Need help on future garage

[Matthewhall2]

Hello everybody, I'm from Kentucky and I'm 19 years old. I have been looking around on this site at everyone's Awsome garages and just made an account tonight considering how helpful this forum is. In the next 2 years I plan on building a pole barn style building with shop and small apartment. I'm really just looking for help and advice don't know much yet so please be nice. Some of my questions would include.
1. How can I go about finding the rules for my area on sizing of the building?
Located in harrodsburg ky 40330.
2. I'm not really sure on size I would like a shop with enough room to have 2-3 cars parked inside and have a 2 post lift, area for building motors on a stand kind of out of the way from everything else. A place with a couch and tv, just hangout spot. And then I would like a upstairs 2 bedroom apartment, ONLY if it would be around the same price as a longer one story building, I don't know?
3. How much can I expect to pay for a building like this? As of right now just from what I've seen on the internet I am thinking 35x45x20ft??? Ceilings, 12ft shop area because most lifts require that, and 8 foot apartment area? Does that sound normal? Shop area would have to just be bare minimum to do my work, for the time being. what can keep cost down there? Apartment area would have to be completed as I would be living there. I am close to people that do just about everything, masonry, electrical, plumbing, i was thinking I can do drywall and easier tasks myself. I don't have a clue about insulation/electrical/plumping ect. If anybody has something similar made please post pictures ideas! Thank you.

 

[METALMOVER]

Id start with your local building inspector,a lot of it will depend on if your in city limits or out of city limits, start there and if your in city limits I wouldn't say your using it as a living space it falls into a whole different permit.Do you have the land already? It will be cheaper to keep it all 1 level and section off a living area,however if your in city limits they usually restrict you to the size...then you have to go up....METALMOVER

 

[CNGsaves]

Don't think 35'x45' will be big enough. May need to go 36'x56' and have the right portion of 36'x16' for living area that would effectively be "half" of building partioned off with firewall from floor to ceiling. This idea would leave shop size of 36'x40' which is nice space.

Local code will determine how feasible (if at all) this "split use" building would be.

Costs will be 36'x60' building . . . PLUS . . . stickbuilt 36'x16' house within.

Ballpark for pretty bare bones might be $60K to $100K depending on local rates and finish. Difficulty getting water, sewer, electricity, NG service, etc could easily add $20K to above amounts.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Wow, nice plan you have set up for yourself. . Check with the planning and zoning or code enforcement office first to see what they will permit. I live in Lexington, they are tough to deal with. Most of the rural surrounding counties like Anderson, Mercer, Garrard, are not quiet so "hard as nails" on rural property development but DO have their restrictions... Utilities are the first priority, will the property have adequate water, sewer, electricity for your shop needs or will you have to pay for upgrading these ?

Before you get too involved and waste your time on getting bids and such, check on the codes and how you are going to fund the project. If at 19 you have the cash, wow , I am impressed. If you are thinking of borrowing the money, realize the loan institutions will only appraise it as a shop, not a dwelling (house). Plus realize the building will also have to be sold as a shop, to anyone looking for a home. Just some thoughts of mine and good luck.

P.S. Morton's build some good metal barns around here. Sounds like you have a solid plan on what you want and the subs to get it done for you. Hope it works out well.

 

[Matthewhall2]

Thanks for the helpful replys guys, as of now I do not have land. This is just all planning stages in my head right now. I really like your idea CNGsaves, those were not
Numbers I was wanting to Hear! Haha, I have been living on my own for almost 2 years now and have just been renting, all of my family lives in Canada, so I don't really have anybody else with expierence to help me that's why I'm reaching out here. My main goal is to have a place I can live to stop wasting my money away on rent that goes towards nothing. In 1 1/2 to 2 years I should have around 45k cash saved up, I didn't think it would cost that much but from the numbers he gave me it sounds like I will have to borrow the money. Maby I could borrow the money for the whole building, and then i can use what I've saved for the stickbuilt portion for the living area? Does that sound like a reasonable idea? I'm sorry for stupid questions just trying to figure it out on your own is tough. It's nice to see somebody so local! I am in mercer. I will have to check out Morton's thank you.

 

[LB-1911]

1. How can I go about finding the rules for my area on sizing of the building?
Located in harrodsburg ky 40330.

Building Inspector

Congratulations on your decision to build a new structure in Mercer County or Harrodsburg. The Building Inspector and Planning Commission work in conjunction to provide “one stop shopping” to make the process as simple as possible.

The office of the Mercer County Building Inspector is located in the Planning & Zoning Commission offices in City Hall in Harrodsburg. Office hours are 8am - 12pm and 1pm - 4:30pm. Permits and construction plan reviews are normally conducted and issued in the mornings.

What types of structures require permits?

The zoning ordinances & building code require a building permit for virtually all structures that are placed or erected on a piece of property within Mercer County & Harrodsburg.

These would include: homes, duplexes, multifamily buildings, manufactured homes, commercial structures, additions, decks, porches, garages, boat docks, gazebos, sun rooms, in-ground pools, renovations, changes in occupancy classifications,and accessory structures larger than 120 square feet, etc.

Additional information and full text of above @
http://www.mercercounty.ky.gov/county/inspect.htm

 

[Matthewhall2]

Wow thank you!!!!

 

[drivesitfar]

Matthew: your savings plan sounds awesome. having a free and clear home before you are 25 might be a bit optimistic, but why not think that way and get a loan if needed if you need to. good to start trying to find out the costs of property ahead of time so you'll know when a good deal is in front of you. also good to learn all there is about septic, sewer and all utilities and building codes too if you want to build a new home. I was a Realtor for 30 years in a past life working with developers and builders and i probably would still hire pros to build my new house if i go that route and i'm fairly handy. so a remodel might be easier for you with room to build a big garage, but that is up to you.

one of our members just built this good size pole building for under $20,000 and all he is doing is the wiring. he hired out pros for the concrete and building and i'm assuming building costs in Kentucky are a lot less than here in the Seattle area.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=257100

i like your idea of having a garage with a living space and have thought of doing so myself and i'm almost 60 now. yes it would be quite a bit cheaper if the living area is upstairs, but if you have enough room and building costs in your area are not too high i'd do it all on one level or have a detached garage for extra safety issues.

good luck and i'll be checking your thread from time to time so ask plenty of questions after you do a some more research and welcome to the Forum