Minimum lot size?

[chokonen888]

Most of the reasonably priced lots in the areas I want to purchase land are around 0.2~0.5 Acres. It's California so expensive...and yes, it's literally a cabin-ville up there...but with all the national forrest nearby, owning a massive amount of land isn't quite the priority as much as a lake view and/or lake rights (it's a private lake) Most and since not all these homes are lived in/rented out year round, privacy is not much of a problem. The upside is the proximity to LA (can work while building/living there) and the local community has quite a lot of good stuff going for it. (good for raising a family there) Ideally, I'm wanting to build a 2 story 30x30 with a loft. I currently live in Tokyo, Japan and watch them build everything from their rabbit hutch houses to full on office buildings in retarded small lots of land (though they aren't big on insulation with their cardboard thing walls on their post and beam homes but that is another rant) Someone mentioned a minimum of 1 Acre for staging but if building in smaller steps, I imagine that could be reduced? If using alternative lifting equipment or other space saving measure(s) what do you guys think the minimum sized lot one could build on?

Footnotes: want to build 30x30 cabin with land size constraints.

[rkissinger]

Anything is possible if you want to be creative. Theoretically you could put your 30 x 30 on about a 35 x 35 foot lot, with a helicopter bring in each peeled log from an off site log yard one at a time, but you might want somewhere to park;-) Seriously though, the logs take up a lot of space on the ground while they're waiting to be stacked, we use full length logs. There really isn't a definitive minimum lot dimension, many variables will come into play; how many trees are there, how close are the neighbors buildings, is there a fence, do the neighbors mind you encroaching a bit during the build, etc? The less space you have, the slower things will go. I have a 5 acre lot, but the part that is level and cleared of trees is probably less than 1/2 acre, I've never actually measured it I just realized. I had to spread my logs out and peel them in 2 separate places on my property, then pile them up into a big pile to make room to excavate and pour the foundation. Luckily I had logging machinery available to skid the logs. These extra steps take extra time. Once you've taken the class your mind will be opened and you will have a lot of new questions that will make this one seem unimportant. There are a few examples on the members forum of people building with very limited space, and some are quite creative. If I were you I would probably take the class before buying any land, just to make sure you fully understand the building process, so you will know if a certain lot will work or not.

[chokonen888]

Anything is possible if you want to be creative. Theoretically you could put your 30 x 30 on about a 35 x 35 foot lot, with a helicopter bring in each peeled log from an off site log yard one at a time, but you might want somewhere to park;-) Seriously though, the logs take up a lot of space on the ground while they're waiting to be stacked, we use full length logs. There really isn't a definitive minimum lot dimension, many variables will come into play; how many trees are there, how close are the neighbors buildings, is there a fence, do the neighbors mind you encroaching a bit during the build, etc? The less space you have, the slower things will go. I have a 5 acre lot, but the part that is level and cleared of trees is probably less than 1/2 acre, I've never actually measured it I just realized. I had to spread my logs out and peel them in 2 separate places on my property, then pile them up into a big pile to make room to excavate and pour the foundation. Luckily I had logging machinery available to skid the logs. These extra steps take extra time. Once you've taken the class your mind will be opened and you will have a lot of new questions that will make this one seem unimportant. There are a few examples on the members forum of people building with very limited space, and some are quite creative. If I were you I would probably take the class before buying any land, just to make sure you fully understand the building process, so you will know if a certain lot will work or not.

Hahahaha, thanks for the reply. Believe me when I say "creative" can describe quite a bit of space usage here in Japan. Some ideas are good others, not so much. I guess my biggest concern is putting time/effort into this endeavor, only to take the class and realize what I'm trying to accomplish just isn't realistic. I don't mind compromising and getting creative...but yeah, I'll take the class before I move forward with anything.

Since ending this thread with only 2 replies is a bit silly, it would be nice to see what people have done with limited space. Would appreciate (as I'm sure others would) any posting of pics/specs of cabins built with limited space :D

[BoFuller]

We have 40 acres and wish we had more, so I guess it's relative.

[Upers]

our lot is 100' by 300'

I don't suggest anything less than 150' by 150'

[rocklock]

Even though I have several acres, The amount of land that was available, including the 30 by 30 foot print was about 40 by 120. I have double worked just about everything. It just sucks. I couldn't put in my septic until my logs were stacked cause there were log racks where my septic, front porch, parking place and garden currently are...
So, bottom line, it can be done small, but it is difficult and expensive (boom truck for lifting the logs, see my photos)... But it is very cool to have folks say something like ... and they let you build here?

[chokonen888]

Hmm, so I guess what I should take away from this is the costs/headache of building on a smaller lot need to be balanced with the costs of simply buying a larger lot.

Rocklock - your place looks amazing! You're saying the boom truck for lifting the logs cost quite a bit?

[rocklock]

Boom Truck Story
I guess I haven't repeated the boom truck story for several years and it may be instructive again.

My brother had a sign business and two boom trucks in Phoenix. So He called a local Washington rental co. and arranged to rent the 15 ton truck with a 72 foot boom using his insurance company to cover the insurance and have it delivered to the sight... About 7 days into the stacking of the logs, the admin called and said that we did not have the proper insurance. We were not insured for anything over the road... I replied that the truck had not moved an inch from where it was delivered by their guy that had a CDL and would not move until we were finished and so we did not need over the road insurance. They replied that that was not their policy and that we need the entire policy. So I called around trying to get some kind of general policy that might cover this. Long story short, nothing worked.

Several days later, I called the yard foreman, who was a friend of a friend and told him that I needed three more days to finish and that we were not driving the truck, we were only lifting logs. I even had pictures on the internet. He said that he was told that he had to pick it up but the guy that had a CDL couldn't get out that way for another 5 days... and he added if that was enough time. I said yes and thanks...

Well it took 12 1/2 days to stack the logs and lift the rafters and the floor joists. The cost was about 3700 bucks with the diesel and the delivery and pickup.

Come to find out that this is a common problem with insurance. So before planning to use a lift truck, be sure that insurance is not a problem and the boom is long enough so you need not move the truck to access certain logs... Even with a 72 (I can't recall exactly the length) foot boom, we had to adjust, re-grip and work around several problems which were on the back wall.

[hemlock77]

We did our with a 27x36 foundation, racked the logs on all 4 sides. all within a 70 x 80 ft area including the foundation. It takes a bit of creativity and a lot of bad words, but we got it done. I would not go smaller than .5 acres though.

[chokonen888]

Wow, seems like a ton of extra $$ and headache. I'm not buying any land til I take the class but hearing your experiences makes me think I should try for a larger lot and consider going 25x25 (seems like many wish they built smaller anyways...and living in Tokyo, I can utilize/appreciate every inch of space haha)

[Pokey]

our lot is 100' by 300'

I don't suggest anything less than 150' by 150'

Nice pics Upers you got on the 'bucket. We will be building in the UP also, likely near L'anse/Baraga or Keweenaw Peninsula in general. Ready and willing - next is the land matter and class

[Peach1956]

I would think that if you're going to use your own timber off your land... that would be a major consideration too.

[dazedandconfused]

All of the above advice is good, I would just add most anything is possible so if you get a .5 cheap you can make it work, my lot is decent size about 3 acres but wooded, so no room to put things, I have 3 piles for peeling it will get done though just a bit more work, take the class before you buy, helped me for sure, but don't lose your dream.

[Peach1956]

Just visited your photobucket.... those are really good looking logs.