Would it be possible to get the permits to contruct a pool house cabana on my vacant property and live in it?

Question

I'd like to purchase a pool house cabana and insulated it and bring it to code and make it like a very small house. Do you think if done right, I would be able to get the permits? The property is zoned as residential but no one for miles has built anything so I will have no neighbors and their property values to worry about.

What type of thing will be intailed to get this done properly. I am guessing I will need the building plans of the cabana then a licensed contractor to certify his own modifications to the original building plans to brign it up to code, thenh submit it for the permits. Am I correct on this. The property is in Florida.

And yes, I am fine with a small house.

Its basically going to be a 2 room house. A main room and a bathroom with shower.

Answer 1

Why the cabana -- do you want a house that looks like a cabana or are you looking for a way to cut the costs associated with building a home?

If you're stuck on the idea of the cabana, you need to have a serious talk with someone at your local building department and a reputable building contractor. You may find out that it will cost far more to bring the cabana up to code than it will to build another type of small home.

If you're looking for a way to cut the costs of getting a home there are a lot of interesting options anymore -- especially if you are open-minded, willing to put some time into doing the research, and willing or able to do some of the work yourself.

Go to your local library and start looking at books on affordable housing -- keep in mind that "affordable" is more than the cost of building the home. Affordability includes the cost over time of living in and operating your home -- heat in cold climates, air conditioning in hot climates, maintenance and repairs, etc. If a person gets a house for $20,000.00 but then can't afford the winter heating bills because the house is poorly built and insulated, the house is no longer "affordable". A poorly thought out and built home isn't going to stay "affordable".

Go to your local home center (Lowe's or Home Depot). They have a department where they sell books of home plans. I got a book called Vacation Home Plans (published by Dream Homes). The book contains a number of plans for homes that are less than 1,000 square feet (one is 480 square feet).

Try to find a stash of old Mother Earth News magazines. They frequently contain articles about people who have been very creative about building homes on tight budgets, most of the articles are quite detailed and contain a lot of good information and good ideas.

You have access to a computer and the internet, research the "Katrina cottage":

http://www.katrinacottages.com/plans/index.html

There are also other types of "prefabricated" housing that can be high-quality and low cost.

http://www.bearcreekcarpentry.com/

You also might want to look into small geodesic domes:

http://www.pacificdomes.com/

You might find something that interests you.

Good luck!

Answer 2

You've got to check with the local authority.
Sometimes there are strict stipulations and minimums regarding what constitutes "Residential".
Most places they will 'work with you`.
If you try to start anything without a permit,
you can be in a whole world of troubles,
and the inspections will be vengeful.

Answer 3

So you are just building a very small house. You will have all the requirements of a house - sewer, electrical, etc. So if there are no restrictions as to the size of a dwelling, then there should be no problem.

Answer 4

Why not a trailer?