Can I make my curbs 6” taller?

[no704]

Got a punch list back from the city for my BP Mostly just updates to the plans to have call outs on material and specs for electrical.
Looks like I’ll be losing 6” of height . They measure height from grade or the street curb or the crown in the street. Not from the finished floor. So ill only have 11’6”

Thinking about headroom
Not the end of the world, I’ll have to duck down a little when I have my suburban on the lift i guess.

 

[four.cycle]

^ If you want tall curbs, visit the old sections of Mazatlan down by the Mercado Centro. Curbs are 24 inches high in some places.
They're right at sea level, so when the heavy rains hit the streets are flooded. Solution: raise the curbs and sidewalks and buildings.

 

[mike93lx]

You doing scissors trusses?

 

[larry_g]

Got a punch list back from the city for my BP Mostly just updates to the plans to have call outs on material and specs for electrical.
Looks like I’ll be losing 6” of height . They measure height from grade or the street curb or the crown in the street. Not from the finished floor. So ill only have 11’6”

Thinking about headroom
Not the end of the world, I’ll have to duck down a little when I have my suburban on the lift i guess.

It sounds to me that you need to have them establish a zero point for height. Giving 3 different points can leave a lot of room for problems if two different inspectors choose to tell you two different points.

lg

 

[PCustoms]

It sounds to me that you need to have them establish a zero point for height. Giving 3 different points can leave a lot of room for problems if two different inspectors choose to tell you two different points.

lg

Measuring from the street or the curb makes no sense, what if the lot has slope?

I suspect there is some sort of qualifier, i.e. height to be measured from the higher of the 3: the curb, crown or grade

 

[Dig Doug]

My buddy had his measured from the road way center line.

They don’t have traditional curb gutter

 

[PCustoms]

My buddy had his measured from the road way center line.

Must be weird to live in a flat place, I can't wrap my head around measuring from the road around here...

 

[no704]

Ya makes no sense. What is flat??

 

[jblnut]

If we measured from the road I’d have had a 3’ ceiling in my shop. Lots of rolling lots here.

Dig a ways down and put your floor lower and stick a sump pump in if you have water issues or some other drainage solution

 

[PCustoms]

Ya makes no sense. What is flat??

Well I'd bet I'm 15' higher then the road. There's also at least 15' of elevation change in the road over the length of my house, probably double.

I'm also over 400' from the road, so good luck measuring

 

[zkdiesel]

Well I'd bet I'm 15' higher then the road. There's also at least 15' of elevation change in the road over the length of my house, probably double.

I'm also over 400' from the road, so good luck measuring

I could get you that number to 1/2” in about 49 seconds

 

[PCustoms]

I could get you that number to 1/2” in about 49 seconds

Ah, you've overlooked the trees though!


I should get a pic of the debacle someone started down the road. Cleared 2 acres line to line, had enough forestry equipment in to clear-cut 1000x that.

Now they're hauling out the hill 2 tri-axle loads at a time, like 3 days a week. No idea what they're after or how they will blend it with the surrounding terrain but find to watch a few times a week on the way to work

 

[PCustoms]

There's several very valid reasons for height restrictions, this isn't a "because they said so" in most cases

 

[Codyboy]

There's several very valid reasons for height restrictions, this isn't a "because they said so" in most cases

What reasons would that be? I can't think of any that would be valid.

 

[PCustoms]

What reasons would that be? I can't think of any that would be valid.

Access and ability to fight a structure fire is typically the big one. Thinking now there was an issue years ago where the inspector caused issues as the building was "too high" measured from one side, specifically citing the fire department. Chief showed up, pointed out that he couldn't park the ladder truck between the walkout basement and Lakeshore anyway, the embarrassed inspector was forced to pass it.

Encroaching on neighbors is close behind.

 

[mike93lx]

This is quickly going to turn into a thread that will get locked or users that will get banned...

 

[Codyboy]

This is quickly going to turn into a thread that will get locked or users that will get banned...

If this is directed at me then let me know.
I ask a valid question and trying to learn.

The response to my question was not a valid answer.

Height of a structure because an inspector said so and yet the fire chief says not an issue because he couldn't park a ladder there anyways.

What do those fire fighters do with a 2 story house that is 35 ft high?

And encroaching on a neighbor? Never heard of that before. Many 2 and 3 story houses look down on neighboring houses all over the country.

Sounds like grasping at straws For an answer.

I asked the reason , a valid reason of the mandates on structures and how they are required to be built.

If yall don't want me around here let me know.

But I do have a lot of likes in my box that show up everyday.
I just ask that if this was directed at me because I ask questions or disagree then let me know what is / is not appropriate. I seem to have missed the ROE page.

 

[logical]

If this is directed at me then let me know.
I ask a valid question and trying to learn.

