all! Lmao.

[Bugs]

I sure wish it was like that here, I have been told Florida is the worst state there is when it comes to code enforcement and zoning crap Good luck with the crappie, I blew my motor(Mercury) so I will be down for a while I guess