4 ms·

We just built a "hybrid" house in Santa Cruz county. We picked the default design and stuck to it. We had to make a few changes to get through the planning depa

by maire 8y ago

We just built a "hybrid" house in Santa Cruz county. We picked the default design and stuck to it. We had to make a few changes to get through the planning department. The biggest issue was not at the building level - but rather everything they made us do to prepare the site for building. Yikes - that was expensive. It also took a long time to get through the planning department.

digikata 8y ago
Was more required of the site prep for the hybrid house than one using more typical construction processes?
- maire 8y ago
  The site prep was normal for any house. The biggest change was in septic system requirements. Septic systems cost three times as much as they did a few years ago because we have to have an active system with a fan and they have to have lifetime inspections. The contractor said this is normal now for the state of California. There are also relatively new rules to manage water runoff.
  - anoncoward111 8y ago
    Does your town/city also ban composting toilets? I wanted to buy a $60,000 foreclosure in my town-- they told me I'm not allowed to even step foot on the property until I install a septic system.
    - maire 8y ago
      I don't know. The county was reviewing composting toilets in 2013. I don't know the outcome.
      - anoncoward111 8y ago
        Many of the counties in the Northeast have taken a strong stance against composting toilets. It's because the local construction companies control the local governments here. They literally don't let you buy or move onto specific properties without submitting plans from "an approved septic installation company." You can imagine who is on the approval board, and which companies are "approved providers."
        maire 8y ago
        California has water issues - that is why they were seriously considering composting toilets.
        anoncoward111 8y ago
        Sounds like I should move there :) The Northeast's justification is that they don't want human feces in the water table. But their policies don't reflect this noble goal.

by maire 8y ago

digikata 8y ago

Was more required of the site prep for the hybrid house than one using more typical construction processes?

maire 8y ago
The site prep was normal for any house. The biggest change was in septic system requirements. Septic systems cost three times as much as they did a few years ago because we have to have an active system with a fan and they have to have lifetime inspections. The contractor said this is normal now for the state of California. There are also relatively new rules to manage water runoff.
- anoncoward111 8y ago
  Does your town/city also ban composting toilets? I wanted to buy a $60,000 foreclosure in my town-- they told me I'm not allowed to even step foot on the property until I install a septic system.
  - maire 8y ago
    I don't know. The county was reviewing composting toilets in 2013. I don't know the outcome.
    - anoncoward111 8y ago
      Many of the counties in the Northeast have taken a strong stance against composting toilets. It's because the local construction companies control the local governments here. They literally don't let you buy or move onto specific properties without submitting plans from "an approved septic installation company." You can imagine who is on the approval board, and which companies are "approved providers."
      - maire 8y ago
        California has water issues - that is why they were seriously considering composting toilets.
        anoncoward111 8y ago
        Sounds like I should move there :) The Northeast's justification is that they don't want human feces in the water table. But their policies don't reflect this noble goal.