From what I understand the code varies.. in most area you can build UP to 120 sq ft.. sometimes by roof line, often by sq foot floor. in some counties- like Sacramento- you can build 250 sq ft as an out building- used as an Ag building. in farm areas it seems more relaxed.
Humboldt county has the 120 sq ft rule, no filing of anything needed., and you cant have elec or plumbing of course.
so people build a series of small sheds for sleeping, living, storage, working. and use a generator, or run a power line cord as needed to each, or use camping lanterns, battery lights, candles for light as needed.
I had anexisting small shed 6x12, and built it out to fully 120, and added a second one 2" away next to it as a tool shed. the first was a goat shed, and I converted it to a craft shed to carry all my 'art' junk & stuff, and have a work table, etc/
I ran a power cord to a hanging lamp on days when it was darkish, and normally dont need light to work. or when I need a hot glue gun to work
But mice chewed thru the lamp cord anyway.. and I just found yesterday that mice chewed through the cord on my new reciprical saw.. arghgghghgh, damn things get in all over, so I really need to finish the tool shed before they eat everything all winter.
I am tempted to use the Cambodian method... to skewer an ear of corn with a long wire, butter it, put peanut butter on the center, and lay the wired on over a 3/4 full water pail... the rat runs to the corn, slips off and drowns.. hate to make anything suffer, but I am sick of the damage.
the tool shed, if I get it finished has only one window, but a huge slider door I got free that faces east, and gets alot of light that way.
-- we have an AOB-- alt owner builder code here, and people do strawbale, cordwood and other, but have a lot of issues with dept of building anyway.. it is mostly about having windows and doors, proper electrical, etc, and NOT really about alt methods.. just safety
Charmaine Taylor Publishing
www.papercrete.com
www.dirtcheapbuilder.com
-- we have an AOB-- alt owner builder code here, and people do strawbale, cordwood and other, but have a lot of issues with dept of building anyway.. it is mostly about having windows and doors, proper electrical, etc, and NOT really about alt methods.. just safety
Charmaine Taylor Publishing
www.papercrete.com
www.dirtcheapbuilder.com
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