sugar house building permit

[Pete S]

I usually don't just volunteer this,.....................but I'm a Full Time- Contracted Building Inspector, and carry an Assessor I license here in the great State of WI.

Within our business, we also issue permits. The "best" advice is to contact your local municipality to see if your construction project would trigger a permit. Most of our municipalities have a dollar amount that will trigger the requirement for a permit.

ALTHOUGH, with the construction of a new "accessory" type structure, as in it wasn't there before, you may be required to obtain a permit regardless of the cost of materials.

Typically (here) there wouldn't be any real construction standards for the construction of a Sugar Shack. In rural settings proximity to your septic system and well should be a concern.

For accessory structures, especially ag/rural/farm related, the Building Permit simply notifies the Assessor's Office about the "improvement" to the Real Property. Wherein as then it's up to the Assessor's Office to determine the increase of value thus "potentially" increasing the amount of taxes you'd pay, tax levy dependant.

Sorry for the wordy response :roll: , but thought I'd contribute, and possibly save someone a fine.

Oh, changing the land's use may cause a penality due to the "tax break" on land use............thus being changed.

Pete

[royalmaple]

I for one hate to see anyone dropping in to see what I am up to. Or trying to explain what I want to do to anyone. THey are not paying for it so basically feel like screw off.

But I did pull a permit for my sugar house this year, something like 30ish bucks. It wasn't the price, just the idea that bugs me. I don't think it will add too much to my taxes, or shouldn't but never know.

I guess that normally I'd just build something and they can eat rocks for all I care, but with this building I guess they could drive by and see it and rather than get into a pissing match, I just pulled the permit.

I try to stay on their good side and when I pulled my permit to build my barn, I told them I wanted a permit for a 40x60 barn. First response I got was" Why you want that, gee that is a big building". They caught me on the wrong day and before I told them what they could do with the quesiton. I replied, because I want it, I can afford it. Blah blah.

Then he was like gee, that is an aweful big building, so I said to him. Ok you got me, I am building it for an underground casino and brothel. 8O You should seen the look on his face, and that was the end of the conversation. I think he got the hint.

[Pete S]

Although I am "in the business".............I don't cover the Township where I live.

5 Years ago, it took me about 8 months to get a Building Permit to constuct a house on the land we owned.............113 acres!!!

The Town Board here, as well in other areas throughout the country, can be a bit "funny" (that's all I'll say).

It shouldn't matter if you could have afforded a 100' x 300' barn. If you're zoned for it, and the local ordinances allow it..............what's the need for any "jibber jabber"............gimme the flippin' permit!!

I feel very stongly about folks rights to construct/improve what belongs to them...............espceially if it's within the "law".

In the country, I think sugar shacks, and barns, etc. are part of the "Bundle of Rights" that accompany rural living.

Besides that's what we're out here for.

( I could write for hours about "mega farm buildings", etc............nuff said)

Pete

[The Sappy Steamer]

I was told that if I built my shack like a pole barn it would increase my taxes between $9.00 - $12.00 sq ft x our tax rate per thousand. If I made it like a shed it would be 5.00 sq. ft. I am converting a six year old 20x20 picnic pavilion into the shack,so it's basically a pole barn. The $139.00 per year increase won't kill me, but, I know it won't end there. Last year, two places I own doubled the taxes without me building or improving a thing. One gave me a lame excuse: " Well, it's a premium site". The other's excuse was " Well, you could still sell it for that". I can't really argue with either one except: What did the town do that helped increase the value of my place or "What did I do" for that matter? Will I be receiving any additional services from the town? Nope. To be honest, I would say screw em', but I have a woman that works at the assessor's office one house to the east, the town attorney two doors to the west, and the county D.A. owns all the land behind me. I've met them all and they are all nice folks,but I don't live there so I think I'm still an outsider and sure don't want to find things out the hard way. Sorry about the long post as well. (Don't get me started on the city slickers)

[brookledge]

Boy it sounds like there are differences from one state to another.For me when I rebuilt my sugarhouse I needed a permit. When I went to the building inspector he was more interested in making sure that the way I wanted to build it was going to be safe. He basicly just was concerned with the roof, size of the rafters ,type of wood and distdance on center etc. Myself for one I like to cut corners once and a while but I was perfectly fine with him reviewing my plans and oking them before I started.
The way I look at it if you are going to have people visiting and the building is build real shabby someone could get hurt or killed. All it takes is to have your roof cave in in the winter witha snow load on it while people are in it then the lawsuits begin.
I just think that the permit should be to make sure it is structurely ok and not the politics as to whether you can build or not.
Keith

[royalmaple]

Keith-

Aside from the taxes and all that nosey stuff.

I agree totally, there are too many people that can much less build a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, never mind any sort of structure.

So in this case having the building inspector be the final say on what you are building or really how you are building it is ok and making sure it is up to code and above all safe, then sure. That is a great idea.

Plus many code enforcement people may be able to give some novice builders some pointers to make things come out better than they could have planned.

In this capacity I think it is part of a well planned project.

[Pete S]

'round here there aren't any "real" building standards in the rural areas which would dictate how one is to construct a "DETACHED" accessory structure.

I'm dreamin'/plannin' of some day (soon) to start on a sugar shack for us. We'll need a permit, and approval from County Planning.

Structural issues should be very critical when planning and or constructing. Utilizing proven or Code related building practices is necessary so, as mentioned earlier,.............it dosen't come a tumblin' down with the first wind or snow.

Other things as well to consider and or address:

1.) Clearance to combustibles from your evaporator, irregardless of wood/oil/gas fired

2.) Some of these shacks may want to consider enough infiltration air or a supply of combustion air. (I've seen pictures showing plastic'ed walls)

3.) Proper electrical wiring practices

Pete

[The Sappy Steamer]

I wouldn't think I'd have much trouble getting by the inspector. He checked out the building when I finished it six years ago and he liked everything then. The building already has a capola on it, but that would need to be modified. I'll be enclosing the walls and adding a couple doors and windows. The hardest part is already finished.

[Fred Henderson]

If I were to build another SH the first thing to go in would be that base for the arch. I would put a frost wall in and pour concrete on that. Then I would put an expansion joint around it and pour a floating slab. I never thought that when I built my present one that I would be where I am now. Its either build totally new or mudle along the way I am. Have to check for level every 2or 3 days.

[The Sappy Steamer]

Thanks for the sound advice Fred. I'm only about a foot off of bedrock so I'll have to do things a little differently. I have a pond about fifty feet away from the pavilion and have dug down four feet in several other areas on my place. Boy, did I get a suprise back when I started digging my posts. I ended up renting a compressor and jackhammer to "dig" my holes. I should be able to get a pretty sound base slab for my arch as long as I get in contact with the bedrock. I think that's gonna have to be the extent of my frost wall.