I'm beside myself with my "work shop"

[supermanotorious]

All along I thought my tarp system was acceptable. A neighbor recently complained to the city in retaliation for things he was reported for. The city has inspected and said not only can I not have the tarp visible from the property line but I can not keep my cabinets or drill press which are taller than the fence where they are on the RV pad either.

Anything I build on the pad is to be less than 8' in height, 6' from the house, and 3' from the property line (wall). This would make for a small structure not capable of covering my tools.

My rear patio is really too small for these items and that only leaves dirt and rock in the backyard. City code says I can't build my wall higher. I'm pretty upset and angry and don't know what to do. We really want to move to a larger lot but that is going to take a ton of time and there is much work to be done in the "shop" between now and then.

 

[KartFab]

make a plan for the shop/porch attached to your house. Get an engineer to review and approve it, then take that to the city and get a building permit. Them build something a little more permanent. Corrugated tin and plywood with plastic siding and 2x4's for framing shouldn't be too expensive.

What did you report your neighbor for? Just curious.

 

[supermanotorious]

think this can be done on the RV pad?

neighbor was storing his landscaping trailers in the street

---------- Post added at 08:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:23 PM ----------

****, looks like the building permit process alone will cost over $1,000 in Phoenix, AZ

 

[Zombient]

Come on over to Texas. We don't care what you do.

 

[supermanotorious]

Texas does have some amazing winch spots, I would if I could

 

[Badot]

If you're having problems with things being taller than the fence... any chance you can dig it into the ground a little?

 

[Poboy kartman]

A 3×7×6' deep hole and a BBQ invitation should do it....the city can always hire another inspector......

 

[itsid]

Hmm..
I might have an idea...

could you post a pic of what would be allowed space wise (say a google map image with some outlines)
and what's the dimension of the tools and stuff you need to cover?

'sid

 

[ghost civic]

Im glad that kinda stuff doesn't happen up here. You would have to basically have a junk yard on your property for the town to get on your case.

the rule that makes NO SENSE to me...why would a structure have to be 6' from your house? I get there being a rule about how far from the property line...but what right do they have to make you build something "X" number of feet from your house? The cheapest way to build a shed would be to build it OFF of the house. That is just stupid if you ask me. And if you already have a pad, why cant the structure be more than 8' tall?

This is what happens when the lawmakers are old farts. Important things go unregulated and the nit picky stuff gets so many rules it will make your head spin.

 

[machinist@large]

Im glad that kinda stuff doesn't happen up here. You would have to basically have a junk yard on your property for the town to get on your case.

the rule that makes NO SENSE to me...why would a structure have to be 6' from your house? I get there being a rule about how far from the property line...but what right do they have to make you build something "X" number of feet from your house? The cheapest way to build a shed would be to build it OFF of the house. That is just stupid if you ask me. And if you already have a pad, why cant the structure be more than 8' tall?

This is what happens when the lawmakers are old farts. Important things go unregulated and the nit picky stuff gets so many rules it will make your head spin.

Here in Michigan, most zoned areas give you a serious break on your insurance premiums if your garage is separate from your home, due to the fire risk. As I've never lived in or owned a home with any car garage (steel sided pole barn's full of farm machinery don't count here) I don't know what the fire break gap is, but I'm guessing that that might be an issue here. Just a guess, but there it is.....

And for the record, the closest farm building to my house is ~50' away, so it most likely doesn't come close to the attached rules.....

 

[supermanotorious]

well I went to the planning and development office, a permit to build a legit work shop is $558, not too bad as I thought it would be over $1,000, I need to price out materials now

 

[landuse]

well I went to the planning and development office, a permit to build a legit work shop is $558, not too bad as I thought it would be over $1,000, I need to price out materials now

At least if you get it done all legal, your neighbor cannot complain anymore

 

[ghost civic]

well I went to the planning and development office, a permit to build a legit work shop is $558, not too bad as I thought it would be over $1,000, I need to price out materials now

my dad made 2 additions on the home I grew up in...and tore down a garage the next town over (cut it into 3 wall sections plus roof section) and hauled it home and with very little new material built a good sized shed in the backyard. No permits or approval needed.
I honestly could never live somewhere that you would have to pay $500 for permission to build on your OWN property. The city shouldn't have any right on your property other than to charge tax. It is one of those things that old/fat lawmakers who have healthy incomes made a law that adversely effects the average joe who live off much less $.