NYS - code variance for slab larger than 600

[turbosl2]

Has anybody been successful with obtaining a variance to the 600 square-foot max requirement for slabs. In my state they only allow you to build 600 ft.² otherwise you need for frost protection 5 foot below grade.

I want to go about 900 ft.² and I don't want to spend the money on full frost walls. Many garages in New York State used to be built on a monolithic slab now all the sudden 600 is the limit. The town told me to go to New York State and apply for a variance but I'm wondering how successful that will be

 

[Radix2]

Google "frost protected shallow foundation".

Talk to your building department and see if this is an accepted alternative in your area.

for what buildings cost, it makes sense to me to make sure the foundation is right.

 

[n20junkie]

Worst case you could do a trench pour.

Personally, I went with the walls, but a 30x50 cost 10k

 

[turbosl2]

Worst case you could do a trench pour.

Personally, I went with the walls, but a 30x50 cost 10k

Did this include the slab too

 

[Fordman7795]

Do two 450 sq ft slabs with a "wall" in between?

 

[turbosl2]

ehh i really dont wanna go that route. It blows my mind 600sq-ft is the limit for monolithic. Many structures 20yrs ago were alot larger. I want to ask for a variance but dont want to waste my money or time either.

Its not attached to my house, i am not living out there. I really cant justify the extra cost to pour frost walls

 

[kbs2244]

Research some recent retail buildings for their slabs.
Many are larger than 20x30

 

[n20junkie]

Did this include the slab too

No, slab was another 12k

 

[juiced10]

I don't think that is state wide? We just poured a 40x40 over the summer without issue. North of Syracuse.


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[dbabicky]

That's a ******** rule. A grade-beam slab would be more than sufficient. I live in Wisconsin and we poured a **** ton of grade-beam slabs.

 

[matt_i]

I think there's a measure of self protection there. If your soil holds water and is prone to heaving its going to be a large pile of money set on fire if its just a slab-on-grade. The lessons of past history are baked into this.

Personally I think the rules should work like this. If you are pulling a permit to do your own work on your own property, have at whatever foundation design suits. If you make a mistake, then its your own cash put where your brain is at.

If a contractor building/pulling a permit for a resident and acting as an "expert" (term used loosely but with intent to discriminate between untechnical homeowner and contractor having some experience with this) then they should have to comply with the rules. As you can look at it as allowing the general public to be fleeced if they could always work to bare minimum standards.

 

[turbosl2]

I don't think that is state wide? We just poured a 40x40 over the summer without issue. North of Syracuse.


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Well that's interesting because it def is NYS code. I agree it's sufficient but my town tells me I have to get a NYS variance