Building Codes, Permits, and laws...oh my!: Navigating the legal side of homesteading

Last week a reader contacted me to say that she was unsure of how to figure out the building codes in the area she wants to start her homestead. She asked me about how to go about getting building permits in Tennessee. I am not a lawyer and I do not know the laws in Tennessee, so I was not able to help her specifically. But I thought I would write an article with some general guidelines.

The first step is to find out exactly what the laws are in the areas you are considering. This is not always easy and even a Google search may not be super helpful. Unfortunately, there is a lot of outdated and inaccurate information out there on the web. So you really have to be careful about what you read online. That being said, the internet is often a great place to look.

When you do go online, try to focus on official governmental sites. For example, when we were researching our potential homestead sites, we looked on state and county run sites to find building codes. These are great resources, but they are still not the definitive source. Many small rural communities do not have a website. State and county websites may be severely outdated. So look for dates. When was an article written? When was it last updated.

Another great place to look for some general information is your potential properties covenants. These documents often hint at local laws.

Finally, even in this high-tech world there is one low tech way to get the necessary information that is virtually guaranteed. Pay a visit to the local county treasurer or recorder of deeds. These government agencies can provide you with the most accurate and up to date information.

It is extremely important to know the laws that apply to the area you are considering for your off-grid homestead. Failure to properly educate yourself can and has for may resulted in loss of their property. It is actually illegal in some places to not be connected to the power grid. In some other areas, there is no law that technically prohibits off-grid living, but restricts you in such a way that you cannot possibly get around it.

I hope this helps lead you in the right direction. Remember, like this reader, you can help shape this weekly column with your suggestions.