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Amish homes Out Of Code

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whizkidkyus

Member
Location
South Central , Ky.



Hi ,


Remember how a couple of weeks I posted about the trouble the Amish here in a certain part of my home state of Kentucky were having with their refusal to put the SMV sign on the back of their buggies because of religious differences . well , they have came under another attack ( maybe not in the same county , though ) because of their houses . Click on the link below to read some of the story and check back on the site later after 6:00 pm CST for an update if they provide one .

Whizkid
nnalert Story
 
I would not bet on winning this one. Courts seem to side with the Amish most every time where I'm from.
 
Gotta tell you,the whole thing pizzes me off more than just a little bit. You have to live in a certain kind of house,you can't weigh more than a certain amount,you can't think a certain way or you'll get your kids taken away and you'll get sent to "get your mind right camp".
The whole thing smacks of Nazi Germany to me.
 
(quoted from post at 15:35:44 02/28/12) Gotta tell you,the whole thing pizzes me off more than just a little bit. You have to live in a certain kind of house,you can't weigh more than a certain amount,you can't think a certain way or you'll get your kids taken away and you'll get sent to "get your mind right camp".
The whole thing smacks of Nazi Germany to me.
Click to expand...

You got that right!!

The Amish out my way seem to do just fine!! I grew up in an unfinished house myself as did most of our ancestors.
 
Areas in WI where they have set up communities, seem to let them get away with whatever, no manure holding facilities, barn runoff runs wherever it may, grey water runs wherever.

No building permits are supposed to be issued until AFTER septic sites are approved and septic tank permit issued.....but somehow, the Amish still keep on building.....

MHO--the religious card should not be allowed to be played when it conflicts with ground water contamination, and where sanitation laws are involved..

Tim
 
The Amish around here have built several homes. One told me he had to wire it and plumb it to code. Some do have running water using air power.
The whole house was built to code according to him.just no electricy hooked up
 
And yet they still manage to live without following the government's rules that in place for our own good.
 
I sit on a the Board of Zoning Appeals for the township I live in, we just had a meet between my board the Zoning commission and our Trustees. Zoning commission and one Trustee think we need to add to our regulation to write out ALL the loophloes in our Zoning. I feel out of my seat laughing and they con't understand why.
 
Just had a flat tire and pulled a horse shoe nail out of it ! I'm not very Amish friendly right now.
 
Good for them!!!

Not sure why any one would want to complain about them live'n in homes with no power or run'n water. Guess the folks raise'n a fuss just don't think it's fair that the Amish don't have to pay water and electric bills.

Any time local governements go after groups like this the local bureaucrats never come out look'n good. One would think they'd learn after a while.

Dave
 
Where in the constitution does it say the government has the right to determine what is adequate for our house? I think we are stupid to allow a government to dictate that we have to have power and running water that they tax and collect fees on above the normal sales tax. We have the right to religious freedom, but our beliefs should not allow us to endanger or diminish the lives of our neighbor. I am a little sensitive about claims of water pollution, when I ran a waste water plant we were under investigation for polluting the water, the contaminant was fecal coli form bacteria in the river. The fact that we had not discharged water or allowed runoff into the river was moot, they were measuring fecal coli forms in the river and they insisted it was my fault. They couldn't explain why samples UPRIVER from our plant had the same contamination. They eventually found the contamination, a dead deer was laying on the river bank, never apologized to me either.
 
Well, you know how it works here, "you can't have religion in government, but it is fine to have government in religion". :cry:
 
Under strict inspection, I"d venture a lot of us would have "not up to code," violations in our own homes. Probably not to come to light unless house goes up for sale... Most of us manage anyway.

(I won"t tell if you don"t!)
 
Hurray for the Amish. When will the people of America stand up on their hind feet and tell the bureaucrats and politicians where to go. We elected them and have the right to strip them of their power by use of the ballot box.

