AltTransBikes said:There has been a similar story brewing one town over from me. A couple, now in their 70's, have wanted to downsize their lifestyle and live a more simple (and less expensive) life. Leaving their personal motivations aside, because it's nobodies business anyway, they have been wrangling with town and state officials for 5 years! They had a write up in the local rag's weekend edition.
quoting the article:
the state housing code requires all houses within 600 feet of electric service to hook up to the grid and requires central plumbing, a backup heating source and an approved septic system or sewer hookup.
Now I can see the bit about septic/sewer but........requiring one to hook up to the grid? Or a back-up heating system? Pure BS in my estimation.
link to article, it's the cover story "Couple finds path to building simple living space isn’t simple"
http://www.recorder.com/
you have an interesting perspective on this situation, and it actually disagrees with the article, and the couple's experience to date. Actually, the couple has been working with the local community as they ALL take on the state, and find a way to allow them to create a new dwelling, inside a barn, yet off the grid. Given the extraordinary cooperation, in a hugely overregulated New England state, I would call it an amazing success so far.