Homesteaders?

[444 Magnum]

I purchased several building tracts in the Georgia mtns a few years ago. County road access to some and private road access to others. The private road is a deeded easement to all the owners on that side.
The lot next to me (on the private road) sold at auction a few years ago and then sold to a speculator. The speculator just sold it to a veteran and his family (wife and 5 children) who want to "homestead" there.
Their lot (7.54 acres) is significantly sloping but has an area suitable for building farther up the side of the mountain. The "flat" area is accessible via another easement across another tract.

In order to build up there, the driveway must be completed, septic evaluated, a well drilled, foundation, etc. You get the picture. Of course, permits must be pulled and approved and a lot of money spent.

I live 4 hours away at this time. The land is part of a long term plan. Got a call from the neighbor telling me about the homesteaders. Last week they were tent living and cutting stairs into the side of the slope.
The neighbor went back today. This is the pic he sent me. The road that you see is the common easement.

They have placed a pre-fab building at the bottom of their lot literally 2 feet off the common road blocking the drainage ditch in the process.

No foundation, no power, no water, no septic, doesn't meet energy code (I presume), and probably a dozen more violations (or more).

I called the county. No permits applied for. Then I called code enforcement to get the process started.

These people have been watching too much television and internet about "homesteading" and haven't a clue. This isn't the Alaska wilderness. Even if the building isn't moved, it will certainly wash away along with the road over time. If they haven't moved by winter, I hate to think how they will heat the house.

I think someone even called family/childrens services because this is not a tenable situation for the children.

Its been a great week: this, the wife got covid, too wet to work, and I ran over a sign with my truck.

Thanks for listening.

 

[LVSteve]

Will keep an eye on the news for a sovereign citizen incident in GA.

 

[arjay]

Ugh,I see a long ongoing problem with awful neighbors unless the county gets it in gear

 

[ladder13]

Need an HOA

 

[jeffrefrig]

Send them a six pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon as a home welcoming present!

 

[Mule Packer]

Dang. What can you say but...Welcome to the neighborhood!!

Let's just hope the county gets involved...QUICK!

You mentioned that they have no water or septic. Uh-oh. You know what that means. Don't you? And with seven people using it, it fills up quick...because your description of them gives me the impression that they probably didn't dig a very deep hole.

 

[steelslaver]

Here if you outside the city limits you can built what you want anyway you want. You only need approval fro 2 things. Septic system and electrical inspection must pass.

My place already has an approved septic system. I had the built over added onto trailer tore out, then put in my own footings, foundation and build the whole place with no inspections what so eve. Except a 15 minute preliminary by the electrical inspector, he told me he could see I knew what I was doing to go ahead and finish the house. When the house was complete he came in looked in my panel went around and checked a few outlets and signed me off. My insurance company wouldn't sign off till I had hand rails on the temp back steps. I did built to normal building codes though.

Most of the lower population counties in the state are the same way. Your land built what you want on it. If you want an out house you do not need anything. Most require a permit for septic

 

[Greyman50]

Nightmare……..

 

[Dave.357]

Do not laugh. I saw a similar situation
County trued to force people to conform
to code. Did not work , they put a goat
And some chickens in it called it a barn.
Said they were just taking care of there
Live stock.
They finally lost the property to the bank.
Some one burnt the barn down pretty
quick.

 

[444 Magnum]

The building inspection departments in Georgia that I have had dealings with have all had at least one thing in common...they don't like to be ignored. I have spoken to planning/zoning and building inspections, they both referred me to code enforcement to get the ball rolling.
The code enforcement officer said he will go inspect the property (with an armed constable in tow) and will issue ticket(s) based on what he finds (unpermitted building, etc.) that will include a court summons. Court date will be one or two months out depending on court schedule.
We'll go from there.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I had a couple of Great Uncles on dad's side, do some Homesteading in Colorado in the late 1870's/early 1880's. Nothing was ever heard about them again!

On mom's side, in 1818 James Mock came to central Ohio with 2 horses, 3 cows, 2 kids and a very pregnant wife. When he found the property, he had paid for, all of it but about 800 square feet was under 4 to 6 inches of water! He did what was necessary. He died having had 12 kids, on a very successful farm of about 800 acres.

Could someone do something similar today? Most likely, Yes!

Do people want to work that hard, and live without luxuries today? Most likely, No!

Ivan

 

[GypsmJim]

35 years ago I bought a tract of wilderness to use as a hunting spot. The wife liked it so much we decided to make it our summer home as well.

The first thing we did was built an outhouse for the wife. The property is old defunct oil lands. We have at least 6 old wells on the property. But it was also early fracking. We have dozens of water fracking wells, a few around each oil well.

Each well is reportedly 2000 feet deep, located below the oil reserve. Haven't been pumped since the 1940's. Right at our campsite is one of them. What a better place to locate the outhouse. No smell, you can;t even hear the "stuff" hit bottom and the convenience factor is awesome.

We got inspected. The county Judge sited us for an illegal waste disposal facility.

The deer and bear poop right on the ground. The judge didn't want to hear that.

A hundred bucks later and showing a receipt for a porta potty and the charges were dropped.

