Building an off-grid cabin in NY HELP ME OUT PLEASE! (composting, compost)

[jector2005]

So here's the story, I have land that my family owns and I want to put an off grid cabin on it. We live in the upstate fingerlakes region. Can we even LEGALLY do this? Do we have to build by the code and all that? I understand that if it is under 120 sq ft. then I do not need a permit. However I do not feel like living in a shed. Id like to build a 20x20 home. Going to be utilizing a composting toilet that meets the requirements. Also there is a creek that we dammed up with a pond that we can use for water. We will use water in the jugs for drinking water. PLEASE please let me know what I need to do and thank you in advance!!!!

[Hawk4042C]

A good place to start is here:

https://www.dos.ny.gov/DCEA/reg_off_cty.html


From my understanding of building codes, is the more rural the build area the less restrictive it is.
But it may be different there.

[Zoisite]

Did you get all the required inspections and permits that you'd need to dam the creek? If you didn't you should check into the legalities of that and find out where you stand. You can get into a LOT more trouble and heavier fines for damming a creek illegally without permits than you will for building an off grid cabin that isn't up to code.

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[guidoLaMoto]

This thread may get a wider response if posted on the Self-Sufficiency forum of CD.

In so far as building details go, start with the county building & zoning office. Small counties are usually pretty co-operative and friendly to deal with....Your "blue print" may need be nothing more elaborate than a simple hand drawn floor plan. (It's like praying-- The major saints like St Joseph or St Anthony are swamped with requests, but the little known ones like St Lydwina appreciate the business.)

I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't require a well as a water source-- Using surface waters is a pretty risky undertaking health-wise, not to mention a real PITA that will get old fast. ...It may be grand adventure and fun on a pleasant spring morning, but will get old real fast when it's 20 below and you're trudging thru 3 ft of snow.

Are you planning on living there, or just use it occasionally? ...If only on occasion, you may be able to stay under the radar and just claim it's a storage shed or work shop if questioned....Rural areas are usually pretty lenient when it comes to non-residential structures. I got the ok to put up a 1000 sf barn by nothing more than a phone call to the local building inspector-- "OK. I'll make a note of it."

If you're going to live there, and you have a hill side to utilize, consider building an earth-berm house-- highly energy efficient....and you may do better collecting rain water from the roof than using chemical run-off & bacteria laden stream water. ..Also consider a sand-point drilled shallow well.

[RobiN0963]

You can ask local inspectors, about your city codes to prevent violation

[Lillie767]

Damming a waterway may be subject to federal oversight. You should also check the NYS watershed regulations.