Building on the homestead: planning and permits

In short

• One plan on paper for all buildings at once, then build by priority. No building may block the way to another.
• Before you buy materials, ask the council or county: land use (zoning), distance from boundaries and whether you need permission, a permit or nothing.
• You can build a light lean-to, a store and a fence yourself. Load-bearing walls, roofs spanning more than 4–5 m, digs deeper than 1 m and anything where people live need a professional.
• Budget = materials + tools + transport + 15–20 % contingency. Reclaimed materials save money, not time.
• Working at height and in trenches cause most serious injuries. Never alone on a roof or in a pit.

What's inside

Chapters

1. What the homestead needs
2. Where each building goes
3. Ground and site before building
4. Paperwork: what needs permission
5. What you can do yourself and what needs a professional
6. The project on one sheet
7. Budget and materials
8. Order of work and running the site
9. Safety on site
10. Maintenance: a building lasts as long as its roof
11. Common mistakes
12. Printable checklist

Worksheets

• Buildings and priorities
• Sketch of the land and buildings
• Questions for the council and professionals
• Building cost sheet
• Building calendar
• Log of cases and building work