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sugarriver73
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2013 08:21am
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New member ..figured I'd Introduce myself instead of lurking.
I recently turned 40 am selling my business or taking it with me when I relocate.
I'm looking in the following states Arizona,Colorado,Nevada,Wisconsin.
I was hoping to hear from people in these areas in regards to small cabin regulations on size,well depths out west (Nevada,Arizona,Colorado) and water right laws. (ditch shares.etc.?)
I'm looking to garden,raise some chickens, goats maybe even a couple cattle. Small self-sustaining ranch. Size wise 5-40 acres.
I currently use solar for most my needs,have a generator as backup
or for heavy demand. My current living requirements take up less than a 9 x 11 area..So I don't want to be force to build BIG.
Or deal with a lot of red tape..I like to get this done before next fall..I plan on a trip West in about three weeks for scouting land.
Wisconsin I know I just don't know codes by every area.
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Anonymous
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2013 08:26am
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I'm in Wapaca Co. in WI. Zoned rural/residential. Minimum demention on a residence in 22 ft. So smallest cabin would have to be 22x22. Don't know what it is if its zoned just rural. The county has all its info online, google it.
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TheWildMan
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2013 08:36am
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Hi Sugarriver73, you came to a good place for advice
I don't know much about the area your in as far as regulations but i can certainly try to give advice on gardening and basic chickens (raised them in the past)
I'm living in a tiny off grid cabin and self suficent farming in the adirondacks (northeast) on a 5 acre lot, i grow or forrage most of my own food and preserve it (so it lasts till the next harvest).
I don't know anything about water rights (the woods here are called abspestos forest-so much rain it never burns). but i got past the red tape of building codes by building my place out of a portable storage building, if there is no permenant foundation under it its considered portable and not a long term improvement (not taxable and no permits required). they can get quite large. my state is one of the most restrictive in the union, I hear out your way its a lot more relaxed. my reccomendation is to consider these buildings.
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TheWildMan
Member
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2013 08:51am
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I bought raw land (not used for anything since the 30s) and there was nothing but rock piles and trees, corn fields and pasture on all sides. bought it with money i had in my pocket when i walked into real estate office, was up for sale for years and i was the first interested in it, built everything since then (2 small fields for crops, small orchard, dug well, barn)
i advise being flexible with what you grow and what you build with, my lot was a Dept of transportation rubble dumping site in the 50s, got it cheap because of the dificulty in conventional development (rock piles cover half the lot, limited road access, no utilities available).
if starting on the self sufficency path look at what is onsite on each property (resources) and what has historically been done in the area and growing methods you can use. i built a lot with stone (the rock piles are a great quarry) and the unhealthy trees on top resulted in lots of firewood. i can't grow root crops but the thin soil gave me a lot of beans. i found 4 apple trees on the property that i pruned and turned into a small orchard. south facing slope was ideal for solar. a muddy patch with cattails showed me a good spot to dig a well (high water table)
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sugarriver73
Member
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2013 09:00am
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Thanks WildMan, I live currently near Illinois/Wisconsin border so water rights/laws are new to me.
The portable storage building is very appealing to me.
My biggest concern is with restriction so before running off to a area and buying I figured I reach out for advice.
I'll be sure to pick your brain on chickens when it comes.
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sugarriver73
Member
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2013 09:07am
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Thanks Anonymous 22x22 isn't huge so will keep it in mind.
I looked at so many areas. Codes vary so much, just thought it would be easier to reach out here and draw on experience, versus searching
each areas county and state websites.
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Montanan
Member
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2013 03:29pm
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You could consider Montana...pretty easygoing on the whole laws thing. 
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sugarriver73
Member
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# Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:41am
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Montanan, would consider Montana but I don't like land prices,granted the environment is more forgiving than some of the areas I've looked.
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hattie
Member
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# Posted: 12 Feb 2013 12:14pm
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Welcome to the forum sugarriver73. Lots of smart people here who can give you guidance. Keep us posted as you progress and post lots of pictures. 
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TheCabinCalls
Member
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# Posted: 13 Feb 2013 10:52am
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Each piece of land is its own ball of yarn to unravel. Where we built the county allows you to do pretty much what ever you like. However, the land we bought had deed restrictions and a local governing body that had input on sizing, materials, etc. So be careful and don't trust it until you read it in the deed restriction or bylaws. We've had realtors/owners tell us "that should be fine" and it wasn't.
That said, pick the environment/location you want to live and that has the things that you want to spend your time on.
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sugarriver73
Member
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# Posted: 13 Feb 2013 07:57pm
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Thanks Hattie and CabinCalls.
I hear you CabinCalls, I got in contact with the County in one area yesterday I'm looking at, and amazingly they called me back answered
all my questions. But I plan on doing a boots on the ground trip and more research..yet in a couple weeks out there.
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