I’m an Architect and lived in TN and got my degree there. It will become permanent doing 2 things. Fill your masonry piers with concrete and strap anchor the building to the piers. You can use Anchor Bolts too. Having permanent power is also another means of making it permanent. Finally if the county doesn’t have building inspections the code is unenforceable. The state doesn’t have code inspectors except for Electrical. They won’t illegally trespass either.

This is exactly why I chose not to youtube about many of the interesting things I'm doing on my Tennessee homestead. It's a little too late for you guys but the best advice for others is simply don't ask, don't tell, do your own thing and keep yourself off the radar. You could write your congressman and try and get the law changed but that is unlikely to work since Clayton Homes is probably a large political donor and the one that pushed the regulations through in the first place. This is a classic example of the corrupt merger of corporate and government power that surrounds us everywhere in society today.

Thank goodness we have the government telling us how to live. They don’t want you living in your shelter but have no problem with a homeless person living out in the open.

I can easily understand your anger and frustration when dealing with state or county issues. When I had a 30' x 80' workshop built I was told to stop and that I needed permission to build on my own land. They tried to use the same ploy of public safety in order to say I needed a permit. I looked up the building code and saw where public safety was the main issue, except for the fact that my land was not public in any way but was PRIVATE and that they had no lawful authority over me or my property. When I asked for proof that the code applied to me and my private property they went silent and I never heard from them again. Good luck in the future.

As a shed builder and dealer. It amazes me how the government being so hard on these buildings for living units tells me they would rather have people homeless.

The best "loophole".....Don't Ask, Don't tell. When you try to do the right thing, you always get screwed.

You already deconstructed the building and now you have it back together. Nice job ;)

People need to vote for freedom instead of tyranny !

Moral of the story is keep the state and government out of your life as much as possible. They're scammers.

It’s amazing that we have people living in tents all over the country but these people can’t live there.

I live in Texas. We live outside the city limits. We have no building restrictions. We love it! Building a Barndo right now.

Every day i hear about state involvement in things they have no right to be involved in, and every day im amazed at the restraint weve all shown in not burning everything down to start over in a free society.

A friend of mine grew up on a farm. During WW2, his father was not allowed to put an addition to his house for his expanding family. The rules of war did allow him to build a chicken coop. So he did. Got his permits and everything. After the finished chicken coop was done and approved, he dragged it over to the house, attached, and moved in.

What's funny is that they would allow you to live out of you car or in a tent on your property, but not a "movable structure". How messed up is that?

Just hang a sign on the porch "Ye ole time workshop" and live happily ever after!

Appalachian is correct, my brother lives in Chattanoga and I drove out to help him build a 25 x 65 shop on his property. We had built the building in two parts and were about to setup the forms for the slab foundation ( I had to do it that way because of time crunch on my part) when we were surrounded by state inspectors backed up by troopers. They seemed to think we were building a meth lab or an off the books child day care, when they realized that we were going to put in on a slab they calmed down and finally left after we promised to use a licensed electrician when the time came. Moral of the story is put down piers to strap to and all is good, and it always easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

Pour concrete posts under it to support it and bolt the building to the posts so it is no longer a ready removal building. :You may have to have the poured concrete posts inspected. This transformation will 1. Make the building safer in strong winds 2. Disqualify the building from falling under the ready removal code. 3. NOT REQUIRE any dismantling of the building. 4. Should allow you to legally live in it again. Alternatively, there are ready made piers in about 3 pieces of concrete that are a couple hundred bucks each and can be pushed down into the ground with a house jack (there are KZfaq videos about it). All stick-built houses are bolted to their foundations to comply with codes (except maybe for some really old homes). S that is all you need-a permanent type foundation and some bolts.

if you were to build a foundation, pick the building up and anchor it to the foundation, would that not constitute a a new build ? once the building is anchored to the foundation it is no longer a transportable building. Greetings from Australia

Moral of the story, don’t post every part of your life on social media. Lesson # 2 don’t give tons of little details that the state can use against you.

I like what the architect says. I wonder if they will not allow the wood in the building being not commercially milled.

After a very frustrating experience involving a greenhouse on my property, I learned to never actively involve authorities in my activities.

