Finishing a garage loft / apartment... needs a separate address?!?

[bren5270]

Hey guys,

Hit a major roadblock with building my lofted 24x24 garage, wondering if anyone has ever heard of this, because I feel like this is some BS:

According to Inspections/Planning (NC), any 'LIVE-ABLE' detached structure has to have its own separate address.....

Which means; separate water meter, separate electric meter, and worst of all separate sewer connection (including holding tank and the $4k connection fees)

How can this be right?!? I was initially planning on running the lines over to the house since its only going to be a 1 bedroom loft (and 1 bedroom is being removed from the house), but this is crazy, now Im looking at about 5-6k to get all the lines and septic transfer tank
Has anyone ever heard of this requirement before?


*** yes it will eventually have a bathroom and kitchen, but is it possible to put the water/sewer lines over to the house ....off the books.. after the fact and finish it myself?

Whats the fine for finishing a garage without a permit?

 

[matt_i]

I would do something like ixnay (cancel) the potable water line. Then its not liveable.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I suppose it would need a separate address if it were going to be an apartment that was rented out to someone else. If it's just a bedroom with no bathroom or kitchen facilities it doesn't seem like it would be considered livable. Can you just change the description from bedroom to storage space?

 

[RoyBell]

What defines it as a bedroom vs "storage space"? I would reclassify it as a garage with loft storage.

 

[CoogarXR]

No idea where you are, and every jurisdiction has it's own rules. But like the others said, just stop telling them it's an apartment (unless it's truly an apartment that you will need an occupancy permit for). In my area of Ohio, I would just leave it unfinished until it passes inspection, then finish it. We don't need licenses to work on out own places here.

 

[aka Larry]

Yeah anything with a bathroom plumbing (water & sewer) is considered a "dwelling" and every code that comes with it. If it were attached you'd be golden, but sounds like you are hosed with it being detached.

 

[bren5270]

Well it will become a mother-in-law quarters so itll have a bathroom and a kitchen eventually.

Is it possible to build it as an unfinished structure, then once its built, "finish it" off the books and run the sewer and water line?

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

What defines it as a bedroom vs "storage space"? I would reclassify it as a garage with loft storage.

The bedroom would be where I sleep. The storage room would be where I store my bed.

 

[driftpin]

All it takes is a nosy neighbor to complain to your local government and then you're facing a losing battle if you illegally converted it to living space with a kitchen & bath.

The idea of 'in-law's quarters' is a growing issue in many jurisdictions, as baby boomers have elderly parents they want to keep close, and not in a group home or an ALF. Building and zoning codes are being re-written to allow such habitation. You need to look at what your jurisdiction has, and what they may be contemplating. If it's a family member there may be something in the code to allow a detached dwelling on the same land parcel. There may be a prohibition of no kitchen allowed, being that the quarters are not for a separate dwelling, just a remote place for an elderly family member to have privacy, but to be under close supervision. When you have a full kitchen and bath, then you have problems because the zoning code is for single family dwellings on a parcel. Adding a second complete dwelling makes it a duplex, or two dwellings on a parcel zoned for a density of one detached dwelling per parcel of platted land.

 

[kbs2244]

I always understood hat street addresses were a Post Office responsibility.

 

[finn]

I always understood hat street addresses were a Post Office responsibility.

No. In our county every rural parcel with a building has a green and white sign with the street address.

It's used to be called a fire number but I think that nomenclature has been dropped.

The number is necessary for 911 first responders, and the undersheriff provides the signs. The post office is not involved, other than to deliver mail to your address if you choose to have rural delivery.

 

[PugetDude]

It's probably the brainchild of locally elected paper-pushers based on the possibility that you might in some time in the future turn it into a mother-in-law quarters, youth hostel, Bed and Breakfast, Motel 6, Boarding House, or rental apartment. It's apparently easier to pre-regulate the hypothetical than enforce the actual. Just be thankful you're not getting all the government you are paying for.

 

[isb cornbinder]

A person will never get a solution on an open forum. The post office may have something to say about the address. The city and or the county will have building codes. If you cheat you will not be able to get insurance coverage when you need it even if you are paying the premiums, now.

 

[tribbles]

How far away is it from the house? What's the legal minimum to make it an attached structure? Some jurisdictions consider a garage attached if there's just a covered walkway.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[ducksface]

In our county it is against the law to rent a mother in law unit.
It's a r2 designation,on an r1 lot.

Whoever told you of the address and such is not telling your the whole story. This is but the first hurdle of many many.

A bedroom has a closet and a window.
No window AND no closet door, it's not a bedroom.

Look up
day use room.

 

[rsanter]

It all depends on what the local code says. I would do some research and reading.
Here it is not a big deal to haventhem on the same system. It can be called a guest house and many areas around here that is common.
The only reason to separate it is if you wanted to rent it and not pay their bills.
A friend of mine has 4 tiny houses on his property and all are on the same systems so the utilities are included in the rent.
As far as a separate address, 1234 Main Street, unit B

Bob

 

[PoorOwner]

What is defined as "Live-able"?

here it is popular for the bigger homes to have "casitas" in law/guest house and they have bathrooms. But apparently the builder do not put in stoves. I guess the stove makes all the difference? They don't have separate address.

 

[CNGsaves]

OP . . . . will the Mother-In-Law be alive or dead when you put her up there ??!#@&^!? . .

Why you telling the "authorities" all your secrets ahead of time ??

UPDATE your GJ Profile with a Location . . . everywhere is different.

If you're in California or NewYorkCity, then triple your budget and plan to bend over.

 

[slow]

A friend had built an awesome 5 car garage on the lot next to his to store his corvette collection. If he added a closet it turned it into living quarters vs a garage, so he skipped the closet (even though the closet was just going to enclose the water heater and air conditioner) Each area has different laws, but these kind of little changes can allow you to do 99% of what you want and be legal.

 

[dave89iroc]

A friend had built an awesome 5 car garage on the lot next to his to store his corvette collection. If he added a closet it turned it into living quarters vs a garage, so he skipped the closet (even though the closet was just going to enclose the water heater and air conditioner) Each area has different laws, but these kind of little changes can allow you to do 99% of what you want and be legal.

He needed to change the name, its not a closet, its a mechanical room