In my lifetime, 72 years, I have seen the people go from being self reliant to being like little children. They now have to ask some bureaucrat for permission to sneeze. The people who came up during the depression and fought the second world war were truely the greatest generation. They asked no one for anything, knew where they were going and knew how to get there. Joe
 
Your so-called "greatest generation" put all these rules and regulations in place. They knew how to get it done, all right.

I suspect the problem is, Amish moving into an area and putting up tarpaper shacks (i.e. UNFINISHED homes). It drags down the real estate value of the whole area and the people who have been living there for 20, 30, 40 years and have built up a bunch of equity in their homes don't appreciate their investment losing 40%+ of its value in an instant.

It has nothing to do with the houses not having electricity or running water, though those "violations" are being used as an excuse to run the Amish off.

You can't deny that most of you would be upset if some "element" that dragged down your property value moved in next door.
 
Wouldn't mind it ONE SINGLE BIT! Property values
(and hence property TAXES...) are way to high as it
is. I get scoffed at for bringing old iron and
salvaged materials onto my place by the Jones
Chasers all the time. I always tell them that I'm
doing my part to lower property taxes. If they don't
like it - TDB.
 
Best way to find that out is to put it up for sale and have somebody try to get a mortgage on it. After an inspection,you'll likely have to spend a third of your asking price bringing it up to code before the buyer can borrow the money to buy it from you.
 
Someone commented that most everyones home is not up to date on building codes. If the home is over three years old, that is probably correct, building codes change every three years. However in most states, the laws that adopt the model building codes allow "grandfathering", as long as it was per code when it was build, it can remain that way until it is modified or changed in a major way.

That said I would hope the Amish would incorporate at least some modern aminities in their home. Things like drywall, running water, and smoke detectors improve the health and safety of the homes occupants.
 
At the present time I am building a house on my farm. The electrical code is unbelievable. The code tells me how many 3 way switches I need for the square footage, how many exhaust fans, and what kind of a plug I need for my electric clothes dryer. I own 55 acres and I am having to use about 1/2 acre of my hay field for my septic system even though I have other adequate places to put it, because of soil issues don't matter.
I am being permitted to death. Ellis
 
Newest code usually only applies to new structures, large additions, etc. Thus the reason why I'd never build or buy new. Much easier to buy an older home and then rehab/update as I see fit. Maybe these Amish have been building new homes and not meeting the new regs? If so, I feel bad for them. Forcing people to meet these new regs is ridiculous.
We have a lot of Amish in my area. All that I know of bought older homes and farms and did not have code problems. I was just at a newly bought farm. The Amish family tore all the electric out of the house and barn. Then installed a diesel engine and hydraulic pump setup at the barn and run many things inside the barn with hydraulic motors. They sold off all the rubber tired tractors, but brought with them a John Deere 450 crawler.

I built a new cabin in the Adirondacks last year and I'll never, ever . . do it again. They tried to force me to meet all the code for residential. That calls for an automatic heating system, automatic water supply, X amount of natural lighting, X amount of electric recepticles, etc. Keep in mind this is an off-grid building that only has DC power via solar panels, wood heat via a woodstove, and a hand-pumped pitcher pump for water. Finally had to put in a 10 foot high overhead door on one side and call it a "equipment garage" to get it done.
 
Yep, it is bullschitt.
The government is into everything in our lives, Home building is one of them. When I built my home I had the following inspections.
Site survey for ground perk
Approved drawings for septic
well permit
construction plans approval from Twp.
footing inspecton
backfill inspection, for a crawlspace no doubt.
Framing inspection
rough/final elect.
rough/final plumbing
rough/final HVAC
insualtion inspection
final occupancy inspection, to make sure I had flooring, (you aint allowed to live on Plywood floors) Nothing wrong with plywood as long as you dont have splinters in the wood.