My husband was our towns building inspector here in Tennessee for a little while and he says to pour concrete into the blocks and use tie downs or lag bolt the structure to the columns, plus putting a skirting or covering around the bottom whill make it a permanent structure and no longer mobile

This is the exact reason I choose Alaska instead. No stupid codes, no pointless laws, most of the land you can purchase doesn’t even have property taxes after you pay it off. The last frontier is the Homesteaders dream.

I have a 14 x 20 portable building on my property that i have turned into a guest bedroom. There is electricity to it and a mini-split for heat and air. The interior looks better than my home. Where i live there are no building codes enforced and no inspections. The only person to inspect it was the tax accessor who determined how much my property taxes would increase. I have lived here for 44 years and have practically rebuilt my house--gone from a flat roof to a peaked roofn from no foundation to a stone foundation, new walls, windows, siding,, ran electric to a shed, barn and thr portable building ( electric work done by electricians). I have had no building permits and no inspections. I did a lot of the work myself and i had no experience--learned by doing.

Like the architect said, just anchor it in the ground. It makes it a permanent structure. That’s what me and wife did and got approval.

Imagine if all the cabins of early settlers had been subject to 'codes'!

As someone who has lived in TN for almost 40 years. I can confirm as another has stated you can make your mobile structures permanent by filling your blocks with concrete to make it a foundation and anchoring the structure to it. Order any building or structure in panels and/or build it on site (or pull yours off the property and disassemble it, then bring it back in panels and put it back together on site with a "foundation."). Then get electricity installed and its considered permanent.. with electricity you can set up a prepaid account and never put money in it(i.e. its connected but not used, yes its expensive). also as someone who lives near a large number of Amish Americans I can say I'd rather be in one of their barns than a trailer when a tornado comes through. Congratulations on your purchase and enjoy it. And yes the laws are mainly there bc they have been paid for by a donor.

Women are so supportive... I want to see her take charge of a project.

I own two "removable structures" here in Blount County Tennessee. They are no longer "Removable", they are listed as permanent structures as they now have permanent foundations. They both have a solid poured footer and are blocked up to the bottom of the home with steel access doors to get under the home for repair access. The state and county now shows them as married to the lot. You can come look at mine. They are properly tied down. You may possibly complete your build as a permanent structure using what you already have for a start. I do not know. I do know that mine are now permitted as permanent structures with the tax collectors office. If you can copy what was done to mine, you may be good to go. FYI the foundation was installed AFTER the homes were located on the property.

As a fellow Tennesseean and engineer...consult a professional engineer in your area. Often the PE stamp circumvents a lot of red tape and for a small fee, you can move forward.

disassemble the existing structure board by board. Rebuilt it by hand, as suggested by the laws that it is legal, as that seems to be the logical way to save and recoup your costs on materials. Would take longer, but your labour is free. You can make small changes to the original design at this point as you can make new cuts to the existing wood.

This is good stuff. You will be fine. Tough choice.

Just remember as nice as your community/ followers are there are always going to be someone that feels the need to involve themselves in your personal business and try to mess up what you're doing

Everyone needs to get together and fight for the right for these affordable houses.

Chatt native here 26 yrs. Was definitely shocked to hear that mentioned lmao.

With full Government, you can’t have nice things.. This is very educational for me, thank you for sharing this..

Deconstruct one wall and add a room, while also permanently anchoring the whole structure. No longer removeable and you deconstructed it too. Hope it works out for y'all. 😊 ❤

As long as you're not hurting anyone you should be able to do what you want on YOUR LAND!

Also' like the achitect mentioned' if it is secure to the land' they cannot enforce this by law

Put in a basement right beside the shed. put the shed on the basement. Viola, you should now be entirely legal. That would be cheaper and quicker than a deconstruction.

It's all about making sure people don't live freely. They want you controlled, strapped with a mortgage, paying high taxes and forced to use corporate ran utilities, etc. Don't give up. Don't give in. We have a right to use our property as we please and live freely

The fault for a lot of homesteaders and off-grid people is they announce to the public what they're doing, such as social media.

living downtown on the streets really gives them something to bish and moan about while feeling a little better about themselves and position in the process.

Thanks for the info.

