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pergola building question - foundation jd 02-15-2007
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Posted by on February 15, 2007, 10:45 pm



> hi folks,
> I'm getting ready to build a pergola/arbor to support my grape vines, and
> I've run into a snag.... around here, if a "structure" has a foundation
> (including sonnet tubes), it is considered permanent, and therefore
> taxable (add even more onto the already astronaomical property taxes).....
> I'm planning to build a timberframe style pergola with 6 posts (2 rows of
> three posts each). The three posts are 6'9" apart, and the 2 rows are 8'
> apart. The pergola will be 8'6" at the highest point.
>
> My question is: is there any way to build this without putting a
> "permanent" foundation down? I'd like to avoid tying the posts together at
> ground level, as I'm hoping to set it up so that people cane walk in and
> out of it easily (without tripping on a sill).....
>
> Acording to the local building contractor "stakes" are not considered
> permanent, but I'm not sure a stake wouls provide suffucient strength. I'm
> not worried about settling (up and down movement), but more racking - the
> structure will be very rigid at the top - there will be braces from the 6
> legs to the top sill, but unless the legs are securely anchored to (or
> sunken into) the ground, I'm worried about them shifting laterally.....
>
Treated posts sitting on concrete or metal standoffs, so the wood isn't in
direct ground contact. You do need to tie it down so it doesn't blow away.
Mobile home anchors, or if you want to get fancy, have a welder make some
square-section tubes to slip the legs into, with big augers like used for
huge dog tiedowns attached to them (or even just bigass metal stakes), and
holes for horizontal bolts through the uprights. Or, like the other guy
said, just plant the posts like fenceposts or mailbox posts, cut the tops
off even, and frame it up from there. I don't think things without solid
roofs and/or panels (like sheds or fences) are considered 'structures' in
most areas. Drive around the neighborhood, and see what the neighbors have
put up- you can probably get away with the same.

aem sends...




Real Goods Solar, Inc.
Posted by Michael J. Dale, P.E. on March 3, 2007, 5:56 pm



<<snip>>
> Treated posts sitting on concrete or metal standoffs, so the wood
> isn't in direct ground contact. You do need to tie it down so it
> doesn't blow away. Mobile home anchors, or if you want to get fancy,
> have a welder make some square-section tubes to slip the legs into,
> with big augers like used for huge dog tiedowns attached to them (or
> even just bigass metal stakes), and holes for horizontal bolts through
> the uprights. Or, like the other guy said, just plant the posts like
> fenceposts or mailbox posts, cut the tops off even, and frame it up
> from there. I don't think things without solid roofs and/or panels
> (like sheds or fences) are considered 'structures' in most areas.
> Drive around the neighborhood, and see what the neighbors have put up-
> you can probably get away with the same.
>
> aem sends...
>
>
>
>

You can also buy precast foundation plinths that may or may not be taken as
"permanent" by your local tax office.

Personally, I'd set to sonotubes deeply enough to cover them with soil and
have a galvanized bracket set into them sticking up out of the ground.
Tell the tax inspector that the bracket is just driven into the ground.

mjd

Posted by Cabinets Galore on February 17, 2007, 6:27 am


anything that is 121 sq.ft. or more is taxed.
whether attached or not.
concrete filled or sand filled - doesn't matter

that's why my dog house, garden shed and tool shed are exactly 120 sq.ft



| hi folks,
| I'm getting ready to build a pergola/arbor to support my grape vines,
and
| I've run into a snag.... around here, if a "structure" has a
foundation
| (including sonnet tubes), it is considered permanent, and therefore
taxable
| (add even more onto the already astronaomical property taxes)..... I'm
| planning to build a timberframe style pergola with 6 posts (2 rows of
three
| posts each). The three posts are 6'9" apart, and the 2 rows are 8'
apart.
| The pergola will be 8'6" at the highest point.
|
| My question is: is there any way to build this without putting a
"permanent"
| foundation down? I'd like to avoid tying the posts together at ground
level,
| as I'm hoping to set it up so that people cane walk in and out of it
easily
| (without tripping on a sill).....
|
| Acording to the local building contractor "stakes" are not considered
| permanent, but I'm not sure a stake wouls provide suffucient strength.
I'm
| not worried about settling (up and down movement), but more racking -
the
| structure will be very rigid at the top - there will be braces from
the 6
| legs to the top sill, but unless the legs are securely anchored to (or
| sunken into) the ground, I'm worried about them shifting
laterally.....
|
| thanks
|
| --JD
|
|



Posted by on February 17, 2007, 10:23 pm



> anything that is 121 sq.ft. or more is taxed.
> whether attached or not.
> concrete filled or sand filled - doesn't matter
>
> that's why my dog house, garden shed and tool shed are exactly 120 sq.ft
>
>
>
You forgot to say 'around here' at the start of that. Property tax rules and
enforcement practices vary greatly by state, county, and even township/city.
Around here they use the 'permanent foundation' rule, which is usually
interpeted as slabs or poured piers. Precast piers usually slide, even if
below grade level. Lotsa people have wood-floor sheds on precast deck
blocks, over gravel, even when a slab would have made better engineering
sense and avoided a ramp. I'm lucky- out here in the township, enforcement
is very spotty. My metal shed screwed to the slab floor of an abandoned dog
pen is apparently invisible, tax-wise, since the chainlink pen is still
surrounding it. (all work of the previous idiot owner, but it works well
enough for my current needs.)

aem sends...



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