Juniper Woods Ranch Ashfork AZ (Prescott: home, buyer, construction)

[backwoodswoman]

It's just insane to have such stiff regulations in far out remote areas. I can see it in towns or cities, and maybe doughnut perimeter around the urban and semi-urban areas, but 50 miles from a town? That's ridiculous. Arizona in general seems highly regulated to me, but maybe it depends what your perspective is. We live in an area that is basically land of the free, but I guess people from California or other places might see Arizona as more lax than where they're from.

AZbuilder, I keep hearing that they're starting to go property by property and looking at satellite and aerial photos to identify "unpermitted activity or structures". Yet my realtor kept brushing it all aside saying there is strength in numbers, with hundreds of people out there having unpermitted buildings and fences, etc. He also said I would be the unpopular one in our neighborhood (Juniper Woods Ranch) if we did get permits and have inspectors out there, and that they might spot things on adjacent properties that people didn't have permits for and then people would be upset with us. I just shake my head.

I can see why people out there have just done their own thing, with the incredible and unrealistic requirments for permits and inspections for everything. It's like the county almost forces most people to be 'illegal'. By the time you go through the whole process legally, you've spent thousands of dollars on permits and inspections, and project gets dragged out waiting for approvals, permits, and inspections.

Might start looking in another state. Maybe Nevada. They might be as bad, we don't know yet!

[azbuilder]

Watch out in Nevada, Harry Reid's friends in Las Vegas are tying up water rights every where and are now trying to pull water from more areas outside Nevada. Got to keep feeding the Fountains in front of the Casino's Thinking of starting to look up around St johns where I can have a well and just use the Juniper R for short get a ways.

[azbuilder]

Has anyone checked out this web site for looking up wells and depths ?

https://gisweb.azwater.gov/waterreso...lregistry.aspx

[6.7traveler]

Eureka county, NV. Delta, custer, saguache, dolores and a few other eastern plains counties in colorado also have relaxed to non existent codes. Cochise county in southern arizona at least has an owner builder exemption that limits inspections on owner built homes on more than 4 acres. Unfortunately for yavapai county rural residents, their overlord masters in prescott will know what's best for them. They will watch them from the sky to ensure compliance. Also to the person stating that $9 for a shed permit is not bad, it isn't, but good luck trying to get one without a primary structure in place. Want to store tools or anything on your property before you build? You'll have to do it illegally. The best way to build on these properties with minimal regulations is to get an old POS mobile and put it on as your primary residence. Then you have more leeway with out buildings as agriculture buildings under 400 square feet. If you're looking for 40 acres in the middle of nowhere in the high desert, that means you want to be left alone. Look elsewhere. The only way I would ever consider moving back to yavapai county, california is if they ever open up yavapai ranch for development and I had lots of $$$. Then I would buy a 40 acre parcel high up on top a hill and wait for big bulls to cross over on my property from the O RO ranch while I gaze at my 100 mile views of San Francisco peaks....

[Rob Lowe]

I was curious what it would take to dig a root cellar in the ash fork area. The hole needs to be roughly 8 to 10 feet deep. My question is pertaining to how hard the ground is. Has anybody in the area ever dug a deep hole or attempted a similar task?

[6.7traveler]

^Digging in ash fork isn't bad in most places provided you have a backhoe or some sort of equipment. Digging by hand 8-10 feet deep would be next to impossible and would take a long time.

[rambrush]

I would think a backhoe would be the best option. Get the hole dug fast and fairly large then cover it quick before big brother in the sky saw it. Use it for many more things than just a root cellar.

[6.7traveler]

^Have thought of building a secret "root cellar". However, a few obstacles to overcome are;
1. The two track road you are going to create right off the bat, unless you hike in.
2. The truck, solar and water tanks and other equipment not in the root cellar.
3. Regardless the people out there will know someone is out there up to something and will be inclined to check it out. It is next to impossible not to notice a new person out there as you and all your activities will for sure be noticed. There isn't a whole lot else for some people to do out there but stare at the world.

The best way to hide underground root cellars would still be to have an old mobile home in the very front of the 40 acres. Then you can dig secretly in the back 40. Helps if you have lots of junipers or pinyon pines and hills or change in topography and if your parcel back up to state or national forest land.
I guarantee you there are more than a few "root cellars" out that way. I know of two personally, just in the unit I lived in. Lots of people preparing for all kinds of disasters out those ways. There are lots of crazy old Vietnam Vets that live out that way to be left alone and they have lots of guns. Not that that's a bad thing, I just wouldn't want to wander across any secret root cellars.

[DryCreek]

Good morning. I enjoyed reading your updates with your property. I too own near 20 acres on Juniperwood. I love it there. Clean air, peace & quiet, stars galore & coyotes calling @ night.

I was wondering if anyone had considered building an earthbag house? There have been demos offered @ Prescott College. This is a great & beautiful way to build. Check out earthbag house plans.com or the Cal-earth institute in Hesperia CA. These buildings are green, affordable & beautiful. Quite the community.

[Baldur]

From Yavapai County building coedes revision of 2012

SECTION 102.6 – Existing Structures is deleted in its entirety and revised to read as follows:
102.6 – Existing Structures. The legal occupancy of any structure existing on the date of
adoption of this code shall be permitted to continue without change, except as is specifically
covered in this code, the International Property Maintenance Code, or as is deemed necessary by
the building official for the general safety and welfare of the occupants and the public.
SECTION 102.7 – Existing Building Systems is hereby added as a new section to read as follows:
102.7 – Existing Building Systems. Plumbing, fuel gas, mechanical or electrical systems
lawfully in existence at the time of the adoption of this code shall be permitted to have their use
and maintenance continued if the use, maintenance or repair is in accordance with the original
design and no hazard to life, health or property is created by such existing systems.

Also on ppl saying that ANYTHING has to be permitted. there is a long list of exemptions. Including some building less than 400ft2

Building Permits. A building permit shall not be required for the following:
1. One-story detached accessory buildings on residential properties used as tool and
storage sheds, garages, carports, playhouses, animal shades, barns, and similar uses,
provided the area does not exceed 400 square feet under roof and not to exceed a height
of 12 feet from natural grade to the mean roof height. Detached accessory buildings
shall not be considered or used as habitable space. A separate building permit is
required for any plumbing, electrical or mechanical systems in all detached buildings.