Benewah county/Fernwood building small cabin permit required? (Challis, Clark Fork: insurance, houses)

[jsrore]

Hi,

we bought 24 ac 4 years ago in the Fernwood area , the plan is to retire some day 5-6 years hopefully

we try and spend as much time up there as we can, we love Idaho, the people and the way of life.

we drag our 5th wheel up there in the spring and drag it out in the fall

would like to build a small cabin instead...we have no water or power , use solar and a generator and get water from Fernwood.

i really don't want to pull any permits as its just going to be a recreation cabin,

does any know what the "rules" are for this part of Idaho

Thanks

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Permits, probably yes.


You'll have to check with your local building permit people, but most areas will allow a small tool shed type building without a permit. Small and not for human habitation.


I don't know why you wouldn't want permits. The permit is cheap and the inspector is just making sure your building is safe.


If you ever want to sell your land, any buyer is going to check to see if the building was permitted.


You might be able to buy a tool shed and place it there, or possibly you might be able to leave your travel trailer full time (not always in every location. Some places have time limits for RVs.)

[banjomike]

wood smoke's right- permits are a good idea.
You will probably need to have one from the county before you can start to build. A call to the county offices will inform you of who, what, where and why.

I always found the inspectors quite easy to get along with. The primary thing they will be interested in is the structural and fire safety of the building, and the Idaho construction codes aren't overly restrictive. The permits aren't expensive either.
Am inspection report will be necessary to get insurance on the building. For a long time, Idaho didn't require building permits for small houses out in the country, and what happened was a lot of shoddy firetraps were built.

Most of them are gone now, but some do remain. Most were built in the 30s and 40s, a time when any farmer knew enough construction to slap something together to get through the winter. The winters turned into years, and the houses are still there.

A bargain homestead out in the country isn't such a bargain when a new owner finds out it's falling apart, has some serious problems with the plumbing, and cannot be insured.

[nm9stheham]

Below is a link to what I think is the current the Benewah County ordinances; refer to chapter 8. If the un-incorporated areas of a county are exempt from the codes, permits, etc, then that is usually spelled out somewhere, but I cannot find any exclusions for any part of Benewah County listed in these ordinances.

FWIW.... In my experience it is sometimes hard to find the exclusions and you have to use a lack of specific listing of such areas being subject to code as your proof.... i.e., proof by omission... or look to see if there is zoning enforced for an area. Ultimately , you need to verify this with the county officials. That is how I figured it out for Custer County a few years back (proof by omission), but I eventually walked into the permit office in Challis and asked directly.

Bottom line; Call/visit the county office. There is nothing clear that I can find so far that excludes your idea from permitting, etc.

https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/code..._id/0-0-0-3224

[nm9stheham]

And it looks like Idaho is up to the 2018 International Residential Code as the adopted residential standard.... that is requiring a lot more small things related to whole house ventilation system and energy efficiency. So the idea that Idaho statewide code standards are 'easy' is not really the case anymore.


So for the OP, it seems mandatory to just speak with the local officials. There may an administrative exception, that is not directly in the county ordinances, for a 'hunting cabin'.

[Cdarocks]

My in-laws live in Benewah County. They built a shop several years ago on their property and I am pretty sure they had to pull permits for it.

[jsrore]

appreciate all of the responses , i think the best idea is call and ask....

[Clark Fork Fantast]

We've been thinking about putting up a small guest cabin. Our lot plus septic is approved for one single family dwelling, but we were told (Bonner County) that as long as there is no plumbing, a small cabin doesn't need a permit. We wouldn't need a permit for a shop (without plumbing), either. However, we're going to make sure that is still the case, and give the County a call before we begin to clear ground.

[Mister Torgue]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

We've been thinking about putting up a small guest cabin. Our lot plus septic is approved for one single family dwelling, but we were told (Bonner County) that as long as there is no plumbing, a small cabin doesn't need a permit. We wouldn't need a permit for a shop (without plumbing), either. However, we're going to make sure that is still the case, and give the County a call before we begin to clear ground.

I’m highly interested in this as well. Looking forward to hearing the result.

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

We've been thinking about putting up a small guest cabin. Our lot plus septic is approved for one single family dwelling, but we were told (Bonner County) that as long as there is no plumbing, a small cabin doesn't need a permit. We wouldn't need a permit for a shop (without plumbing), either. However, we're going to make sure that is still the case, and give the County a call before we begin to clear ground.

You might need an electrical inspection to get the tiny house insured even if the permit doesn't call for one.