California Construction Question: I want to buy a vacant lot in the Los Angeles, California area and build ..
Question:a three level complex starting with a garage/recording studio on the bottom level and condominiums on the top, other two levels. My question is: "What legal requirements do you have to complete in the state of California to build your own home/business?"
I plan on doing this in the Eagle Rock area of Los Angeles. Once I buy the lot and land, I want to put a camper there where myself and my help will be living as we are constructing the building. Is this legal? Any comments or advice would sure be helpful. Thank you!
Answers:
first zoning use need to find out what you CAN build there.
second you will need to draw up plans and get a building permit. Plans do not have to be drawn by an architect. the owner can submit any drawing they want as long as it passes muster in plan chek.
Soil testing and compression reports
waste
be careful calling them condos. condos have another set of regulation and depneding on you municipality maybe even fire sprinklers which are a totally separate set of drawings and permits. and sewage plans you could do the plans one at a time i.e bottom level then the condos. I do not recommend that draw it all up at once
FYI the building permit is expensive when it is all said and done but so is everything else here is so cal
you will need consultants. California is the hardest state to build in.. you will need to comply with the new title 24 so you will need MEP stamps
Mechanical Electrical Plumbing
tile 24 is low energy consumption certification and there is no way around it.
The actual swinging a hammer part is the easy part the paper and red tape part is what makes construction so expensive. If I was in your shoes I would first put the whole development package out to bid you would in essence become an "owner" then design build GC's you would do EVERYTHING for you would give you bids (at least three bids) so you would at least have a number in your head then see if you can really do it cheaper with you and you buddies.
First, determine who is the zoning authority. A thomas bros. will indicate city boundaries as well as county areas.
If this lot has never been built on, the address is assigned by the planning/zoning dept. and a phone call will verify the authority.
These agencies have handouts covering the "general" requirements for the various required submittals. They may mail them, saving you a trip.
1st in the process is the zoning, ie., what type of occupancy is allowed for the present lot zoning and the required covered off street parking.
Next is lot coverage and required set-backs, also reffered to as the building footprint.
If this is a flat lot, then there should not be a soils report required unless this was, in its history, a water well or oil well.
Preparing your plans piecemeal will simply extend the process.
Any structure above single story will require an engineers stamp.
Construction trailers and port-a-pottys are permitted.
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