Earthship Codes, Permits, Regulations and Laws

http://www.earthship.com/codes-regulations-laws

What is the purpose of building permits and codes? What permits do I need to build an Earthship? Are there any places where Earthships are prohibited? Do environmental concerns influence codes or are they just based on safety and commerce? How do the countries you've visited compare in terms of their codes? How are you fighting codes in overly regulated areas? If I want to build the latest Earthship model, what is my first step?

Category:

Education

Tags:

• earthship
• biotecture
• codes
• permits
• regulations
• laws
• green buildings
• sustainable
• housing

[ChawampaTuU2009]

I would like to know if there is a list compiled that you can find "pockets of freedom" on which to build your earthship. My husband and I have been looking into what it would take for us to build an earthship. We want to build an earthship to retire in.

[PakaNoHida]

Very well spoken.  I hope someday I can work with you building an Earthship where I live.

[CarlosMacMartin]

How about Cibola County in New Mexico?

[iaink98]

Couldnt agree more. In the uk it is likely the planning laws rather than building codes that will restrict earthship opportunities. Functional building codes are increasingly administered by forward thinking surveyors who can embrace this form of construction e.g check out the LABC registered solutions for uk wide systems approval.

[cekiert]

@envyintrigue some codes go beyond the minimum. example if your building a off grid home most places require a electrical permit. In many areas they require 110v electrical wiring for things like lighting which is ac current.. in a off grid home you have some items you can run off 12v dc

this is what many codes want:

to run a led light bulb you might loose 20% of the generated power just from wasted power conversions to off set this loss you need a larger battery bank and more power

[johnniefive80]

@envyintrigue "A penny wise and a dollar foolish"...."oh the codes, the glorious codes, and the government can do no wrong", i hear you loud and clear...this bureaucratic crap is exactly what is ruining our civilization.

[envyintrigue]

I was on board completely until seeing this video. I understand the need for green sustainable building.. but codes are a minimum standard set to ensure the safety of occupants inhabiting them. This means structural and fire safety as well.. I would like to know that my home meets the codes, I would be a little afraid of what could happen if something bad happened in the earthship.

I would have more preferred to see that he is working to change the codes, not finding a way get passed the code