Ad

Permitting a yurt

Jafo

Jafo

Administrator
Staff member
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.
 
Just thought this would be a good thread to start. A lot of people have permit questions so here we can collect a lot of info to help people out in one convenient spot. :cool:
 
Good idea... If we get enough info here, I will stick it to the top of this forum listing.

I would love to be able to get a list of engineered specs for each manufacturer, in PDF form for example, so when someone approaches their local zoning board, they have a place to send them if they are unfamiliar with yurts.
 
Yurt companies pay A LOT of money for their engineering. It goes into proprietary information that they don't want to share with just anyone. So I expect you'll have a tricky time with that goal. BUT, most also have a basic, one - two page summary that they let go of a bit easier...
 
I just sent in a request to Pacific Yurts, asking them for an engineering summary, let's see if we get any response. :)
 
I wonder if Lee has time? I kind of doubt it - we're super busy in Alaska right now. Our usual summer season of 24/7 weeks! :-) But ask, you just never know ....
 
After some thought, I don't think I will be able to get any kind of hard data in the area of engineering. The simple fact is, I would be asking too much for manufacturers to give me this data that includes a lot of proprietary design information so I could in turn publish it here on yurtforum.com.

While talking with Pete, he made a good suggestion that we might make a checklist of items that people should request from their yurt supplier. I think this is a great idea.

I think they would need to know some of the following:

  • Snow load (roof and ground)
  • Any engineering documentation they are willing to give
  • Fire rating on materials
  • R values of insulation(s)
I would love to hear what you guys think?
 
There is a distinction to made here about what types of yurts we are talking about. Since everyone here so far is talking about the modern day, contemporary, North American yurt, I suspect that is what kind of yurt this forum will focus on, even if not exclusively. So that's what I will focus on here, clearly leaving handmade, more traditional yurts out of this summary.

Perhaps the largest benefit of the North American style yurt is the potential for predictability of the structure. It is only because of that potential for predictability, and the fact that some manufacturers have paid the costs of proving that predictability, that many areas now allow yurts to be permitted. Some yurt manufacturers have capitalized on that and have gone into business selling, on a mass level, yurts of inferior design, that are dangerous because they are not completely thought out, and these threaten the permit-ability of yurts on a large scale. It is a short sighted, greedy mindset, to say the least. Because of that, and to protect the permit-ability of these styles of yurts for future generations, as well as protect the industry as a whole, I think it's important that a manufacturer have full structural engineering specs run on their yurts. It's a belief that is shared by many in the industry.

That said, it's as you say Jafo. I doubt any manufacturer will give you, a public forum, their full specs. That would allow other people or companies to be able to easily ride off their costly and painstaking work. They can, however, show proof that they have the engineering done and provide a summary of wind speed, insulation, weight load bearing, and fire resistance ratings. That is often all on the summary page from the engineering firm that I mentioned. Moving into the future, I believe that this will be mandatory in most places, as more and more places begin to accept IBC (International Building Codes) or UBC (Universal Building Codes). In my experience, a company that has done this step is a company that has taken the largest first step in showing that they are a conscientious, reputable manufacturer.

Other things to be sure of is the reputation of customer service. Do they handle things when they go badly, do they just blow you off completely, or fight to escape responsibility?

Are there major complaints against a company with the Attorney General or the BBB of their area?

What is their warranty on the roof and the rest of the structure?

Do they know basic, universal building codes?

Will they help you wherever possible with your permit process?

Do their yurts meet IBC codes?

Look at the standard things included.

Ask for accurate shipping costs of the day (Estimates often tend to be low balled to avoid sticker shock - The yurt industry does not control shipping costs, but some companies have ways of significantly dropping your shipping costs)

If you're interested in catching water, ask about the gutter systems. Have they been tried and tested? Get feed back from other customers.

Insulation is a big one for you folks in colder areas. Will their insulation meet r-value codes? If they don't know, that's a red flag.

Good yurt companies stand head and shoulders above the bad. It isn't difficult to figure out. If you're paying the lowest price on the market, there's a reason for that. The company has not likely paid their dues in testing, research, etc. and you, the customer, will be part of their trial and error process.
 
That was a great GREAT post Melissa. The ideas in this thread will go towards a final checklist I am working on. I am thinking that the top of the list should be: If the manufacturer will not give you any engineering specs, beware.

I have mulled it over about whether to have some kind of rating system for manufacturers and dealers here, but am a little hesitant. It is hard to validate what people say unless that is your business, such as the Better Business Bureau. I may see if they offer a way to link up with them so we can display the BBB ratings here. I already have BBB links in each manufacturers page so I am familiar with it a bit.
 
Thanks Jafo. To be clear: Not all yurt companies are aiming toward a permit-able yurt. And if they are clear about that, and up front with their potential customers, then I don't think it's too horrendous if they don't have the engineering. Some manufacturers are more for camping yurts, or traditional yurts, etc. That's great, the more yurts the merrier and I'm all for people expanding on the concept. But as a permanent or semi-permanent structure, engineering is just common sense, especially if you are profiting from the product and people's safety is a factor.

The biggest concern are the companies that 'pretend' for lack of a better word, that they are every bit as good, every bit as tested as the companies that actually have done the engineering. Those companies always sell for significantly less; they can afford to because they are short cutting things. Because of that, they siphon a lot of business, which means there ends up being a lot of them out there. And then, when we start seeing major fails, the code officials aren't going to see "such-and-such yurt company" yurt failed. They're just going to see "yurt failed" and then everyone will suffer.

