Posted: 7/31/2008 8:32:30 AM EDT
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I bought some plans online and looking to build a shed in the backyard. It's 10 x 10 x 9. Pretty tall. How do I find out if it's okay to build without violating any local codes? I reside in Houston with the zip code of 77095. |
| If you reside in the city limits of Houston, Harris county you are fine. Unless (you knew it was coming) your homeowners association doesn't permit it. If you live in one of the little burgs around Houston, that are zoned, you might check with the local builiding inspector. If they ask your name and address give the Mayor's address. |
How do I locate a local building inspector? Online? From the people that work at the model homes in my neighborhood? I doubt my HOA would be any help. They have deed restrcitions but do not enforce any of it, to my disappointment. |
Unless you are actually on the board of the HOA, the HOA does not exist to help you. |
WOW! We had much different results. Once the structure/paint/decoration is in place for 60 days, a HOA cannot MAKE you remove it. Wife works for a law firm, when we got the threatening letter for our kids swingset that had been in place 4 months, she answered back with a letter to the HOA attorney demanding the harassment stop. We lived there 4 more years and for some reason we never heard anything back. 
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My wife was the one who found the 60 days loophole. I know the letter stated that. That house was in Spring texas just N of Houston. Not Harris county. If you don't have a resource that works at a law firm, make some phone calls to the county asking for contact info for HOA attorneys. Or Google Home Owner Association attorneys in Houston texas. A realtor may also be a good source of information and/or may point you to someone who can help. In the meantime, I will ask the wife tonight. |
He is right, our easements were not covered with that. That comes from the city/county utilities and roads mostly. Our swingset didn't encroach the easements. |