New garage

I am trying to fool the township and I draw proposed plans for the garage at 30'x36' which is 1,080 sq/ft but I am also having an open roof garage which is 36'x10' which is an additional 360 sq/ft so I am technically going over the 1,200 sq/ft. My total is 1,440 sq/ft. I gave the plans to the township and I am hopping that they don't catch on to it.

 

Assuming the extra footage gets approved in the planning, if an inspector came out while it was being built and realized it was over code, could they make you rip it down? Getting something passed them in the planning stage is one thing but if they realize their mistake later, after it's built, and make you tear it down, I'd be pretty pissed.

 

Are you able to obtain a copy of your township's building bylaws ?

I have a copy of ours and it makes navigating the loopholes so much easier . Unenclosed roof projections may or may not violate your square footage ruling , however , as posted above , better to be sure rather than cutting it off with a chainsaw when you are tens of thousands of dollars into it

 

X2. I know for my area, any overhang that's 2' or more is considered part of your square footage

 

They measure by roof square footage. I asked what I need to do to build a bigger building, they told me that I need to do the following:
1. Write to all neighbors with in 200 feet that I am building a garage.
2). Go to 3 township zone meetings and explain why I need a garage that big.
3). Write to local newspaper under Public Notice.

If you ask me that is bunch of crap, but it is what it is.

 

So if they go by roof square footage , how are they going to " not notice " the extra roof area as you suggested ?

 

I'm currently building a 26' x 36' shop...10' ceiling height...2x6 wall framing...brick exterior finish...8' x 16' garage door...a 3-0 entry door...a 3-0 rear door...4 windows...a small bathroom with toilet & utility sink...a dust free "finish room"...and heated & cooled with a PTAC unit.

Part of this ambitious project:

(main house is near complete...the shop in the middle & the guest cottage on the right are in framing stage, walls up & trusses delivery tomorrow)

 

Build an underground shop no one will know...

Just kidding. I would just stick with the laws and build it as big as you can.
Or move.

 

Please post pics of this thing! Sounds awesome. I love the finish room idea, what do you plan to use it for?

 

pic of front of main house



rear of main house



I have done more work since these pics.

The finish room in my shop will be dust free for applying finish to my wood working projects. I'm a 3rd gen carpenter and cabinet/furniture maker by trade with 40 years in the biz.

Spent most of my life building homes...it's time to semi-retire and build smaller items in my shop at my own pace.

 

a full size sink for cleaning up. wish my garage had one more than anything. and plenty of lighting. possibly throw in a kegerator?

 

One nice thing about living here in the middle of nowhere is that if you want to build something you just build it; you don't have to get permission from your neighbors.

A sink in the shop is a nice thing to have; we went one further and put in a shower too.

 

I thought about a shower in my shop...but then I'd add a cot, microwave & refrigerator...and before ya know it...I'd never see the inside of the new home I'm bustin' my ass to build.

and, I did have to get HOA approval to build. But that is typical. But I combined 2 lots into one, with 3 structures on the property...this required not only HOA approval, but County approval as well.

I started this project in April 2010. When ALL is said & done...landscaping and furnishings and final details...it will be next year this time. That's 3 years from lot purchase and design and planning...to completion.

Not for an impatient soul.

 

I gave them the plans and the zoning approved it. So after I build it, its to late.

 

Cool

I thought you meant you were going to build bigger than shown on the plans you were submitting for approval

 

some progress pics...

shop








the small opening below this window is for the PTAC unit (heating & cooling)


small bathroom in rear corner of building


view through trees from guest cottage window

 

Clean framing Larry

Are your hold down locations code specified or structure specific ?

 

and a few of the guest cottage

 

thanks.

hold downs are required by code...per the structual engineers specs.

truss "saddles" are an upgrade, my choice (regular H clips on the side of truss tail meets code)...strapping on all window/door openings required...also, 5/8" threaded rods from slab J bolt to wall top plate required on both sides of each opening, all corners, and every 60" OC on the walls.

 

Interesting

All for windloading / uplift I presume ?