The response to my question was not a valid answer.

Height of a structure because an inspector said so and yet the fire chief says not an issue because he couldn't park a ladder there anyways.

What do those fire fighters do with a 2 story house that is 35 ft high?

And encroaching on a neighbor? Never heard of that before. Many 2 and 3 story houses look down on neighboring houses all over the country.

Sounds like grasping at straws For an answer.

I asked the reason , a valid reason of the mandates on structures and how they are required to be built.

If yall don't want me around here let me know.

But I do have a lot of likes in my box that show up everyday.
I just ask that if this was directed at me because I ask questions or disagree then let me know what is / is not appropriate. I seem to have missed the ROE page.

It sounds like the system worked. A height restriction was in place for valid reason(s), a common sense exception was made on appeal.

 

[madison069]

I ask a valid question and trying to learn.

The response to my question was not a valid answer.

Height of a structure because an inspector said so and yet the fire chief says not an issue because he couldn't park a ladder there anyways.

What do those fire fighters do with a 2 story house that is 35 ft high?

And encroaching on a neighbor? Never heard of that before. Many 2 and 3 story houses look down on neighboring houses all over the country.

Sounds like grasping at straws For an answer.

I asked the reason , a valid reason of the mandates on structures and how they are required to be built.

If yall don't want me around here let me know.

But I do have a lot of likes in my box that show up everyday.
I just ask that if this was directed at me because I ask questions or disagree then let me know what is / is not appropriate. I seem to have missed the ROE page.

For my local area, it was from the residents of the municipality that determined what was allowed and what's not allowed. The residents didn't want commercial size buildings built around their homes, so the ordinance was put in place. A garage was to have a height restriction of 15' from the floor to the middle of the roof structure height if it was built in a single-family zoned property. So, for a gable roof, you would use the elevation between the top of the wall to the peak of the roof as the point of reference to measure to the floor for the total height of the structure.

Another ordinance that was put in place was the restriction of only 25% of your front yard was allowed to be a driveway/parking area. This was to prevent people from paving their whole front yard, which has happened before the ordinance was put in place.

Sometime, the reason rules were put in place was because the people of the area wanted the restriction.

 

[logical]

What reasons would that be? I can't think of any that would be valid.

It really depends on the neighborhood. I don't think it takes a significant amount of imagination to think of a case where it might be valid. If lots are 60' wide with 10' side setbacks, houses are 20' apart. It would be bad planning to allow your neighbor to the south to put up a 40' tall barn that puts you in perpetual darkness.

We don't know the details of the OP's neighborhood, but he did use the term "city". We also don't know if he has attempted to appeal or what the variance process is. I would also assume the restriction was in place before the property was purchased which would make a huge difference.

I get the whole "my property, I will do whatever I want" theme, but not everyone wants that and there are plenty of places available for those who do. I choose to be on 4 acres outside any incorporated town. I can build a giant barn if I want, but I can't put it in my front yard. I knew all of that when I purchased the property and accepted it.

 

[dcg9381]

Ya makes no sense.

We need to know the reason that the city red-flagged this to suggest alternatives.
Have a plan that you can share? IE, photo?

 

[reader2580]

My city allows your garage to be 3,000 square feet and 45 feet tall. No idea what you would do with a 45 foot tall garage as it can only be one story. The fire department has a 100 foot aerial so they could fight a fire on a building that tall. I am not sure there is a building that is even 45 feet tall in the city other than maybe a church.

Only your main garage can be 4,000 square feet. My new garage is a second garage so it is considered an accessory structure. An accessory structure can only be as tall as the house. Luckily, I have a walkout so they measured to the ground level on the walkout side. Otherwise, no new garage for me.

 

[K13]

It really depends on the neighborhood. I don't think it takes a significant amount of imagination to think of a case where it might be valid. If lots are 60' wide with 10' side setbacks, houses are 20' apart. It would be bad planning to allow your neighbor to the south to put up a 40' tall barn that puts you in perpetual darkness.

This exact thing happened to someone I know. Lived in a house for 12 years. Mature neighbourhood that was almost exclusively bungalows and spit level homes. They had a pool in the back yard that they used all the time (we have very short summers here so it's a pretty limited time frame of use) someone new bought the house beside them and were permitted to build an infill 3 story home that is a monstrosity compared to the rest of the homes in the area and it completely shades their pool area for the vast majority of year that it is usable. They are now looking to move because they can no longer enjoy their back yard.

 

[duneslider]

This exact thing happened to someone I know. Lived in a house for 12 years. Mature neighbourhood that was almost exclusively bungalows and spit level homes. They had a pool in the back yard that they used all the time (we have very short summers here so it's a pretty limited time frame of use) someone new bought the house beside them and were permitted to build an infill 3 story home that is a monstrosity compared to the rest of the homes in the area and it completely shades their pool area for the vast majority of year that it is usable. They are now looking to move because they can no longer enjoy their back yard.

