Is it legal to live in a standalone garage?

Question

I've seen some nice garages that can be built for around 6 grand

and I figured if i added some plumbing and heating and walled off the back end i could live in one, It would be a very cheap home i guess you could say

Is this legal?

Answer 1

You would really need to speak to your local council to seek approval. Also you have to consider installation of things like a smoke alarm ect.  

Answer 2

You should check the building codes in your area, but here in rural MO, we have many people that have built shed homes and they are really nice inside, and just in the past few years, neighbor of mine that has lived in one for over 10 years started putting stone siding on his with turrets and it really looks like a grand castle :)  I think it is cool for the fact that people around here are kind of rude about homes like that, and now he has one of the nicest and most unique homes around :)  GL!!!

Answer 3

Yeah,they do it all the time.They are called houses.If you think about it your talking about a house with attached garage.Basically you have to go through the same stuff as a house.

engineered plans

engineered foundation

conform to surrounding homes ??

water/sewer

electrical

plumbing

hvac

Now doing it bandit style may get you shut down at any point down the road.

A passing thought,if you can get approval why not do it ICF?.This is an extremly energy efficient design.Depending on the size you can heat with a hot water heater (that's what I said).Intigrate modern technoligy for a more bang for your buck home.

Good Luck

Answer 4

The name doesn't matter, it's how it's constructed.  Check with your local building department, but basically, you have to eletric, water, heat and sewage, and a minimum of two points of egress.

As for "going bandit" -- only if you're pulling utilities from an existing structure.  In most (all?) places, you can't get the utilities turned on until you have your Certificate of Occupancy - which is the final signoff in the building permit and inspection process.

Answer 5

You would have to check with the building codes in your area...but it would certainly be cosy and inexpensive.

They could build a little village like that and everyone could have a small garden.