The dream of owning a beautiful log cabin is the ultimate goal of every aspiring outdoorsman. Although this dream of having a cabin is achievable, you still need planning permission for the log cabin. In today’s America, everything is inspected and needs to be signed off on, and that definitely includes situations where you need to build a log cabin for yourself. If you are looking for affordable log cabins that will serve as a residence place, you surely need planning permission. At TinyHouseMe, we connect you with multiple home builders offering tiny homes on foundations, cabins on wheels for sale, casitas, ADU units, and log homes. Going via our platform, you can instantly connect with the builders to compare and choose which model suits you in terms of price, aesthetics, and functionality.
Getting planning permission might seem like a hurdle, but it’s definitely worth the pain. Many people have built cabins without any planning permission, but again these structures have a few restrictions concerning the size of the cabin and other factors. These cabins, without planning permission, are built close to an existing structure for access to sewage, water, and electrical connection. However, getting an ESB connection inside the cabins is relatively easy, but it’s not free, and you need planning permission to get the new ESB connection for your log cabin. If you need to know more about the planning permission, you can connect with multiple builders offering log cabins on wheels for sale via TinyHouseMe. We instantly book an appointment with your local builder to make things easier. Until then, let’s learn the basics of getting planning permission for your cabin.
What is the planning permission?
Planning permission is also known as developmental approval. Permission from the jurisdiction is required before building, expanding, or demolishing any structure on the property. Whether you need a planning permission or not is subject to the zoning codes of the particular jurisdiction. Zoning codes differ from place to place but hold importance as one needs to know whether the building structure is suitable for residential, commercial, or industrial use. For example, if your land is certified for industrial use, it won’t get the residential certification since log cabins are typically a form of residency; the land for your log home must be zoned for residential usage.
The purpose of zoning codes
The average outdoorsmen look down on zoning codes, but the rules and regulations must be addressed. Zoning codes help determine if the land is safe enough for the log cabin and ensure that the structure is not too intrusive for other residents of that particular location. In other words, zoning codes are important as they ensure that companies do not build housing developments on land subjected to nuclear fallouts. In addition, zoning codes are vital as they enlighten a builder to know whether the land is stable enough to support a log cabin. This is the reason why abiding by the zoning codes is a must.
The purpose of building codes
While zoning codes regulate where to build the home, building codes are about how to build the structure. Building codes enforce the construction standard for promoting safety to the property owner and any other individual who might get affected by the shoddy workmanship of the structure, from future buyers to potential visitors or inheritors. Building codes are uniform and generic. Building codes are put in place for safety reasons and must be followed by every tiny cabin homeowner. As per Small Cabin, residential log cabins below 10 square meters in size or located within 2 meters of your home do not need a permit.
How to get the planning permission for the cabin?
Obtaining the permit for the cabin is a multi-facet process. However, in most cases, you must apply for and receive the building and planning permits separately. When applying for the permits, you need to tell the square footage of the cabin and how far from your property the cabin will be built. A detailed proposal, like floor planning and blueprints, must be presented to those in charge. If any proposed ideas conflict with the zoning and building codes, change your plan before you go for the planning permission. Once you get the planning permit, you can go for the building permit and follow a similar procedure. Both planning and building permits are important before you start building the log cabin.
When do you not require planning permission?
Most log cabin construction needs planning permission from local jurisdictions, but there are a few caveats to this generalization. Firstly, most jurisdictions don’t need planning permission when the structure is below a specific size. However, these kinds of structures are storage sheds rather than places of residence. Therefore, if you plan to build a log cabin without planning permission, you need a trusted builder to plan everything and double-check the rules and regulations before starting the project. However, rules and regulations change at the drop of a dime, so planning permission cannot be ignored.
Need help? Sign up at TinyHouseMe. We help you plan and finance your cabin on wheels, tiny homes, casitas, and ADU kits. We also connect you with several trusted home builders across the US and Canada. By joining our platform, save time and get a faster response from your preferred builder.
