4 ms·

Housing build, say, in 1920 is now illegal to build but is perfectly legal to live in. Building codes and restrictions are policy failure (in Canada definitely

by betaby 3y ago

Housing build, say, in 1920 is now illegal to build but is perfectly legal to live in. Building codes and restrictions are policy failure (in Canada definitely so).

happytiger 3y ago
Nobody ever blames the building codes until the either educate themselves or try to build a house. Then you realize just how difficult it is to build. It takes just as long as the build sometimes and costs thousands and thousands upfront just to get to the point where you can start. We need a streamlined process that allows standardized housing to be built with minimal upfront costs and on small affordable lots. ADUs are up to 1200sq feet — for most people this is a whole dang house not an accessory dwelling unit. Want to see how easy improvement could be made? Imagine if you could write off 50-70 percent of the total cost of an ADU over 15 years as long as it’s rented out to no more than 3 tenants during each year — and eliminated the ability of cities and counties to block their development as long as they fit on the lot. You’d have a massive increase in affordability in just a few short years. It’s the laws and the zoning that are the problem. You’re spot on.
- betaby 3y ago
  > Nobody ever blames the building codes until the either educate themselves or try to build a house. I built more than one house, not alone of course.
  - happytiger 3y ago
    So you know. Do you disagree? I have only built one from scratch.
ProllyInfamous 3y ago
Background: I have built several houses, both for family and professionally. Technically, I was a licensed electrical contractor. I just recently moved from a now-condemned 1920's structure to a "modern" 1970's. The problem with modern US building codes is that there is still too much over-regulation (e.g. AFCI's required in essentially all residential splits), combined with the dangerous interconflict of builder's EGO -vs- inspector's EGO — particularly egregious when the inspector feels a one-off homebuilder "deserves" differential treatment. I think the dumbest jurisdictions (AHJ's) are the ones which prevent homeowners from (e.g.) installing their own electrical outlets, not even in owner-occupied structures. Homeowner maintenance becomes illegal, in certain stupid AHJ's (e.g. Chattanooga); and is thus done unpermitted by a helpless-to-stupid-regulations policy. /rant
- betaby 3y ago
  Not a rant, very valid points!
  - ProllyInfamous 3y ago
    I have been on both sides of "inspections" and know that my own personality has often been my own greatest challenge. I am oil-and-water to/with the emissionless dieselbruh contractors. Thanks for allowing my vent, and re-enforcing some of its basis.

by betaby 3y ago

Housing build, say, in 1920 is now illegal to build but is perfectly legal to live in. Building codes and restrictions are policy failure (in Canada definitely so).

happytiger 3y ago

Nobody ever blames the building codes until the either educate themselves or try to build a house. Then you realize just how difficult it is to build. It takes just as long as the build sometimes and costs thousands and thousands upfront just to get to the point where you can start. We need a streamlined process that allows standardized housing to be built with minimal upfront costs and on small affordable lots. ADUs are up to 1200sq feet — for most people this is a whole dang house not an accessory dwelling unit. Want to see how easy improvement could be made? Imagine if you could write off 50-70 percent of the total cost of an ADU over 15 years as long as it’s rented out to no more than 3 tenants during each year — and eliminated the ability of cities and counties to block their development as long as they fit on the lot. You’d have a massive increase in affordability in just a few short years. It’s the laws and the zoning that are the problem. You’re spot on.

betaby 3y ago
> Nobody ever blames the building codes until the either educate themselves or try to build a house. I built more than one house, not alone of course.
- happytiger 3y ago
  So you know. Do you disagree? I have only built one from scratch.

ProllyInfamous 3y ago

Background: I have built several houses, both for family and professionally. Technically, I was a licensed electrical contractor. I just recently moved from a now-condemned 1920's structure to a "modern" 1970's. The problem with modern US building codes is that there is still too much over-regulation (e.g. AFCI's required in essentially all residential splits), combined with the dangerous interconflict of builder's EGO -vs- inspector's EGO — particularly egregious when the inspector feels a one-off homebuilder "deserves" differential treatment. I think the dumbest jurisdictions (AHJ's) are the ones which prevent homeowners from (e.g.) installing their own electrical outlets, not even in owner-occupied structures. Homeowner maintenance becomes illegal, in certain stupid AHJ's (e.g. Chattanooga); and is thus done unpermitted by a helpless-to-stupid-regulations policy. /rant

betaby 3y ago
Not a rant, very valid points!
- ProllyInfamous 3y ago
  I have been on both sides of "inspections" and know that my own personality has often been my own greatest challenge. I am oil-and-water to/with the emissionless dieselbruh contractors. Thanks for allowing my vent, and re-enforcing some of its basis.