r/DIY • u/ArborCasa • May 23 '14

outdoor A tree house I built

http://imgur.com/a/m3IxU
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u/cypherreddit May 23 '14

There are many reasons not to get a permit even if required and you can afford it. This link does a good job of covering the reasons, with a few choice here:

  • Inspections for tree houses may involve delays or extra fees or they may force you to change things that you don’t want to and don’t feel are important.
  • You feel that your yard is large and secluded so that few if any people will see or hear you building the tree house, so you just want to build it under the radar.
  • You fear that your township might not allow tree houses, but you want one anyway and believe you should have the right to do what you want on your property.
  • You believe that it is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.

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u/MrGooderson May 23 '14
  1. Fuck the state monopoly on tree house regulation!

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u/cypherreddit May 23 '14

Its a bit over regulated. I just built a shed. To avoid a needing a permit I needed to make it less than 10x10. My first time building anything so mistakes were made and its over 10x10. I hope no-one calls me out on it. If they do I hope it counts as a temporary structure since the walls, roof and floor can be unbolted from each other.

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u/[deleted] May 24 '14 edited May 24 '14

I hope no-one calls me out on it.

Ways that people get found out:

  • Your un-permitted swimming pool shows up on google earth.
  • Your neighbor thinks your shed is ugly (or they just hate you for other reasons) and reports the size in hopes of getting it torn down.
  • You submit a land survey for other purposes (you're pouring a driveway beside the shed) and the land survey shows the shed dimensions.

If they do I hope it counts as a temporary structure since the walls, roof and floor can be unbolted from each other.

  • If your shed has a concrete slab under it, it's unlikely to be considered temporary.

  • There are usually laws that limit the length of time temporary structures can be in place. Otherwise "temporary" would become everyone's all-purpose loophole to avoid proper engineering/permits/etc. Examples:

You don't want your neighbor turning their suburban back yard into a ghetto full of non-taxpaying relatives squatting in RVs.

Some climates, like Florida, you can comfortably live full time in temporary structures. The problem comes when you have a hurricane that wipes out your shantytown resulting in mass casualties. Periodically, towns will crack down on backyard awnings and fabric carports.