General Discussion

KamaAina

(78,249 posts) Fri Aug 28, 2015, 04:58 PM Aug 2015

Canada Bans Off-Grid Living (And It’s Happening In The U.S., Too) [View all]

http://www.offthegridnews.com/current-events/canada-bans-off-grid-living-and-its-happening-in-the-u-s-too/

It is illegal for Cheryl Smith to live in her own home because it doesn’t have electricity.

Officials in Clark’s Harbour, Nova Scotia, are refusing to give Smith a certificate of occupancy to live in her new house because it has no power. She since has stopped working on the home....

Smith is not the only person who has one run afoul of building codes for living off the grid. A number of people in the United States have been forced out of their homes by local authorities for choosing an off-the-grid life.

Cape Coral, Florida, resident Robin Speronis was evicted from her home because she chose to live without city water or electricity, as Off The Grid News reported. (Listen to Off The Grid Radio’s interview with Speronis here.)

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Canada Bans Off-Grid Living (And It’s Happening In The U.S., Too) [View all] KamaAina Aug 2015 OP

What the hell?? I can halfway understand if they didn't have water, but electricity? arcane1 Aug 2015 #1

We have 36 solar panels on the roof emsimon33 Aug 2015 #55

In my community we are required to pay for waste management services. HappyPlace Aug 2015 #2

Same here Sherman A1 Aug 2015 #16

That sounds a bit like school taxes, yes? Syzygy321 Aug 2015 #36

Exactly! I'll happily pay for waste management fees csziggy Aug 2015 #50

There is an argument to be made here in favor of cost-sharing Maedhros Aug 2015 #49

I have a neighbor who been paying sewer bills for 25 years, he is on a septic system. dixiegrrrrl Aug 2015 #54

same way here Go Vols Aug 2015 #59

safety Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #3

Most smoke detectors are battery-powered KamaAina Aug 2015 #4

they can be either. hard-wired is becoming more common. maxsolomon Aug 2015 #7

I just had to get a new box to bring my house up to code. leftyladyfrommo Aug 2015 #83

Oh, well. Times change. kcr Aug 2015 #8

then the code is the problem Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #9

Not in new construction Travis_0004 Aug 2015 #17

You never rented out property, have you? msanthrope Aug 2015 #79

Lithium batteries for alarms. Or solar. Ed Suspicious Aug 2015 #5

right Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #15

What's wrong with cedar shingles? uppityperson Aug 2015 #67

They're a fire hazard tammywammy Aug 2015 #75

Ah, roofs, yes. I was thinking siding as its not uncommon for that. uppityperson Aug 2015 #77

Code is written by political actors making political decisions. Ed Suspicious Aug 2015 #6

bs Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #12

The article isn't about multi-family dwellings. Nuclear Unicorn Aug 2015 #18

I responded Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #21

Smoke detectors have batteries so you really have not made a single point yet. Rex Aug 2015 #26

read Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #30

They aren't doing any of those things. You might as well be asking if they should be Nuclear Unicorn Aug 2015 #32

so ... Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #34

I'm with you - if she is living in a community. Syzygy321 Aug 2015 #42

So... Nuclear Unicorn Aug 2015 #52

I doubt most people living 'off the grid' are in 'multi family housing'. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Aug 2015 #37

Are you purposely conflating 'off grid' with 'unsafe'? Trajan Aug 2015 #51

It's worse than that. lumberjack_jeff Aug 2015 #24

I don't think that's true. AZCat Aug 2015 #57

I don't know about tied to a specific edition, but you're largely correct about copyright. lumberjack_jeff Aug 2015 #74

Laws, when printed by a government entity, are not subject to copyright. nt msanthrope Aug 2015 #80

That is what the court held in 2002. The ICC still advises building departments otherwise. n/t lumberjack_jeff Aug 2015 #82

Always and for their benefit almost 100% of the time. Rex Aug 2015 #28

Actually, yes, in another OP, that's exactly what is being allowed. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Aug 2015 #35

different Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #38

"Should we allow substandard housing?" Bwahahahaha! What country do you think you live in?! We have WinkyDink Aug 2015 #48

What if she has a septic system? Ilsa Aug 2015 #53

Tell her to call Solar City. OffWithTheirHeads Aug 2015 #10

Canada did? or the municipality of Clark’s Harbour, Nova Scotia did? Misleading headline. nt Electric Monk Aug 2015 #11

The municipality was enforcing a federal building code KamaAina Aug 2015 #14

Very misleading Monk06 Aug 2015 #65

They resent not being able to control the plebes. Throd Aug 2015 #13

Exactly. Not to mention the utility monopolies want their cut. Nuclear Unicorn Aug 2015 #19

The nail that sticks up gets pounded down. Lizzie Poppet Aug 2015 #22

Different kettles of fish. lumberjack_jeff Aug 2015 #20

Five Things You Need to Live Off the Grid frazzled Aug 2015 #23

In other words, you have to conform for "the good of the community" AZ Progressive Aug 2015 #27

No one makes you buy land in that community if you don't like the rules. Syzygy321 Aug 2015 #46

In a lot of areas, you don't have to be very far out of town. LiberalArkie Aug 2015 #56

Fuckin A Dude Go Vols Aug 2015 #60

Well of course! Everyone has to pay the piper one way or the other! Rex Aug 2015 #25

Not sure this is real. PowerToThePeople Aug 2015 #29

sure Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #31

You seem to assume the worst in some people. Throd Aug 2015 #44

true Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #47

And sometimes those reasons PowerToThePeople Aug 2015 #70

Sometimes presumptuous protectors go too far, too. n/T beevul Aug 2015 #76

My neighbor is one of the approved septic system designers in the county, lives off the uppityperson Aug 2015 #68

Did you know "off the grid" is living without electricity, nothing to do with sewage? uppityperson Aug 2015 #71

Because there is a lot more to building codes than simply electricity. uppityperson Aug 2015 #72

What is a "certificate of occupancy"? Syzygy321 Aug 2015 #33

Its not where I live Go Vols Aug 2015 #40

After all inspections are completed 1939 Aug 2015 #43

surely it is Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #45

"off the grid" means not dependent on public utilities, especially the supply of electricity. uppityperson Aug 2015 #69

Same story with vid Go Vols Aug 2015 #39

There used to be a time when government existed FOR the people. lpbk2713 Aug 2015 #41

It exists for the people, just not those you prefer quaker bill Aug 2015 #63

Anyone can live off the grid. hunter Aug 2015 #58

OMG! Housing standards! Municipal codes! Zoning laws! struggle4progress Aug 2015 #61

can she get solar panels instead? Liberal_in_LA Aug 2015 #62

"Off-Grid" whackjobs destroyed my grandparents groundwater Sen. Walter Sobchak Aug 2015 #64

If she doesn't have wiring, her house becomes a nuisance Nevernose Aug 2015 #66

Too much Ayn Rand in this thread. X_Digger Aug 2015 #73

Everything the culture and its government promulgates is to enforce Facility Inspector Aug 2015 #78

If someone wants to find a mountain or forest and live off the land, Syzygy321 Aug 2015 #85

Water and sewerage should be required, but not electricity, imo. TexasMommaWithAHat Aug 2015 #81

And, yet, if you don't pay your electric bill on time daleo Aug 2015 #84

Disconnection, the best way to get off grid? Snowyguy Sep 2015 #86

They want everything their way daleo Sep 2015 #87