off grid world [Archive] - Colorado AR-15 Shooters Club Discussion Forums

RonMexico

12-09-2013, 20:13

http://www.offgridworld.com

Does anyone want to sell me a few acres to build my own cabin or shipping container house?
If one was to make their own cabin or shipping container house and didn't pull permits, what would happen if a county inspector or a nosy neighbor ratted you out? I would like like to build something like one of these two, but I would use modern technology to accomplish the job.

Watch this guy build his own cabin from hand tools
http://www.offgridworld.com/the-perfect-off-grid-cabin/

This is my favorite: modern shipping container house
http://www.offgridworld.com/ugly-duckling-shipping-container-home-built-by-artist-is-a-beautiful-swan-on-the-inside/

have have fun surfing this badass site.

Wulf202

12-09-2013, 21:16

The cost of the shipping container around here is usually more than stick building a shed of equivalent size and then you have to deal with equipping it, leaks, snow load, etc. Typical prices are $2k/20ft $4k/40ft

You can get around most of the codes by calling them sheds and not securing them to the ground and make sure they're movable. There's some codes in certain areas that have minimum sizes for living structures. Look into the tiny home stuff online, houses built on car hauling flatbeds

Irving

12-09-2013, 21:30

If you build a small cabin on skids, it isn't considered a permanent structure since it can be moved. Or so I hear.

Irving

12-09-2013, 21:33

have have fun surfing this badass site.

Here you go, just for you.
xkml0yavPvA

Great-Kazoo

12-09-2013, 22:40

If you build a small cabin on skids, it isn't considered a permanent structure since it can be moved. Or so I hear.

PROVIDING it is not ON a concrete slab. Then it is considered sitting on a foundation. Our garage has a slab poured inside the pole barn. The county considered the frame , based on construction, to be a utility shed for tax purposes.
If we placed the pole barn on a slab, that was considered permanent structure / higher tax rate.

If you want cheap, buy a mobile home. Those have DMV titles. As long as the mobile home is not on a foundation and still has the axle, you pay the DMV / title tax yearly not residential / house tax. I was in business with a few folks who built around the MH and the cty considered those additions to be add ons, still different tax rate.

Buy a single or double wide. then add on from there, preferably underground. Fabricate an escape hatch from the MH, to the safe underground area.

Irving

12-09-2013, 22:42

If you just need dry storage, a used semi-truck trailer would work.

RonMexico

12-09-2013, 23:01

Thanks for all the help and ideas. Looks like a lot of the mountain countries' building codes are stuck or have rules against sleeping in makeshift cabins, everyone is worried about their price if the pie, damn tax nazi. I want this off the grid or no title/DMV or county taxes. Guess I better save 40k soon to make this dream possible.

Wulf202

12-09-2013, 23:41

I want this off the grid or no title/DMV or county taxes.

death and taxes.

Buy a 5th wheel and park it there, don't register it. You still gotta pay the county for the privilege to own the dirt.

RonMexico

12-15-2013, 15:53

I'll bump my own post instead of starting a new one. What about a treehouse for an off the grid site. Yes I understand a forest fires would destroy it in a heartbeat but I did notice a lot of municipalities have relaxed standards or rules when it comes to building a treehouse.

Wulf202

12-15-2013, 17:48

tree houses are not good for cold climates

Great-Kazoo

12-15-2013, 18:02

tree houses are not good for cold climates

Or high winds and lightening.

RonMexico

12-15-2013, 18:30

Or high winds and lightening.
Wasn't thinking real high.... Just 10 off the ground. Thinking a few stout trees would make a good anchors system.
maybe I am watching too much discovery channel

hatidua

12-15-2013, 20:13

This is my favorite: modern shipping container house
http://www.offgridworld.com/ugly-duckling-shipping-container-home-built-by-artist-is-a-beautiful-swan-on-the-inside/

That one is nice. The Scandinavians have been building homes, hotels, and various other things out of shipping containers for a long time, if you want additional ideas for a container home, be sure to have a look at some of the projects that have occurred in Norway/Denmark/Sweden with containers.

RonMexico

12-15-2013, 23:20

That one is nice. The Scandinavians have been building homes, hotels, and various other things out of shipping containers for a long time, if you want additional ideas for a container home, be sure to have a look at some of the projects that have occurred in Norway/Denmark/Sweden with containers.

thanks for the info, I'll look into it.

rockhound

12-16-2013, 08:47

that container house is sweet,

i do not know of any county that would allow you use a tree house for a residence. if you want to buy fort acres and build a tree house as a temporary shelter, camping cabin, you might get away with it. as permanent housing, only until you get caught. btw i have seen many a tree house fail due to the trees swaying in the wind. if you topped the trees and just used the trunks in the ground it would last until the tree rotted anyway.

