Permitting a yurt

[HawaiiYurts]

The most logical starting point is to call a county and ask them if they know of yurts and if so, do they allow them to be permitted as residences or accessory buildings. You can't trust other people's experiences, because these things can change even as quickly as year to year. Hopefully for the better! But not always.

To do something under the guise of 'temporary' works for many, but leaves you open to the county being able to come in and either demand it be taken down, facing fines, or begin permitting it. The best bet is always going to be to know the counties stance on it. If they don't have a stance, then get the yurt and it's foundation drafted by a licensed, local architect and pay a professional to start routing it. That goes far. *edited to add* OR, wing it and if they come and make you take it down, well, easy enough. Heartbreaking in many cases though.

In Oregon/Washington, the biggest factor for codes with yurts is going to be

insulation

, so go with a company who sells

insulation

that meets the r-value factors. Other than that, I have found NO PART of yurts that pose an issue to the IBC building codes, or can not be made to meet them.

An excellent engineer in the area is Steve Kicinski. He is working with

NAYA

on various things where yurts and pending IBC codes clash. His company is Ellisport Engineering. He would be an excellent person to speak with about codes in the area and I believe he is licensed in both of those states. But let's post yurt friendly/unfriendly areas as we know and we can begin a list of sorts for people. Where are you located again, Dan? County and state?

[Dan R-M]

I'm in Montgomery County, Ohio, a.k.a. Dayton plus a little around the edges. We're on the westernmost side of the county.
Our yurt is solidly [ha ha] in the field of temporary structures, since it's sitting on wood posts that rest on Dek Blocks. Through our zoning board member we found that such a structure wouldn't need a permit.
I don't know if that would still be true for a property without an existing permanent structure on it, though. (Ours has a beat-up old house.)

[lizsteve]

We are new to this, but in our experience in Upstate NY, a yurt can be to code. We were "found" by the code guy and he wasn't happy, but willing to work with us. In this county as soon as you sleep in a building, it's a residence and needs to meet code. Our yurt is on a deck. We needed a permit to build the deck, build the yurt, put in septic (which we didn't want but now have to have), and for the wood stove. Once we apply for permits we can get approved and move forward. Here's what we have learned, if it's helpful.

The deck has it's own codes to follow - railings, joist hangers, etc.

The yurt was to code, we have the snow load winter pakacge from Colorado yurt COmpany and that meets code here. CO sent the architect stamped plans quickly and we could send these to the code guy.

We cannot have small propane tanks for anything - we have a small heater for a shower, and for our stove. We have to get a bigger one from a standard company to meet code.

Insulation in a yurt is not to code, but our guy overlooked this. He actually read something from the NYS code book that residences must be kept at 64 degrees or above at all times! (ha)

We can't have grey water, have to have septic even though we have no plumbed toilet.

We can have a composting toiler if it's a commercial model (eg. Sunmar)

Wood stove pipe has to be 3' taller than height of roof.

Any water in - we are collecting rainwater - has to be potable at the tap.

[HawaiiYurts]

You're right, Dan. That's the clincher for a lot of structures in most places... if there is one permitted residence on the property it opens the door for many loopholes, like temporary structure, accessory structures, etc.

[Jafo]

Checklist for permitting your yurt:

• If your yurt manufacturer has any stamped engineering designs, have copies of them handy.
• Information on snow load, fire rating of materials, and R value of the insulation(s). Find a local, licensed architect to review your platform plans and give his wet stamp. The local architect or a plans router will route them through the system. These services are usually fairly cheap in the scheme of things, and WELL worth not bungling it up as an inexperienced building department novice.
• Warranty information on materials (i.e. roof).
• Does the design meet IBC code?
• Are there any other yurts in your area? If so, ask the owners what process they went through to get a permit.
• Tall walls, 6'9" or higher at the door are generally required for permanent structures.
• astrofoil doesn't meet r-value codes in some areas. Ask the manufacturer for insulation that does where it is required (typically only in colder climates).
• Egress is a common requirement, so an extra door or an operable window may be needed.
• For a residence or detached bedroom or anything with plumbing, you will also need wastewater plans. Engineered septic or cesspool designs or plans showing how you will route into an existing system.
• For a residence you will need to show your water supply, refrigeration, cooking means and a shower/toilet/sink. You will need to provide a floor plan and a full site plan, locating your waste water, set backs, driveway and house/yurt.
• If it is not a residence, then get the help of a local router and make sure it is called something else. Most places will not allow two full kitchens to be on one property, thereby making for two full residences. You can have partial kitchens, but typically only a single sink (not a double chamber) and a hot plate or the like.

[Jafo]

I have made the first post of this thread that Melissa started a checklist of what you should need when starting the permitting process. Please feel free to suggest other items for the list.

[HawaiiYurts]

Wind kits are a good upgrade to get in a yurt, even if you aren't in a windy area. The posts allow for electric outlets and switches to be placed at convenient heights and wire for overhead lighting can easily be trimmed out along the posts.

For permits you will need the following:
-Tall walls, 6'9" or higher at the door.
-astrofoil doesn't meet r-value codes. Ask the manufacturer for insulation that does where it is required (typically only in colder climates).
-Egress is a common requirement, so an extra door or an operable window will be needed.
-Fire ratings
-Architect stamps (find a local, licensed architect to review your platform plans and give his wet stamp. The local architect or a plans router will route them through the system. These services are usually fairly cheap in the scheme of things, and WELL worth not bungling it up as an inexperienced building department novice).
-For a residence or detached bedroom or anything with plumbing, you will also need wastewater plans. Engineered septic or cesspool designs or plans showing how you will route into an existing system.
-For a residence you will need to show your water supply, refrigeration, cooking means and a shower/toilet/sink. You will need to provide a floor plan and a full site plan, locating your waste water, set backs, driveway and house/yurt.
-If it is not a residence, then get the help of a local router and make sure it is called something else. Most places will not allow two full kitchens to be on one property, thereby making for two full residences. You can have partial kitchens, but typically only a single sink (not a double chamber) and a hot plate or the like.

That should be enough to get started...

[Jafo]

Thanks Melissa, I have updated the first post in this thread. I think it is coming along nicely!

[Abstract]

Found this link:
Can a yurt be built…legally…as a primary residence?

[hakalugi]

lizsteve -

i've read posts like yours on the small cabin forums - if they had to enforce the insulation rule not sure much would get built. bummer about the septic requirement and no graywater, even after you had a composting toilet.

thanks for sharing.