Of course if I do it in the bushes I suspect nobody will ever know....

 

[steelslaver]

35 years ago I bought a tract of wilderness to use as a hunting spot. The wife liked it so much we decided to make it our summer home as well.

The first thing we did was built an outhouse for the wife. The property is old defunct oil lands. We have at least 6 old wells on the property. But it was also early fracking. We have dozens of water fracking wells, a few around each oil well.

Each well is reportedly 2000 feet deep, located below the oil reserve. Haven't been pumped since the 1940's. Right at our campsite is one of them. What a better place to locate the outhouse. No smell, you can;t even hear the "stuff" hit bottom and the convenience factor is awesome.

We got inspected. The county Judge sited us for an illegal waste disposal facility.

The deer and bear poop right on the ground. The judge didn't want to hear that.

A hundred bucks later and showing a receipt for a porta potty and the charges were dropped.

Of course if I do it in the bushes I suspect nobody will ever know....

I would put a hasp on the door of the out house and call it a storage shed myself. If an inspector showed up I would meet him at the property line and ask to see the warrant. Inspection, search all the same. To many people are way to willing to surrender their rights to agencies like this. Your place must have some acreage if it has 6 frack sites I would like to know how a out house in the middle of it is more of a problem for any neighboring owners than a septic system. I can see that kind of stupid on a city lot or where there is a lot of small parcels, or near a water way, but not in the boon dock.

A good outhouse hole will compost down a lot of waste for years. Some quick lime now and again will help. There are still a lot of them in this state.

 

[Bald1]

I agree all this wacky (and fake) television about homestead rescue and mountain men and tiny house and blah blah blah makes people think this behavior is ok. My closet neighbor to my cabin is a straight up scumbag!!!
Fence made of pallets. Walk out front door into pig pen literally. Garbage at the road . The bears would grab it and scatter across road and up the side of mountain. I couldn't see the place from my property but it's the last thing you see driving up a town road to my place. I called the County Sanitarian and he handled it swiftly. The place is still an eyesore but not like it was.

 

[steelslaver]

In the case of a mess being visible from the road an inspector would not need a warrant of course.

Montana has a very strong culture of its you ground and you can pretty much do as you please on it

Nobody complained when my great grandma, as a widow with a bunch of kids homesteaded on the Powder river and built a home out of prairie sod. I am sure that my great great grandpa's first "ranch house" on the Big Dry was no prize and I know for a fact they all used outhouses. I was using them myself when we visited country relatives and even a few of the people I knew on the edges of town in the 1960s still used them. I now of a bunch of functioning out houses in semi remote locations right now.
A proper out house that isn't over used isn't any worse for the surrounding area than a septic system . Waste goes in, slowly decomposes and leeches into the ground just like a septic system.
A good seat, screened vent to keep the fly's out on a good sized hole in the the majority of soil conditions and you are good to go. I guess you could buy an "approved" composting toilet to do exactly the same thing.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I would learn more about their long term intentions and character before initiating conflict. They are new, but rural landholders just like you. Just saying.

 

[SMSgt]

And thus begins the newest Georgia HOA.

 

[444 Magnum]

My neighbor has spoken to them. His description of the man is "wild eyed and carrying".

Their long term plans are to live there permanently as "homesteaders". They couldn't get the house up on the flat (or didn't try--money, time, too challenging?) so they put it literally on the edge of a private but shared road. We have subdivision requirements that stipulate a 40' minimum setback. I'm sure county ordinances have set back requirements also but this is a private road so that may not apply.

The county code enforcement officer had spoken to them previously when they were living in a tent. The owner said they had already pulled permits for the coming build. It was a lie, no permits have been applied for.

In Georgia, a waste disposal plan has to be approved by the health department before building permits will be issued and building can begin. They got around all that (for now) by bringing in a factory built "shed" that does not meet the state and national building codes for a residence.

To put the house where it is shows a lack of common sense, a lack of consideration for the other property owners, and a lack of respect for the law. What it does not lack is planning (albeit nonsensical) and deception.

Because they are literally on the property line on the side of the mountain, the road is being used as their "yard" by the kids with trash and toys already littering it.

I am not a "new, rural landholder". I have land in three different counties. I am a professional builder who follows codes and respects his neighbors. I am nothing like these people. Their actions tell me all I need to know.

They obviously are not destitute as they paid $30,000 for the lot and probably at least $10,000 for the building and delivery.

No bleeding heart here..."just saying".

 

[oddshooter]

There was a time when your property meant YOUR PROPERTY.

Health and Safety is one thing; but too many inspectors become hall monitors. I have on many occasions left something undone where the inspector could find at least one thing wrong. If I didn't they would make up something.


There must be a balance; but I think we have lost that battle. I think it would be almost impossible for a homeless person to "fend for themselves" today. Living off the land requires cash today for permits, fees, and fines to even get started.

 

[steelslaver]

I do agree that the location of the building shows a lack of brains, consideration and effort. I also believe their are way to many regulations on what a person can do on his own property. Most of the codes were written for and by urban dwellers and often with the real intent of forcing people to spend money. I find it hilarious that people who do not believe in petty gun regulations are fine with them on some ones property.