All this crap that I listed is an absolute requirement. If I had a basement put in it would be 3 more inspections on top of this list.
I built the attached garage a year after I built the home, I still have never completed the inspection for the framing, it wont pass cause I dont have hurricane straps nailed in. (aint no hurricane in Michigan)
The government is way too big and intrusive. Even at the local level. What is really sad is if my home really failed in any aspect and a fire or something happened my insurance company foots the bill...The twp would have nothing to do with it.
 
You can make the argument that just about everything you do these days effects someone else. You've gotta say enough is enough at some point and let people be free.

Would I be happy if my property value dropped? Nope, but I bought my home and property so that it would be MINE and I could do what I wanted with it and not have to deal with a landlord's rules/be in their hands.

I never understood these people who live in planned communities where you have rules telling you what you can/can't do with nearly every aspect of your property. Sure, you don't have to worry about some redneck moving in next door and throwing garbage all over your yard, but if you can't do what you want with your own home then how is it really "yours"?
 
I would rather have an Amish tar paper shack next door dragging down the equity of my investment than a brand new goverment housing complex that is up to code! just my preference
 
Hard to say from the article. Not really enough information. I subscribe to the idea that newcomers to a neighborhood need to fit in with their neighbors, not the other way around. If the Amish were there before their neighbors, I would say deal with it. Still, I would not really like living next to folks who have housewrap for siding.

Christopher
 
Never mind though what they're living in. What's going on inside? They're raising kids in unsanitary conditions with no electricity or running water,the kids work from the time they can walk,they're force fed religion everyday of their lives. The women are oppressed,aren't allowed to have a drivers license,don't have access to birth control,just have to keep popping out one kid after another. I'm sure they have guns in the house. What are we doing? Why haven't we sent in the ATF to do something about these dangerous cults?!
 
The amish build house's where I live so fast the county inspector dosen't know its there, most of the places they have here look like slums.And this does not bring down property taxes they pay to much for the land to start with the tax is partly based on that. They moved in bought all the land they could and made comments about taking our community over but we haven't give in yet, still fixing flats and cleaning up horse $hit. life is good!!!!!
 
I hesitate to get into this, but I gotta say two things.
First, I'm a retired building inspector, and I've inspected buildings done by both Amish and Mennonites. They all built very carefully and diligently, and paid attention to all the Code items that came up. Made a few mistakes, but they quickly corrected anything I asked them to. I was very impressed by all of them, project after project, commercial buildings, roofing, additions, etc.. The thing is, they may not have been current on the latest Code requirements, but I know they wanted to be. I believe they learned things for the better, by building in town where there were Codes.
Second, I wish in my house I had the latest Arc Fault Cicruit Interupter breakers for the bedrooms, I wish I had the latest smoke alarm configuration both inside and outside the bedrooms for my family's safety, I wish I had a new 4-wire dryer circuit so the neutral current was NOT carried down the ground wire, I sure am glad the metal flashing in my roof valleys is correct......
Short story, these Codes are just small things that make a big difference.
 
On that building paper, they already have a very big bill just getting that house up and they do not want to go out and borrow money for the siding. They will put the siding on when they can get enough money saved up. And you do not realize the expences they have, the kerosine lamps cost way more than an electric light and the kerosine to operate is more than electricity. And for them to get anyplace they have to hire a driver and that cost is way more than you pay to own a car and the buggy will cost as much as a good used car. The houses are finnished with drywall with a white paint and the hardwood floors would make any of the million dollar homes look like a shack. I was just today up doing bussiness with 5 different Amish familys. They do the best than can with everything. And the buggies carry tags same as your car and even tho the buggies are open for all winter use they are equiped with the smv, half a dozen reflectors on back and a flashing electric light on both sides visable front or rear. I was 3 years old when we got electrricity in 1946 but did not have indoor pluming untill 1974 and you do not have to have it to have a good life.
 
