We are building a shed to park the snowblower, lawnmowers etc., and I needed to get permission from the HOA, a zoning review, and a building permit for an 8*12 shed. We moved from the country to the suburbs and while the process is much faster in civilization, I don't think it is more civilized and you don't get to drink bad coffee with friends and neighbors..
Country Process | Suburban Process |
Get your plans together | Get your plans together |
Send an email to Cheryl to get on the planning board schedule. | Email your plans to the HOA |
Cheryl calls back and you chat for half an hour about family etc. and you get put on the schedule for next month, because the first Tuesday of this month has already passed. (The schedule hasn't changed in my lifetime.) | Get HOA Approval in a couple of days. |
Go to the Township Planning meeting. with 10 copies of everything so the board members all have a copy and the neighbors have some to chat about. Chat with Bob (wife's uncle and board chair) Talk about the barn that blew down on his son's farm last year and complain about how the state is holding up the removal process because there might be lead paint in it somewhere. Chat with other neighbors. get opinions on who should/shouldn't do the concrete work, and drink 8 cups of weak coffee. The meeting lasts 3 hours and we're still talking about the salt shed, replacing the road grader but we think it will last another summer, and eventually present your plans which are approved. Open mail and bills for the township, chat and drink more coffee. |
Fill out the city paperwork online |
Go to the full township board meeting the following Tuesday and repeat last Tuesday's discussions and add in tales of the extraordinary measures you took to keep your livestock cool when the power was out for three days. Drink more coffee. Get township approval and pay small fee. | |
On Wednesday take a long lunch to drive to the county courthouse, 35 miles each way with your plans, township approval, township receipt and your paperwork for the county filled out. | |
Stop in at the tax office where they verify your address, zoning code, and parcel number, and that property taxes are current. | |
Submit all paperwork to the county planning office. Go out of your way on the way home and grab a burger at King's. it only adds 10 miles to the trip. | |
Two to three weeks later, your building permit approval comes in the mail with bill for the permit. | Receive zoning and plan approval two days later with a link to pay the permit fee. |
Mail a check to the county (drive it there if you're in a hurry) | Pay fee online and print out the permit. |
The permit comes in the mail in a week or two. | |
Total Time 2-4 Months | Total Time 4-5 Days |
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