Another avenue: Since the county and state have no inspectors, you can hire your own certified home inspector to give you legal documentation that your residence is safe. Shouldn't be too difficult to find one of those guys for a couple hundred bucks. Your real estate company can direct you to a reputable business (they use this service all the time)

As someone who inspects foundations I would lean towards placing the building on what is required for a "permanent foundation" so the building is no longer "readily removeable".

I feel for you. I’m sorry you’re going through this. It will work out.

I’m for you guys… hopefully, everything’s goes your ways. 🙏🙏🙏

This is America! Its hard to become free from the system that wants us to work for the rich. Keep fighting because nature is freedom.

The easy option is to move it aside, put in footers and a block foundation. Then move it onto the foundation and remove the "skids" that make it moveable. While you are doing that you could install anchor bolts for wind issues like tornadoes, which will have you better than now. You could just trim the skids making them into support beams for tie down as well. Lots of final building options but bolting to a foundation removes your prime issue. Even if you do not know how, That area is fairly cheap to install footers and block. Lots of folks do it. However look at vapor barrier and drainage while doing all of this. I bet the Amish know someone.

Dude you are 100% a home builder. You know what I do when I want to know information about anything. I go to the page and view every single tab about anything I might even think has to do with me. Then I get it done.

It's only "ready removable" because it has runners under it but it doesn't really need runners if it's not being moved so just remove the runner boards under the structure

If you own the land you should be able to do what you wish as long as it’s not a hazard or safety issue for others. It’s a great looking cabin and you’re not hurting anyone.

Move it off the blocks to a different place on your property close to your location where you want to have your house. Then dig a basement with a bulldozer concrete floor and put in the concrete walls then put the house back on top of it. Now you have a permanent structure with extra space and a tornado shelter. or you could even put a bomb shelter underneath it and attach it to the house. Once you put it in the ground you make it a permanent foundation and a permanent house.

You bought a manufactured shed, they're not made to be lived in, they're for storage. Ready-removeable is pretty self explainatory. It's a ready-made shed that gets dropped on a site fully assembled and they just sit on blocks. Removeable. Looking at your shed it fits the description perfectly. "...many sheds aren't built according to [home] standards, which can cause conditions, such as poor insulation and mold formation resulting from improper sealing. It's possible to transform your shed into a living space if it meets the minimum standards and has the essential utilities: water, electrical system, and sewer."

I used to deliver similar buildings. If you remove the skids, they are no longer movable without considerable effort. Pour footings and add tie-down straps. Done

I think a lot of homesteaders get themselves in trouble by starting a channel based on their lives. While it’s a great help to those wanting to get started, it also puts your build out there for everyone to see. There are some people I swear that have absolutely nothing better to do than watch these videos and turn people in for anything and everything. I had thought about starting a channel on rehabbing our 100 year old house into an offgrid home, but ultimately decided to keep it private for these very reasons. Well, that and all the KZfaq professionals out there.

Maybe think outside the box? I wanted to build a shop the gov said I couldn't because I was zoned agriculture. So I redid the plans and added door on the back. Went back up and they said no you can't build said yes I can cause that is a door for the goats. Goats are agriculture and you can't stop me. Real nice shop.

All the best of luck to you both… Dealing with zoning people is maddening at best. I am currently working on putting a small home on my brothers land and it’s a full blown education. I have got to the point where I come into the zoning department and say “ I have provided you with exactly what is required and expect you to sign off and grant me the permit “ they get prissy but that’s ok as long as they do their job…. Good Luck !

Tennessee is notorious for this. I built a tiny home in my backyard in 2016. I had to use hurricane straps to even get the electric company to come out and inspect the electrical work (Duck River Electric TVA). Another excuse they used is they had an electrical feed line running over the top of my property to my neighbor that cut my backyard in half. It was a back and forth and I asked, what if I wanted to build a swimming pool? I couldn't because of that electrical line. Fast forward and Duck River tells me that a fix is me paying to put in another electrical pole and moving my neighbors power line. I tried to get help from my local politicans and they could do nothing. Eventually I found out the truth and it came all down to a push by contractors, developers, real estate companies, and manufactured home builders to keep tiny homes out of Tennessee. A little further down the rabbit hole was the huge influx of people from California and other more open minded states coming to Tennessee are more likely to take an approach of tiny home / home steading. I am very sorry you all are going through this and just know that all of us from Tennessee are not like this and welcome all from outside this beautiful state.

