9 replies to this topic

[Andrewf]

Hello,

 I'm considering purchasing a SkyShed POD.  Does anyone know if a person needs a permit for a portable POD like a SkyShed?  I plan on visiting the building & zoning folks maybe next week to investigate.  I'm curious if anyone on this forum has any experience with this. 

 

Thanks,

Andy

[alphatripleplus]

No direct experience with one, and permits depend on local zoning laws, but my guess is that if it is movable (i.e. no foundation) and smaller than a specified size under the local zoning laws, you won't need one. Curious to know what your zoning folks say.

[Dynan]

I think there is a big difference in permanent and temporary structures. I'd consider this temporary, unless you were building a concrete foundation. (Might make a difference to indicate that.)

 

And invite the zoning commissioner out for a peek...

[wrvond]

If you live in a development with a Home Owner's Association, there are probably rules concerning structures on your property, along with vehicle parking restrictions, fence height and painting.

[John Rogers]

It depends on your county ordnance.  Typically, if your structure is less than a certain square footage, you don't need a permit, but other requirements such as distances from property boundaries apply.  For my location, a permit is not required for a structure less than 144 square feet.  A POD easily meets that requirement.

 

I have had my POD for nearly a decade and I can attest that it will improve your observing availability.

[astrochoker1]

I live in a community that has an HOA and I was required to get their approval. I had to plant a few bushes to block the view from the front of the house. I didn't see the point as it blends in with everything around here any but I didn't want to take chances.

[Oregon-raybender]

Make sure you tell them it's like a storage shed for garden equipment, But for a telescope. Bring images and drawings of the different sheds and where you are placing it, use a scale.

 

Here in my town no issues if it's not on solid foundation, 120 square feet is the limit.  Any power is limited to 12 volts, like garden lighting.

Always use references to "normal" sheds. He / She shed, etc...  Always check for water, sewage and power lines. I found out my neighbor's power line runs  under my front garden!

 

Starry Nights

[speedster]

With projects in municipalities scattered through 13 states, our experience is that the POD is an accessory building subject to the square footage threshold of the local building code and subject to zoning ordinance placement (typically 1' from side and rear boundaries, behind the front plane of the house - these vary somewhat with both zoning and the municipality).  If the POD has plumbing or electrical service, permits/inspections are required for those services.  These requirements are common to most municipalities but there are a few outliers.  HOA's are a whole different animal.

[jrkirkham]

It's best to check it out, and perhaps before you check it out ask others in the area. I didn't have any problem getting a permit. In my area even garden sheds need permits. Another possible question you might consider is property tax. I built a deck, but my POD is a removable structure sitting on the deck. Had I not specified that it was removable it would have raised my property taxes. 

[mclewis1]

I didn't formally ask the city about permits and such for my POD, but I did quietly ask around about similar structures but didn't get any really solid guidance. It's not attached to anything, is not visible from the street and only from one neighbour. There's also no HOA.

 

I built my POD on an elevated 8' octagonal wooden deck but the only permanent part is the pier (which doesn't touch or support the POD). I power the POD with an extension cord (heavy gauge on a 20amp GFCI protected circuit) to further the "non permanent" status ... it is however left plugged in all the time. The internal electrical is all done from multiple 6 outlet power bars (again more of the non permanent aspect) connected to a single PVC box with 4 NEMA outlets (where the extension cord terminates).

 

So basically it's a storage shed on a wooden platform with temporary power. It's bullet proof, safe and effective (and probably my best astronomy oriented purchase), and if push came to shove I'd enjoy formally arguing it's non permanent status with any city ordinance folks. 

Edited by mclewis1, 01 February 2021 - 06:13 PM.