A Guide to States with No Building Codes
No Building Codes: A Guide to States with No Building Codes is an e-book by Terry Herb, 2010. Owner-builders across the United States are frustrated with the vast array of building codes adopted by so many states. Thankfully, there are still states left where you can build the kind of home you want without dealing with inspections and fees. You just have to do it in the right location--where building codes don't exist. Why pay thousands of dollars to architects for engineered plans because the building code officials tell you they need them; but you don't need them? There is a simple solution for the pioneers and out-of-the-box thinkers of today who want to swing a hammer without the hot breath of a code inspector on their necks. This downloadable e-book contains: An outline map of each of the 50 states with counties outlined as well; current code information for every state; for states with no building code, insightful commentary and information is provided to steer you in the right direction to determine if a state is right for you; researched and validated information; web links to help you learn more about the states that may interest you.
posted by Kelly Hart | 11:50 AM
16 Comments:
but you dont need them ?????? what is up with that?? and how about the poor guy who buys the house couple years later only to have the roof fall in on him
The comment "but you don't need them" refers to the engineered plans. Not all owner/builders need detailed plans to build a safe house. The safety of any building project is always a concern and needs to be addressed regardless of whether codes are enforced or not. Anyone who buys a house anywhere, whether building codes are applied or not, should have it inspected beforehand.
Can you tell me which counties have no property taxes? If I can find an overlap between the two, I'll be moving there!
You'll have to check with the specific counties you might be interested in to find out about property taxes. That information is not a part of this book.
Great find! It definitely gets frustrating when you're planning a dream house and then realize parts of your plan are impossible according to codes in your state.
It is a wonderful thing to build a home free and clear all the while including our own personal integrity into the structure for it fosters true responsibility. Thanks for offering this book.
I get that it might be nice to be able to build without worrying about building codes, but I am a retired plumber, and I have seen some pretty funky stuff. Not having building codes that builders have to follow opens the door to sub-standard work. How do you know your electrical wiring is properly grounded if it has not been inspected? What about your water heater or furnace? You want to take a chance on your "dream home" exploding to save some money on fees?
Common sense and experience in construction make building codes nothing but a hassle and an affront to personal freedom in the case of an owner built home.
SO AT LEAST TELL US FOR FREE WHICH STATE IN THE SOUTHWEST MAKES THE LEAST HASSLE FOR A GUY WITH NO MONEY TO PAY FOR PERMITS AND PLANS ETC
Most states do have mandatory building codes, but there are still 15 states where the existence of codes is a matter of local jurisdiction. Often it is the larger cities that opt for control of building practice, while the the more rural areas are freer. This is true in Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Some states have just a few counties that have yet to establish code requirements. In Arizona there is only one such county (Greenlee); in California there are three (Mendocino, Humbolt, and Nevada) that have adopted the liberal “Limited Density Rural Dwellings” program; Colorado has 15 open counties (including Saguache county where I live); Iowa has eight free counties; Mississippi is mostly free, except for coastal areas where wind and flood codes are enforced.
Special cases are Tennessee, which is now in transition from having no codes to having mandatory control, and Texas, which does have state codes, but enforcement seems to be very lax. Of course the situation is always changing, so it behooves anyone planning to move to a code-free region to find out specifically what the situation is there.
People who are interested in counties with no building codes generally are owner builders, or people who are trying to build sustainable housing using untraditional building pratices such as Earth Bag, Cob, or Staw Bail. The information contained in this book should be free, because it will contribute to more people having this information, and utilizing it to build their sustainable homes. Once more intelligent building practices become more previlent, we can buck the current code system and start a renaissance of smart building construction. Its the new economic boom, and the way out of national debt. People can spend two or three years building a nice home using Ecotecture, or they can have a 30+year mortgage. The system has ruined our economy, we need to get back to the basics, and share as much information with anyone who is interested free of charge.
Hi Kelly,
I am happy to hear that Colorado has a whopping 15 counties that go easy on you with building codes. Can you please tel me what those counties are? I am looking to buy land in Colorado and any information you can give would be a blessing. Thank you!
The only county in Colorado that I am sure doesn't have building codes is Saguache county...and that is because that's where I live!
Building permit is mandatory. Construction that is done without a permit can result in the city issuing fines to the property owner.
I been a builder for 30 years and have a degree is Architectural Engineering & Design. There are so many ridiculous codes these days written by people who have little to none real life experience. We all end up being governed by codes based on ridiculous assertions. Codes are being written based on what a select few think could happen in an extreme and highly unlikely scenario rather than experienced determinations relative to real world likelihood. I for one am so sick & tired of it I get physically ill and disgusted. Too many codes goes right to the heart of matters which are rampantly destroying our freedoms in America. Besides what it boils down to is the same old thing that's been dictating our democracy for years... the almighty dollar. More codes means more government $ money $. Gotta keep that big river of money flowing. Unfortunately that river flows away from most of us.
Great points, and great read. You really need them to have a safe house, which is always a priority.
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