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[Cob] Class K in Californiaotherfish otherfish at comcast.netTue Nov 25 11:16:05 CST 2003
Scott, Amanda, Class K is a building code. It exists in Mendocino, Sonoma & Humboldt counties in California and is essentially a special case "owner / builder" code which allows a lessening of the normal UBC ( soon to be IBC ) building cobe. It allows, among other things, the use of recycled building materials and a lessening of energy conservation requirements if wood heat is used. The Class K position on cob is( so far as I know) that cob is allowed if the plans are signed by either an architect or engineer. I was able to assist Katie Jean in getting a building permit for her cob house near Willits under the Class K code. Class K came to be in California in the 1980's via legislation by the California State Assembly, This was the result of political action by a group of rural homeowners in Mendocino County who were red tagged in mass in a series of enforcement "raids" driven by the rather foolish guy who was then the head of the building department. But that's another story. Normally Class K is only applicable for land parcels of a specified acherage minimum sizes and certain zoning classifications. This varies with each county & I believe there are appeal processes for these limits. Class K is not a zoning classification. john fordice on 11/25/03 7:33 AM, Amanda Peck at ap615 at hotmail.com wrote: > > > I don't know what Class K is. > > But how a piece of land is zoned is pretty important. My house in Nashville > was in an Industrial zone area, which meant that after it burned the lot was > pretty worthless, unless I gathered together with all of my neighbors and > together we sold to someone wanting to put up a smallish factory. I MIGHT > have been able to rebuild back within the old foundation's footprint. No > particular desire to, mind you. > > Notice that "MIGHT" up there. I would have had to go before the zoning > board and ask for a variance there. If the land you want to buy is not > already zoned "class K" then you would get to do the same thing, with or > without the support of your neighbors, who, if it is like Nashville, would > be notified that you were petitioning for a variance. If you are trying to > stay under the radar, not something your really want to do. Buying land > already zoned that way--but be sure that it is not under some weird thing > that only applies to the person who originally applied for the class K > designation--would keep you less visible. > ............... > > Scott wrote: > I was reading up on Mendocino County's building codes on their website > (http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/planning/PermitPlace/PermitPlace1.htm). I > stumbled upon this passage...I was wondering if anyone knew about Class K? > It appears to vaguely allow for natural building, but I'm not sure if I'm > interpreting it correctly. If it is, what does it mean that the property > has to be zoned for Class K? > > The passage: > What is Class K? > > Class K is a relaxed construction standard available to owner-built rural > dwellings and appurtenant structures intended ".to allow and facilitate the > use of alternatives to the specifications prescribed by the Uniform > technical codes to the extent that a reasonable degree of health and safety > is provided." To qualify, the property must be zoned for a one acre minimum > Class K or Uniform Building Code structure. > > > > _______________________________________________ > Coblist mailing list > Coblist at deatech.com > http://www.deatech.com/mailman/listinfo/coblist > > _________________________________________________________________ > Set yourself up for fun at home! Get tips on home entertainment equipment, > video game reviews, and more here. > http://special.msn.com/home/homeent.armx > > > _______________________________________________ > Coblist mailing list > Coblist at deatech.com > http://www.deatech.com/mailman/listinfo/coblist
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