So, what if people plant a bunch of trees that grow tall? My neighbor has trees that are at least 60-70' tall and shade my yard ( I happen to like the mature trees though). Can you imagine if that pool was shaded by big trees and the leaves were falling in the pool, oh the outrage!

 

[My Old Tools]

Got a punch list back from the city for my BP Mostly just updates to the plans to have call outs on material and specs for electrical.
Looks like I’ll be losing 6” of height . They measure height from grade or the street curb or the crown in the street. Not from the finished floor. So ill only have 11’6”

Thinking about headroom
Not the end of the world, I’ll have to duck down a little when I have my suburban on the lift i guess. Dam government overreach!!

So, if you build on a hill above the street your building would only be 2 feet tall? Something isn't right.

 

[carcruse]

Got a punch list back from the city for my BP Mostly just updates to the plans to have call outs on material and specs for electrical.
Looks like I’ll be losing 6” of height . They measure height from grade or the street curb or the crown in the street. Not from the finished floor. So ill only have 11’6”

Thinking about headroom
Not the end of the world, I’ll have to duck down a little when I have my suburban on the lift i guess. Dam government overreach!!

That does not sound right. What city are you in? Can you post the actual ordinance that says that.
Typical ordinances state something like: building grade to be 18" above curb or centerline of road ( if no curb) and that you measure from building grade to median point of roof to determine height.

 

[dave*99]

Every once in a while........
Height restrictions are tailored to and for the benefit of of the LOCAL community.

Consider communities near the coast. In a flood prone area. It's flat. Very flat. Near sea level. Lots are small. Minimum building lot size is 5000 sf. Land is expensive so folks want to put as much house on the lot as they can.

In some places, height is restricted to 32 ft measured from the crown of the road. With lot sizes typically 50 to 80 ft wide, there is not much elevation change in the road over that distance. Side yard setback requirements typically put the houses 20 ft away from each other. 32 ft is enough to build a 2 story house over a garage.

You will see old single story grade level houses next to new elevated houses elevated on pilings with garages under the house. Newer flood restrictions prohibit living space below the flood level which can be a few feet above grade.

Imagine a very tall house in that community. They could shadow houses 2 door away. Homeowners would be very upset. It would make for a very odd looking community.

City properties have similar concerns.

 

[Fixr]

If this is directed at me then let me know.
I ask a valid question and trying to learn.

The response to my question was not a valid answer.

Height of a structure because an inspector said so and yet the fire chief says not an issue because he couldn't park a ladder there anyways.

What do those fire fighters do with a 2 story house that is 35 ft high?

And encroaching on a neighbor? Never heard of that before. Many 2 and 3 story houses look down on neighboring houses all over the country.

Sounds like grasping at straws For an answer.

I asked the reason , a valid reason of the mandates on structures and how they are required to be built.

If yall don't want me around here let me know.

But I do have a lot of likes in my box that show up everyday.
I just ask that if this was directed at me because I ask questions or disagree then let me know what is / is not appropriate. I seem to have missed the ROE page.

One example for reasonable and justifiable height restrictions is residential developments on steep slopes with wonderful views, like many expensive neighborhoods/communities in the mountains. Having a height restriction that prevents the people who buy the next lot downhill from building a 5 story house that totally blocks the view and shades the garden, solar panels and house on the lot uphill from it makes sense. The higher the population density, the less personal freedom to do whatever you want.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Got a punch list back from the city for my BP Mostly just updates to the plans to have call outs on material and specs for electrical.
Looks like I’ll be losing 6” of height . They measure height from grade or the street curb or the crown in the street. Not from the finished floor. So ill only have 11’6”

Thinking about headroom
Not the end of the world, I’ll have to duck down a little when I have my suburban on the lift i guess.

Have you considered or asked about getting a variance ?

 

[Skooterj]

I ran into something like this when I was building. Then I found out that the height of a building (at least where I live) is measured at the mid point of the roof. Not the eaves, not the peak. The mid point between the eaves and the peak. So when I was initially concerned about my building being too tall and changing the slope of the roof so it was 2 foot lower, I actually was way under. Of course, my inspector is super lax and I don't think he has ever actually measured anything.

 

[dave*99]

This showed up in the WTF thread today. I though some of the followers of this thread would get a chuckle.....

 

[75gmck25]

In my city they also measure top height based on the mid-point, not the total height of the building. It makes a big difference if you have much roof slope.

I also found out they measure setback distance from the lot line based on the framed wall with sheathing. Since I then faced the 1st floor wall with brick, the final wall exterior was about 4” closer to the lot line.