We looked at doing a rating system within NAYA... the companies that would get a bad rating may not do their work on their engineering and such, but they sure do their work trying to minimize bad publicity. I'd be careful on how you proceed with a rating system. Maybe just let others experiences speak for themselves. And arm people with the knowledge, as you're doing :) In NAYA, we just ended up devising a system where companies that didn't meet standards were not asked to be members.
 
HawaiiYurts said:
Thanks Jafo. To be clear: Not all yurt companies are aiming toward a permit-able yurt. And if they are clear about that, and up front with their potential customers, then I don't think it's too horrendous if they don't have the engineering.
Click to expand...

I understand. :) My thought is, we are building a permit check list and this thread is about permitting so my train of thought is on that process. I agree that if you are planning on using this as any kind of permanent or even semi-permanent structure, you are best to go with a manufacturer who will offer you some sort of engineering specs.

Now those camping yurts that are totally portable; let's hope we never see the day where you have to get an occupancy permit for tent camping! :D
 
Pacific Northwest Counties

Does anyone have any information on the counties that are "pro yurt" ? That is to say I would like to build a yurt in an area that I can live in it full time. Small acreage preferably. Any help in the areas of Washington and Oregon would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike
 
Yes, I'd think Pacific could give you some tips about that area. And it may be more effective to figure out which counties do NOT accept them? But I'd expect Oregon and Washington would be pretty accepting of them as a rule...

I think a lot of areas don't have a hard and fast policy. Rural areas are often 'don't ask, don't tell'. Perhaps the thing to do would be to research and pick out ten areas you like for other reasons and then start calling the building departments of the areas. Then maybe we can update 'friendly zones' or 'unfriendly zones' on here. That would be useful in future industry efforts to clear yurts through the IBC as well.

I know that in Arizona, Colorado was successful in permitting after they addressed the insulation r-value codes and fire codes. I'm not sure if that's statewide. Here in Hawaii, we have been successful permitting on all islands except Oahu and Maui, but I haven't actually tried there yet because we haven't had a client that wants to permit there yet. I've heard they are 'anti', but I'm look forward to challenging it.
 
permitting

I spoke with a CSR @ Pacific Yurts regarding permitting in Oregon. Although she was nice, I really did'nt get the help I was asking for. I asked her to point me in the direction of "yurt freindly" counties as I would like to build a yurt in Oregon or Washington. I asked her maybe the President could help if she didn't know. Anyway to get to the point, she said most people didn't disclose that they were putting up a yurt, as there was probably an already existing structure. I am at the beginning stages of this and I want to conform to the applicable laws and such, and I see myself being somewhat if not totally off grid at some point and living in my yurt full time. I can see that this is going to take a lot of research, phone calls, and due dilligence on my part, and I don't think it should really be this difficult.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike
 
I suspect this is not as difficult as it seems to you right now. The first step is to narrow down some places so you can start asking questions. It seems you want someone to say 'counties a,b,c and d allow yurts. and e,f and g do not'. But in most places, no one has compiled that info. And even if they had at some point, with constantly changing codes and policy, it wouldn't necessarily be accurate info.

We can start compiling current yurt friendly zones here, it's a start. In most cases, yurt manufacturers help by providing what a client asks for to complete a permit process and they don't get involved any further than that. They aren't going to walk you through the process and there may be liability issues surrounding their saying one county does or does not permit yurts. It's been an area that many manufacturers shy away from.

Our business at Yurts of Hawaii is very unique in that aspect, but then that's what we focus on, and have CYC do their part to make us a good yurt. Point being, in most places in the nation, you have to do that foot work yourself and then there's a network that can help you navigate that process. When I started our business, yurts weren't permittable here. I had to fight the county, prove our engineering, durability and go through a long process of going on up the chain of command with photos, complete engineering specs, wind loads, weight, seismic ratings, etc. In some places it won't be that difficult. You have to call the individual county building department. Simple as that to start with. If you get a yurt friendly one (and there are many), you save yourself some hassle.
 
permitting in Pacific Northwest

I don't have any specific counties at this point in either Washington or Oregon, I was hoping someone with a yurt in either of these 2 states could offer some input as to their experience. Any help would be appreciated. Then again I could get a piece of land off the beaten path and say F9%3 the system and just do what I wanted in the first place.

Seriously, any help with specific areas of Washington or Oregon would be a great help

Mike
 
Our yurt isn't permitted, 'cause it's a temporary structure the county is ok with, but we've been exploring the prospects of cob and straw bale. The former is as far off the zoning board's radar as yurts, I'm sure.
The best advice we've gotten is to learn as much as one can about the zoning board and building inspectors (talking to folks who have built in the area recently) and to remember that most are not out to get you, but are more than willing to work with someone who is trying to do things the right way (the safe way). They won't automatically be antagonistic to new ideas if those ideas can be proven to be sound, but they're not going to do the work to establish the proof.
In some cases, the board or inspectors will actually be excited about working with you, because they want to encourage safe new ideas.
You can comment, Melissa, on the reality of that situation. We haven't acted on the advice yet ourselves, but it sounds reasonable and jives with our experience when informally asking a member of our zoning board about our yurt "summer home" by the garden.
 
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?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top