In our last post, we have covered the regulation regarding zoning and building permits in the United States. If you’re still unsure about those regulations, we advise you to return to the last post and go through them again.
Continuing on the topic of building glulam log cabins in the United States, in this post, we would like to go through the rest of the process. Once you found the best location for your log cabins homes, you can now start going through the following steps.
Before you apply for a permit, make sure you have all the necessary documentation and information with you. If you don’t, check with your planning office if they offer a preliminary consulting session. There, you will be able to find out all the necessary information before starting the application process. These are some useful points to ask about during the consult:
- How far will your log cabin need to be setback from the boundaries of the land parcel?
- Are there going to be any difficulties regarding your proposal?
- Do they have any suggestions for alternative methods of construction? Could those alternatives save you money and time?
- What is the minimum square footage for a building?
- Are there any changes that need to be made in your plans?
Keep in mind that zoning and other regulation can often be subject to interpretation. If you feel like some things with permissions could be done differently, don’t hesitate to consult a professional regarding these matters. Also, don’t forget to check for potential conflicts of opinion with the planing department.
Once you receive your planning permit, you can now go after the building permit. Of course, if you’re in a place that does both processes at the same time, you’re in luck and can move on straight to building.
The building permit usually requires a drawing or a blueprint – that is log cabin floor plans – of your glulam log cabin. It’s necessary that the planning department can inspect whether it complies with local regulation. If you still don’t feel confident and clear about these permits, we encourage you to consult an attorney who specialises on the matters of building permits. They will be able to advise you and help you out through the process.
Building inspections
Whether you’ve managed to get both permits on your own, or with the help of an attorney, you will now need to go through the building inspections. The frequency of these inspections can may vary depending on the legislation of the locale. In most cases, the targets will be set before the start of the construction, in which case, you will need to arrange the time of inspection whenever you meet certain points in your building.
Don’t miss this chance to learn as much as possible from the inspector. They will surely be knowledgeable about building regulations and can advise you on certain things that might be going off track during the construction. Take their advice and make sure you improve the process accordingly. Also, don’t be shy and share your plans for your log house. The inspector can also point you into different solutions that could save you time and money.
Tiny log cabin homes
There are some exceptions where log home owners have gotten around the complicated permit process. Depending on where you are, log cabin can be small and hence not need a permit. We are talking about cabins between 10×10 foot to 20×20 foot, depending on the county.
We at Eurodita always say that the best course of action is to comply with every regulation, no matter where you are. This also applies to the US. More so because of the fact that as soon as you make the log cabin home your permanent residence, or designate it as a place you sleep in – a permit will be necessary. In this case, we only mention the tiny cabin option because it has been done before. However, it can be difficult to find a legal place to build even the tiniest shed. Unless you register it as an RV and park it in the RV park.
There are ways to make the permit process easier. Some people make their log houses mobile, like our own Bespoke log house on wheels. There are always options of joining a small homes community, or an ecovillage. If there isn’t one in your area, consider with the planning department to start one.
There are always options in regards to building glulam log houses. Consider all of them before applying for the permit and be prepared. Your dream bespoke log cabin is just around the corner.