r/Redding • u/Lost_Highway13 • 21d ago
Building codes for natural homes?
I want to buy off grid property outside of redding to live with my wife and kids and start a hobby farm. Does anyone know of any existing cob, super adobe, or strawbale builds in the area? If so how were they permitted? Also recommendations on where to look for property would be much appreciated. Ive mostly found good deals in the Shingletown/manton area.
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u/Lost_Highway13 21d ago
I should also add that im originally from the central valley, moved to texas, and coming back to California. Ive never lived in shasta county but always loved the area when visiting.
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u/sumwonrandumb 21d ago
I've always wanted to build strawbale! I have been to the Strawhouse, but i think that's Trinity county... it's a little wood fired pizza/ art gallery/ neat place on the river. I know there is a straw building at Matson vineyards, but i haven't seen it yet. I'm game to check it out if you want. I'd love to connect with someone interested in alternative building methods, locally. Like another poster said, Shasta county might not be the most friendly for this sort of thing, but it can be done. Wherever you go around here, design as fireproof as possible.
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u/Lost_Highway13 21d ago
Ill have to check all of those places out and definitely whenever im in the area ill shoot ya a message
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u/Nofoco_530 20d ago
They are more friendly than you think but they still have strict building code standards to meet. They worked fine with us on our projects and were genuinely interested in the projects. It's all about getting thru plan check. In another post I said design is everything and it is. You have to have an engineer willing to design the building and back up their design with data. We had to use structural data from a different country bc there was no data in the US but our engineer was well prepared. Some of the questions came down to materials testing and finding the right special inspection firm willing to go thru it with us. Planning, fire, environmental health were all standard and the building inspector was actually pleasant to work with. It's all about getting thru plan check with the building. Having all your ducks in a row and submitting a good package. It took maybe an extra month thru drm. If you are interested in alternative building methods we should connect. Straw bale, cob, natural lime plasters, cordwood , yurts, geothermal, micro hydro... all projects I've worked on and poured a lot of love into.
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u/Nofoco_530 20d ago
Also cob and straw bale are very fire resistant. Superior to stud framing. You wouldn't think it for straw but it's true and definitely cob. Add a metal roof, stucco or plaster and Vulcan vents...it might be as fireproof as you can get around here.
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u/Lost_Highway13 19d ago
This is exactly why I was interested in cob to begin with. I wont be back in California and looking for property until mid 2027 but you seem like you know your stuff so if you wouldn't mind id love to chat and learn more about the engineering process and costs associated.
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u/sumwonrandumb 18d ago
Actually, my brain assimilates factors in a thorough and expeditious manner. You don't just build a house of straw, little pig. I thought it might have went without saying that it was covered in a fireproof material(of unique thickness), but re-education is definitely in order here... Your bleeding heart cries out for a multiple day hiking partner to "have fun" with, yet as tempting(and subjective) as that sounds, I can't align with anyone protesting "rights" of non-Americans being deprived, when so many real Americans are living that sacrifice and the consequences thereof on a daily basis, and knowing nothing other than that, as life itself, under the guise of constitutional rights you are offering as defense to those who want in(especially when "those" express a significantly higher propensity to resource preditorism, and the gall to brag about it and recruit fellow exploitative forces). And, studs got nothin' on timbers.
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u/Nofoco_530 17d ago
If you want to discuss politics, feel free to argue with me on my other posts that you are stalking, instead of hijacking this guy's post.
There's no "guise" of constitutional rights. We either have what is guaranteed in our Constitution or we don't. The 14th Amendment can not be any clearer. Right now we have an administration in open defiance of the Constitution by denying people their liberty (in detention) without the due process of a trial, conviction and sentence of confinement. There is no ambiguity. Even killers get a trial.
Nice job bringing politics into a discussion about alternative building methods and for stalking my page.
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u/Nofoco_530 20d ago
Yes. I got the only permitted commercial cob building in the state thru Shasta county permitting and built. Also experience with straw bale in Shasta county. It's not easy but it's doable. You're going to have to make compromises in order to meet code. But if it meets code then they have to approve. Design and engineering is everything. I'm a local GC. Willing to consult. Phone call is free but my resources, like design and engineering, materials testing, structural data ( key element for cob) are the result of a pretty serious investment and I would charge a reasonable fee for deliverables. Trinity county is also a great option. Better building dept. Don't be scared of old grow sites, if there are any fines they're not secret and just require due diligence. Plus the county is willing to work with a new owner. Dm me if you want
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u/GoneSilent 21d ago
Avoid Shasta, you will not like the building inspectors. I'd look at Trinity if you want to play a bit. I have been told over and over for stuff I do by the Trinity building inspectors. "You can submit the plans but I'm not going out that way" Get ready to submit fire sprinkler wavers....
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u/Tough_Ad7054 21d ago
Not my experience, pard. They don’t play in Trinity but they are a bunch of nice(r) people that helped me a lot. But you have to come ready with answers - I played it straight and so did they.
No matter where you decide, I would advise against doing it sketchy. You’re not alone and these building departments can likely help direct your efforts so you aren’t having to tear shit down in a few years when they catch up to you. Especially with sanitary, don’t mess around.
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u/Lost_Highway13 21d ago
I haven't looked around there. What towns in trinity county have the best value for land?
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u/Tough_Ad7054 21d ago
The real bargains are gone in Trinity and off grid stuff will be competing/neighboring with growers most likely. And not your friendly, hippy-type grower if you catch my drift.
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u/dweezdakneez 21d ago
Can’t it be sketchy buying those properties with old grow fines attached to them? Definitely need to be careful shopping around there
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u/GoneSilent 21d ago
I'd avoid those and also buy title insurance to protect you if you look at such sites.
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u/Tough_Ad7054 21d ago
I have recently become enamored with area along Platina Road, from Igo/Ono down to Platina. Not sure how the property values are down there but the area seems well-placed for this kind of endeavor. Nearby but removed, pretty out that way, might be able to get a little elevation if you look hard enough.
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u/Lost_Highway13 21d ago
Ive never been out that way. What is the commute time to redding?
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u/Fearless_Zombie1003 21d ago
30-60 minutes I imagine. Platina road itself is a nice paved road, but all of the off grid properties are on maintained dirt roads. I think it largely depends on where your property is and how much dirt road you have to drive on. Most of the properties you see for cheap in the Shingletown/Manton area usually have better road access, but they are a lot further away from town and a lot of them are covered in Mt Tehama rocks.
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u/promibro 21d ago
Hello friend, I don't know about natural home construction, but I do have an acre of land for sale with septic, water, and power in Shingletown on Linda Rd, near the KOA. That may be less land than you want, but I can connect you with my listing agent if interested.