Essential Advice for the Owner-Builder

By David Eisenberg
Published on December 1, 2006
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What every owner-builder aspires to receive.
What every owner-builder aspires to receive.
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Getting any home plans approved is a process. The important thing is to start early and learn what's required.
Getting any home plans approved is a process. The important thing is to start early and learn what's required.
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Buildings with alternative methods or materials — such as this straw bale house — may require some extra work to get building plans approved.
Buildings with alternative methods or materials — such as this straw bale house — may require some extra work to get building plans approved.
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This North Carolina straw bale house was buiolt with all the unique details the owner-builders wanted and was approved by local building officials.
This North Carolina straw bale house was buiolt with all the unique details the owner-builders wanted and was approved by local building officials.
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This house in Maine is being built with timber frame construction.
This house in Maine is being built with timber frame construction.

Becoming the owner-builder of your own house is a great adventure. It gives you the freedom to design and build what you want, provides great personal satisfaction if you do the work yourself, and can save a lot of money along the way. But for many people who dream of building, it’s hard to dismiss one nagging thought: “What if they won’t let me?”

“They,” of course, are the folks at the local building department. Complying with building codes can seem intimidating. However, if you think of it as a process, much like the actual building of that dream home, you can get through it one step at a time.

Doing your homework is essential, especially if you plan to build with alternative materials or techniques. Knowing what you need to do and where to find the information you need will help you get your building approved and may even improve your home’s design.

Where to Start

Building codes establish minimum standards for safety and health, and if you decide to build your own home, you’ll need to prove that it meets these standards. There are three main phases of the process:

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