As a builder in KY and TN, the way we always got around this was to attach it to a solid foundation with footers. Same as mobile homes, it makes it a permanent structure instead of a mobile. I have completed 2 in scott Co. Tn. This was how we were able to classify them as permanent structure

One option you could try is to have the wood inspected. There are inspectors for sawmills that inspect the dryness of the wood and stamp it. That seems to be what is holding you up from meeting the codes. I also agree that if it were to be permanently attached to some kind of foundation, it wouldn't be "removable." Keep your heads up and keep fighting! We are all rooting for you! ❤

People worry about too much government over reach. State and smaller government can be the worst. You get individuals that get into the office and become power-crazed. If you pay property taxes and aren't doing anything to hurt your neighbors or the environment, government and others need to mind their business and allow people to live in peace.

In many parts of Tennessee, tornados can be expected sooner or later. So it's not just about complying with the law. Your long-term safety is enhanced by making it permanent in the manner that the architect and others spelled out. Do it for yourselves!

The difference between a mobile home and manufacturer housing is that manufactured housing sets on a permanent foundation and a mobile home does not. By changing the Movable title status and make it a permanent it is no longer a movable or removable.

As a recently retired Tennessee General Contractor (CIR), the permanent foundation is the first thing to do. Also, the state requires an Electrical Inspection and a State Septic Permit.

We lived in 2 so called cabin/sheds. You can pour a slab & use quick bolts to fasten. Or All thread rods in slab for anchors

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I'm on my own property in Ohio getting ready to build my own living quarters so Iam for sure going to be looking into this before starting thanks to you and your informative video. I'm praying for you . I think you both are great ! I look forward to seeing more of your journey. Nate

This is a perfect example of looking for drama. They said you could build a house out of toothpicks. I would have left it at that and never thought about it again

Do NOT GIVE UP or let them win! Go to the local news to ask for reconstruction help you’ll get it asap if you tell this story. Or, go offline for a few weeks, research or ask the county what accounts for rebuilding it.

I'm so thankful I seen this video because this is so helpful.

Yeah I was going to say to put it on a stem wall foundation and bolt it down, at that point it is considered a permanent structure I would believe. Which means that they need to jack it up pour the stem walls, then lower it back down and bolt it down.

They just passed a similar law here in my county in Florida and I think it's absolutely ridiculous. The government should not have the authority to tell you what you can and can't have on property you own. We need to start filling lawsuits against these absurd, overreaching laws.

It sure is easy for someone who has a house to deny somebody else a place to live. 💙 T.E.N.

I'm so proud of you two! Self sufficient is the way to go! Grow your own food, etc!

No. We can't let this stuff happen in TN. We at least need to limit this stuff. I'm proud to live in a more free state like TN and this kind of stuff changes that.

It's your fault for asking the criminal class's permission. I just built my small home without asking criminals if I could.

I agree with the other comments. Have the lumber inspected and stamped. Then pour footings and block up to the house. Don't give up on your dream 😊

Live in your van and call it a shed / workshop storage and put store your couch tv computer! And live in your van! 0:07 ❤till you can find a loop hole . Get a permit to build a structure! Wait be patient put in a garden store your canning supplies in shed ! Don’t give up but it’s very generous of you to share this information! You could try and resell it to a tiny home village and start from scratch 🎉😢 love of the land will help you find the best solution for you two ! Maybe trade it out for lumber and supplies for a new structure?? Think out side the shed an idea is coming! Help is coming 🎉❤

Nice house! Your adding to community & State!❤😊

Put a gate with no trespassing signs! Never let anyone on your property!