I see these guys burying their bunkers with power and sewer on tv, i wonder how many have permits etc for the work they are doing

TFOGGER

12-16-2013, 10:34

I own a parcel in a subdivision in Clear Creek County, and they have a number of restrictive covenants that would make this project impossible(no prefabbed housing/mobile homes unless they have a minimum square footage on the ground floor and a peaked roof, no trailers, must connect to the local municipal water/sewer, etc.) It's all bullshit meant to keep property values up for the neighbors, but it's a serious PITA, especially since the subdivision pretty much died on the vine back in the 70s. I can't really complain, as I was given the land by my parents, but if it was worth anything I'd probably sell it and look elsewhere.

mestes

12-16-2013, 13:34

What about building a container house on top of a couple containers to get it off the ground. Somthing like this
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u73/PHATman_2002co/xluxury-tree-houses.jpeg.pagespeed.ic.gV3jYfXffL_zpspuzhqphx.jp g (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/PHATman_2002co/media/xluxury-tree-houses.jpeg.pagespeed.ic.gV3jYfXffL_zpspuzhqphx.jp g.html)

hatidua

12-16-2013, 18:51

http://bigboomblog.com/shipping-container-homes

http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/articles/containers.htm

http://www.peterjon.com/unique-sea-container-homes/large-shipping-storage-container-home-design/

http://nazagreen.com/cargo-container-homes/cargo-container-homes-glass-door/

http://www.dmada.com/sea-container-homes-ideas-to-create-a-distinctive-home-style/

http://www.inspirationgreen.com/container-homes.html

MarkCO

12-16-2013, 19:10

I don't think there is anyplace in CO that you can build an occupied structure without a permit. Technically, you can't replace your water heater without a permit in CO. There are some states, where you can still build a house, no permit, on your own land. But, if you sell it, it has to have a permit pulled and an inspection completed. Some states, in order to buy a water heater, and some other building materials, you have to produce the permit to the cashier.

That said, you can still build an off grid residence or structure. I designed the entire mechanical system for a $10M home in Aspen a few years back. It was pretty impressive. One could also build a small structure in order to meet code with a large covered patio. After complete, put "temporary" insulated modular panels around the patio.

Omicron

12-16-2013, 21:46

I want to build one of these: http://www.ulive.com/video/man-cave-bachelor-pad

Wulf202

12-16-2013, 21:50

monolithic domes http://www.monolithic.com/topics/homes
They actually put on seminars where they teach you to build them. messy hard work.

edit, or did you mean the being single part?

Irving

12-16-2013, 22:32

I think a shipping container in a tree would be great fun during a thunderstorm.

Great-Kazoo

12-16-2013, 23:11

I think a shipping container in a tree would be great fun during a thunderstorm.

how high in the tree you talkin?

ChunkyMonkey

12-17-2013, 18:08

I want to build one of these: http://www.ulive.com/video/man-cave-bachelor-pad

That looks real cool. Sucks that my primary property decision has always been dictated by how far it is to the mall.

hatidua

12-17-2013, 18:12

Technically, you can't replace your water heater without a permit in CO.

Technically, I would never do such a dastardly deed!

MarkCO

12-17-2013, 18:27

Technically, I would never do such a dastardly deed!

I actually tried to get a State Legislator to sponsor a bill many years ago. You could remodel and or maintain your own primary residence without a permit except for water, gas and electrical supplies as well as sewer laterals. If you sold your house, you had to get it inspected and pay an inspection fee. If you did something wrong and it caused damage, your insurance company would have to pay for damage to other property, but could deny your claim based on negligence. Needless to say, there was no interest.

RonMexico

01-01-2014, 10:27

MarkCO

01-01-2014, 11:08

Over 40 acres is the normal number to be able to shoot on your own property. Some counties allow less. Hunt? 5000 acres or so. Best bet is a piece of land adjacent to National forest or BLM land.

hatidua

01-01-2014, 11:26

What land size should someone buy

To more easily visualize things, a square mile is 640 acres. In wooded mountainous terrain that may seem substantial but on relatively flat ground it's visually quite contained.

Irving

01-01-2014, 11:44

Yep. You can easily see end to end on a mile as long as the hills aren't too tall.

Omicron

01-01-2014, 13:04

I'll bump my own thread. What land size should someone buy if they are looking for a getaway/camp/hunt/shooting property. I am currently looking at 10-40 acres. Ideally looking for a place where the neighbors don't care what I do on my property35 acres or more allows you to drill a well. As water is essential to survival, to me, this - an a tappable water table under the property, or a working well already ON the property - defines the lower boundary.

Snowman78

01-01-2014, 21:02

I actually tried to get a State Legislator to sponsor a bill many years ago. You could remodel and or maintain your own primary residence without a permit except for water, gas and electrical supplies as well as sewer laterals. If you sold your house, you had to get it inspected and pay an inspection fee. If you did something wrong and it caused damage, your insurance company would have to pay for damage to other property, but could deny your claim based on negligence. Needless to say, there was no interest.

That sounds like a great bill!!

crashdown

01-01-2014, 22:22

35 acres or more allows you to drill a well. As water is essential to survival, to me, this - an a tappable water table under the property, or a working well already ON the property - defines the lower boundary.

Any size allows you a well, over 35 can allow for multiple wells, or irrigation.

