Where in the USA can I build a house without a construction permit?

Question

I wondering if I'm forced to get an approval to build a house on my own land... In Europe, that's what they're asking you... I feel it's a bit too much control on my personal life...

Answer 1

There are some parts of rural Missouri, Kentucky, Alabama, and Georgia where you can build without a permit ....

permits are required to insure the safety of those who will occupy the home .... The permits are then sent thru to Inspectors for electric, gas, water-sewer, and building to make sure that everyting was done right and no fires should start, no pipes clog-burst etc .....

Also; the building permit also is used so that the Tax Collector will know just what Real Estate Taxe to charge you ... or he can come and inspect and then decide what to charge you ....

These taxes pay for our law enforcement , fire departments, sewage plants, roads etc .....

EVERONE who owns property pays taxes on it in the USA ....

Answer 2

I'm guessing:  Nowhere.  Municipalities have a vested interest in controlling construction.  There are local and state codes for virtually every aspect of constructing a new home.

What if you built your house without a permit, which means the local municipality (town or city, or county if you're in a rural area, or even state) doesn't know you're building and doesn't have an opportunity to inspect various features, such as structural elements, plumbing, electrical wiring, sanitary/waste water disposal, etc.  All of those things are safety and quality of life issues.  If you were to just be a renegade and build a house with no permits, good luck selling it down the road.

Answer 3

I think in unincorporated cities.

Answer 4

I believe that you may need a building permit whereever you are. The building permits guarantee that you will have a certain amount of professionalism involved.

Answer 5

Only far outside any city limits and away from other people. I guess you mean a cabin in the woods?

Answer 6

If there was a way to guarantee you would be the only inhabitant of the structure and then it would be destroyed, a building permit wouldn't be necessary.  

If you bought a house built by somebody else and it fell down, would you feel differently about government regulation--or lack thereof?

Answer 7

There's not many places you can do that.  Zoning rules are getting stricter all the time.  I have heard that the permits, etc. required to build a house in Florida can add up to over 10% of the total cost.  Also - if you take out a mortgage to have the house built, the lender may require that you follow existing zoning rules, so that they can expect the house to be in decent shape if they have to assume the mortgage if you default.

In my opinion, the zoning rules, etc. are generally a good thing.  It forces people to build to a minimum standard.  This way, you can expect that the house will withstand the snow load on the roof in the winter, or won't blow away in a hurricane, or won't be built in an environmentally sensitive area.  And you REALLY want to have the electrical system up to code.  It's also good to know that the plumbing won't spring a leak every few days.