Forums > Specific Focus > Home, Garden & Construction in Mexico

solarhaven

Nov 30, 2004, 8:47 PM

Post #1 of 13 (4882 views)

Shortcut

Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

My wife and I plan to purchase rural, undeveloped land soon south of Jalapa, Veracruz (perhaps near Xico) and build our own home. We will build with polyethylene bags filled with scoria (so-called "earthbag" construction) and do a final plastering with "papercrete". See picture below:

(This particular home was built in Colorado by Kelly and Rosanna Hart, see
http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/earthbag.htm)

Our question is whether there would be special permits or permission required to build such a non-conventional structure out in the country? Has this kind of home been built anywhere in Mexico that anybody knows about?

Thanks,

Jim and Mindy Phypers
www.solarhaven.org

Rolly / Moderator

Dec 2, 2004, 10:41 AM

Post #2 of 13 (4859 views)

Shortcut

Re: [solarhaven] Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

That's my kind of house! Love it!

You will be required to have a building permit. Not because it is an alternative structure, but because building permits are required for any kind of dwelling. Being out in the country does not matter. You will need a permit from the municipality where the land is located.

Mexico does not have counties. Each state is divided into municipalities (municipios). The seat of the municipo is usually the nearest town/city of any size. But you will learn all that while you are buying the land and registering the deed.

Happy building!

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Esteban

Dec 2, 2004, 11:39 AM

Post #3 of 13 (4851 views)

Shortcut

Re: [solarhaven] Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Tell me more about "scoria" and papercrete. Curious.

Thanks,
Esteban

solarhaven

Dec 2, 2004, 1:27 PM

Post #4 of 13 (4843 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks! Does the building permit involve regular inspections and meeting certain specific building codes as here in the states? Or will submitting a simple drawing (like a "site plan") suffice and that is it (besides paying for the permit)? What does the building permit cost approximately?

The building permit for my simple 950 sq. ft. straw bale house out in the boonies west of Tucson was $1200 plus having to pass some 18 separate inspections. It hasn't been fun...

Jim Phypers
www.solarhaven.org

Rolly / Moderator

Dec 2, 2004, 2:07 PM

Post #5 of 13 (4834 views)

Shortcut

Re: [solarhaven] Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hi Jim,

The rules vary so widely that only the local authorities can answer your questions. The chances are that you will have to hire a local architect to draw your submittal plans. The fee is likely to be quite small. The permit is also likely to be cheap. My guess is you will have no more than a single casual drop-by inspection, if any. If you were building in a large city, there would be more inspections and some adherence to codes, but out in the country it is likely to be pretty loose. But that's not a promise. :-) It certainly won't be like in AZ.

Look here to see my building story in a town of 120,000 people. We got the permit with a single-sheet drawing from my autocad files signed by a local architect for a large project. We had one inspection. All fees added up to less than 500 dollars. No code requirements. http://rollybrook.com/building_directory.htm

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Cynthia7

Dec 2, 2004, 7:04 PM

Post #6 of 13 (4819 views)

Shortcut

Re: [solarhaven] Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

There are several of this type house in San Miguel de Allende. Also several straw bale houses. This may not be the most economical type house to build but if you build it it is certainly possible. Sometimes it is difficult to get help to do unconventional building. They know how to build a certain way and are comfortable doing it their way. Building costs are in the archives...check it out.

Marlene

Dec 3, 2004, 1:08 PM

Post #7 of 13 (4794 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Cynthia7] Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Good point. I was just talking with someone about Earthship style homes built with tires. They were quite taken with this idea. Has anyone seen these in Mexico?

abq

Dec 4, 2004, 6:11 AM

Post #8 of 13 (4776 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Marlene] Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Interesting house! I'd love to know some details. As Cynthia mentioned, your challange may be fibding the hlp for construction. Maybe you could train a couple workers and build slowly.

Marlene

Dec 4, 2004, 8:49 AM

Post #9 of 13 (4765 views)

Shortcut

Re: [abq] Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

http://www.preparednessnow.com/earthship_homes.htm

Cynthia7

Dec 4, 2004, 3:02 PM

Post #10 of 13 (4746 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Marlene] Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

If I understand papercrete is made of paper or paper pulp. Paper is very expensive in Mexico and there is not much waste paper as there is in the US. How practical is that cost wise and climate wise?

abq

Dec 4, 2004, 5:21 PM

Post #11 of 13 (4737 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Cynthia7] Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

I heard someone was going to try to make adobe here out of paper and I wondered the same thing. Maybe go door to door for donations?

Caarina12

Dec 7, 2004, 9:43 AM

Post #12 of 13 (4705 views)

Shortcut

Re: [solarhaven] Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Solarhaven,

Love the house! I was in Xalapa and Xico earlier this year and loved it. Roy Dudley on the Veracruz forum may be able to point you in the right direction as to who/where/when etc on the permits.

There are some great people doing wonderful things in Xalapa. Try hooking up with the folks at Manantial de las Flores. I think they are Ursulo Galvan. They are pursuing organic agriculture at a farm outside of town and have a fantastic restaurant in downtown Xalapa featuring their produce.

Good luck!!

Caarina

patricio_lintz

Dec 7, 2004, 4:20 PM

Post #13 of 13 (4682 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Esteban] Building Permits Required for Alternative Sturctures?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Disculpe, con permiso...Here's a site.

http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/papercrete.htm