Omicron

01-02-2014, 09:15

crashdown

01-02-2014, 09:53

You can have a pre-existing well, or a "household use only" (read: can't irrigate, water your yard, or provide for livestock) well on less than 35 acres, but last time I checked state law (I actually found the law online one time) it stated 35 acres or more to drill a new well. For me, I'd want to be able to irrigate, water my yard, and provide at least my dogs and/or livestock, so a limited well wouldn't do.

Another option is "non-exempt" wells. A lot wells that were dug before a certain time allowed outside use. I think it was 1978 or 1979. It doesn't mean all of them older than that will let you though. A neighbor of mine has less than one acre, but the original well on his property allowed for outside use, and when he got his new well dug, the non-exempt status carried over and he can do whatever he wants.
There are tons of lots smaller than 35 acres for sale that allow you to build and dig a well. The only issue you might have is that on smaller lots (sub one acre) you might not be able to get a permit for a septic system. I have seen little half acre lots where people couldn't put in a septic system because the lot is so small they couldn't get the leach field far away enough from the well or a neighbors well to get permitted.

Omicron

01-02-2014, 10:24

Good to know! Methinks your title needs updating. :D

jerrymrc

01-04-2014, 20:59

Speaking of Off-Grid. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/roscoe-bartlett-congressman-off-the-grid-101720.html#ixzz2pTiWU1dg

RonMexico

01-18-2015, 20:25

Bumping my own thread

the lady and I have been thinking long and hard about a tiny house. Please talk me out of building a 20K tiny house over the next two years.

Irving

01-18-2015, 20:41

Have you watched Tiny, A Story About Living Small, on Netflix already?

If you build a tiny house, you can spend way more money on land AND have a suitable place to live while you build something bigger. If not a bigger house, than a huge work shop. We're all about container homes.

RonMexico

01-18-2015, 22:23

Bumping my own thread

the lady and I have been thinking long and hard about a tiny house. Please talk me out of building a 20K tiny house over the next two years.

Have you watched Tiny, A Story About Living Small, on Netflix already?

If you build a tiny house, you can spend way more money on land AND have a suitable place to live while you build something bigger. If not a bigger house, than a huge work shop. We're all about container homes.
I'll have to check it out. I like shipping container houses, just looking for something mobile for the first three/five years

TheGrey

01-19-2015, 00:05

Bumping my own thread

the lady and I have been thinking long and hard about a tiny house. Please talk me out of building a 20K tiny house over the next two years.

Talk you out of it? Okay.
Where will you keep your stuff?
Where will guests stay?
Do you not need any alone time? Tiny houses mean you will never have any alone time to speak of, unless one of you leaves the house.

Will it be kept on a trailer? My Dad used to haul mobile homes, and some of the issues he said would come up were: wind catching the side of the house and shoving them all over the road (if not tipping them over- Wyoming winds are horrifying to deal with), certain routes were off-limits to them, potholes raised absolute hell, stuff shifted around inside the house, no matter how tightly cupboards were taped and secured, inclement weather (flooding, snowdrifts, high winds) can mean the floors will be quite cold, and if it's on a trailer there's very little room for SHTF supplies.

That's all I can think of right now.

Wulf202

01-19-2015, 01:28

Bumping my own thread

the lady and I have been thinking long and hard about a tiny house. Please talk me out of building a 20K tiny house over the next two years.
20k and two years? You should get ahold of me some time.... I may have a way to make this much easier on you.

Great-Kazoo

01-19-2015, 01:33

20k and two years? You should get ahold of me some time.... I may have a way to make this much easier on you.

Yurts.

GilpinGuy

01-20-2015, 22:53

I'll have to check it out. I like shipping container houses, just looking for something mobile for the first three/five years

Why not buy an RV or something if it's a temporary thing? Might even be cheaper than building a tiny house...and bigger. My neighbors lived in their trailer (RV, camping type - not trailer park type - and not fancy at all) for 2 years while they built their house. The trailer was plumbed into their well and septic and they had electric hooked up. Heat/hot water was propane. They even survived the blizzard of 2003 where we got 7' of snow in that RV. Two adults, a baby and 2 small dogs. I don't how somebody didn't loose their mind, but they managed fine.

My folks are moving out here in the spring and already have an RV parked on my property to live in until they find a house to buy. We had an electric meter installed just for their RV (their idea...they could have just used our power). They will be hooked up to my septic system and a simple garden hose gets them water fine. Their heat and hot water will be propane.

Ah Pook

01-20-2015, 23:29

I'd like two 40s and a couple of twenties on top. Now find a county that allows "alternative" building...

Ah Pook

01-20-2015, 23:34

The second link in the OP's post (missed the first time) is Richard Proenneke. I have watched Alone in the Wilderness many many times. This is, sadly, not an option today.

RonMexico

01-29-2015, 05:54

ChunkyMonkey

01-30-2015, 01:21

Sorry guys, I've been a little busy and haven't been watching this thread. I thank you all for your opinions and they are all valid points, and I have looked into many of those issues/cons of living in a tiny house . I am still thinking long and hard about untraditional( for me) living quarters.

I expect at least a hot tub in whatever decision you eventually make.

http://www.6sqft.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/glamper-tiny-house-camper-4.jpg