Remember, back in the day when the taxman charged for closets, people started building wardrobe (stand alone closets). You can still buy a wardrobe to this day and it does not count as a closet. There is always a way around stuff if you think outside the closet…er, um box. ❤

Guys I’m so sorry. Starting to read your headline, I honestly was thinking…”that’s why you should move to Tennessee.” Then to see that’s where your story begins, well shocked me immensely. My suggestion would be to build onto your building. To me that is a loophole that is very realistic. Again many people in the south love to live by the the don’t tell if they don’t ask. Why don’t you say that you built it to begin with giving the warning of the individual questioning how you was able to slide by that regulation. Anyway I love your attitutudes and proud to have you in Tennessee. Try the addition to what you have, it then will be custom built. Then don’t ask just tell we built it. It will be true without lying. I live over in Paris Tn, it’s 5 and half to 6 hrs west. We have couple cabins in Sevierville Tn. One is for sale everything is brand new. EVERYTHING! roof, all interior, central h/air, all appliances, lighting and furniture. Can even finish basement to add one or two more bedrooms. 1080 Shell mountain rd. Never stayed one night in it since purchased or finished it. Woods and creek on property. So your second choice could be leave Chattanooga! Lol. I am about to put a Mennonite cabin converted to cabin on this recently purchased property. And as we say they can go straight 🔥before telling me what I do on my property. It’s only 7 acres. No water or electricity available. Get this closest electricity less than 1/4 mi away. They honestly tell 3 property owners, me and 2 others. It will be 65 thousand dollars to run it to your property. Hello generator and solar panels. If this stipulation has been put in by lobbyist on behalf of Clayton or Champion homes, shame on them and get out of our state. Enough babble. Thank you for choosing TN. I love and wife myself and our kids have driven to experience 49 of our 50 states in the US. We lack Hawaii. One day. Favorite trip drove up to Canada, across the providences to British Columbia , thru the Yukon into Skagway Alaska. It was awesome! And the wildlife traveling thru British Columbia cannot be beat.good luck and keep fighting.

I would just go ahead and build it.The way you want it built and screw the government

As i was just in the Philippines, living in a houseade half of tree branches with a half steel, half nipa roof, with no code, with a kitchen they use open flame wood to cook with. I realize how "free" we are not in the USA

I really wish people could get together and come to help these people. I am a contractor and could probably get some people to pitch in. But seriously people need to get together and let's help this couple. This is the life I dream of myself someday.

This is a blessing. Pour a foundation, you will be glad you did.

After reading the actual code, if you pour footings under the structure and secure it to the footings, it is no longer easily relocated. Just a thought.

This is a perfect example to why I will never let anyone know what I do on my own damn property! Had you not had a channel, or had you never asked anyone about anything, you’d probably never have a single issue.

I had a 12x20 cabin built by Mennonites. I'm off grid and also in Tennessee. If you would have never involved the government in your business, you would have been fine. I hope you can figure it out. I would still build it out. Get solar and water. If anyone stops by, just tell them that it's a shop. That you live in your camper/vehicle. If they tell you you need an rv hook up, then get it. Build a bathroom in it definitely. Good luck. Keep us informed.

It's upsetting all that money for the tinyhome and the state wouldn't allow you to keep it on the property.... i would probably deconstruct and rebuild as well as adding more to it--- but that's just me. :)

Lesson #1, Never say where you are! When you do, you are setting yourself up to have some jack ass do their utmost to destroy your dreams!😢

That was real fun disassembling that just to put it all back together. Thanks to everyone that came out to help make this building a "building"

When it comes to the lumber you can't use non-certified lumber for any of the load bearing construction, however non loading bearing is fine. Go to a lumber mill and speak with their inspector, some of them to make extra money will come out and run test on your lumber and if it passes they will put the cert. stamp on each piece of lumber. Its all based on the moisture in the lumber. Worth a try.

Don’t tell on yourself!

You may be able to hire a lumber grader to put his stamp on your lumber, to pass inspection. I run a home owner saw mill and hire a lumber grader to stamp my lumber when necessary.

I just don’t know HOW they can enforce this code if so many with the state are not even aware of that code?!

I hope you all are successful as you move forward. I'm am embarking on my own adventure in Oklahoma, currently building the 256 square foot shop in a county with very few restrictions before I build the little house, and your video made me think I need to look into my own state's stupidity when it comes to overreach. If Oklahoma and Tennessee were closer, I offer to come by and help deconstruct with you all! I'll be a subscriber going forward! Keep on Keeping On!

You are responsible for the maintenance of your vehicle, don't blame anyone else.

When looking to homestead, my wife and I found similar laws in several states. We found other laws making off grid living difficult in many states. It is one of the primary reasons we decided upon Alaska. The lower 48 all seem to be bent on total control over everyone, and that was not acceptable to us.