Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Designing Your Own CoHousing: COde issues

[Rob Sandelin (robsan]

W. Shedrick Coleman wrote:

>Harry leaves out a major issue I have seen discussed on in this forum. That
>is the gaining of approvals by code, zoning and other officals.  This is no
>small matter when these persons have no clear idea of what cohousing is.

In the state of Washington each County has a different set of rules for 
owner/builders.  For example in King County, the largest and most 
populated county in the State, an owner builder must have engineered, 
licensed architect stamped plans to get a building permit and also have 
a licensed electician sign off on the electrical work before 
inspection.  (I am not sure about plumbing - I can easily find out if 
inquiring minds need to know)

In Chelan County, a mostly rural and low populated County, an owner 
builder can get approvals on plans that are sketched on non-standard 
paper (notebook paper for example), do not need any stamped approval by 
architects,  owner builders need only 3 inspections (framing, electical 
and plumbing, and final) and do not need to have electrical work signed 
off on by a licensed electrician.

So, within my own state, there is a vast difference in how the 
regulatory process treats owner/ builders.  I have heard from direct 
experience of friends that owner/builder in King County is very 
difficult and painful to deal with.  I have heard from direct 
experience of friends and associates that owner/ builder in Chelan 
County is very easy, from the regulatory framework.

So the point after all this long winded examplification is that if the 
owner/builder route appeals to you or your group look into the 
specifics how your regulatory environment treats owner/builders.

Rob Sandelin
Sharingwood