Running water and electricity in a house does not make it sanitary. I am a plumber by trade and get into alot of houses. You would not believe the filth that people are comfortable with living in. If you want to see absolute ungodly filth, go into a government (the same government that wants to shove every code and law done our throats) owned and/or subsidised housing project.

Popping one kid out after another? Who cares? At least they use their own money to provide for their children. The afore mentioned government has no problem using your money to pay for some sluts 8 pregnacies by 6 different males of whom most are in prison or on probation. And then you get to support the kids until they start the same cycle all over again.

Yes it is a shame that their children are taught to work. It would be much better if they were able to sit at home on their arses all day eating junk food and playing video games while the government ( there it is again) spends millions of dollars on some study to try to figure out why kids are obese.

Yes there are some Amish out their that are turds, but they are a lot fewer and farther between than their non Amish neighbors I could go on, but I"ll shut up for now.
 
Uh, I`m thinking rrlund was being a teensy bit sarcastic. Maybe. That said, I have lived without both electricity and running water, and as you say it has nothing to do with sanitation. Being clean is a choice, I have seen cleaner hunting tent camps than many folks keep there houses.
 
with all the push for green energy you think that not having any electricity would be a good thing and they would receive a government grant. I think I will start a religion that is against all gov regulation--but then again I saw what happened at Waco.
 
Most of the flats I fix have sheet rock screws in them.Its near impossible to lose a clinched nail out of a hoof.We have an Amish settlement in the next town.The bought a large vacant farm.They built 5 large fine houses that will be assessed for inflated Real estate values.They have a metal roofing shop and a store.Those Ive met are fine people, far better than some of the theiving bums that live near me.They are a bit reserved with the English,they should be.I admire their way of life but I couldnt do it.Good people come in all colors and sizes, you just have to be sharp enought to sort them out.I notice they are using solar power a lot and have a diesel powered welder in the metal shop.When I picked up some roofing at the metal shop I noticed the kids had some Tonka toy trucks in a big sandbox.I reject many modern things.I use a wood burning cook stove,keep chickens and cattle and wear overalls.I have 2 muzzle loading rifles and a shot gun.
 
You should buy siding for them if you dont like house wrap.It takes hard work to build a house without kissing the banker on all 4 cheeks.My sons house is still in house wrap but he doesnt owe a dime on it.Ill saw some clapboards on my sawmill this spring for the house.Is your house paid for?
 
I said they bring the PROPERTY VALUES down. As in, when you go to sell it. Your tax assessment won't go down.

So you're paying taxes on a $125,000 home, the Amish come in and stand up their tarpaper shack next door, and instantly your house is worth $75,000.

You're still gonna pay taxes on the $125,000 assessed value of the house. You can whine to the assessor all you want, appeal until you're blue in the face. Won't do you any good. If anything the assessment will go UP to $150,000 because you made a fuss.

Nobody said the Amish weren't good carpenters. They build excellent buildings, structurally. If they made an effort to make the place look presentable, this wouldn't be a problem. But, making the place look nice is vanity, and vanity is a sin.
 
I don;t know where these "shacks" some of you are referring to are, but up here in Northern NY the only new farms going up are Amish and their houses, while not fancy, are better looking than the trailer with the 4 ATVs, 3 dead washing machines, 7 Pit Bulls and garbage strewn all over.
 
The thing is....building codes/inspections are in place due to all the crap that would be built with out them! I am an electrical contractor, and I have seen it all......trouble is the ones who tell you how to build stuff dont really know all they think they know sometimes!
 
It is not vanity as they are not finnished out the way you would like, It is lack of money. You must be someone that does not have that problem. How many places the people bought ground to put up a house and put up the garage and lived in it while trying to get enough money to put up that house and that house is still waiting 20-30 years later because the money was never found due to low income and high expences. Also same with mobile homes, bought a cheap one to last 2 years and has had to last 20 years due to funds.
 
I was to an Amish home yesterday and replying to the clean statment. The about 14-15 year old girl was out moping the wood deck, sidewalk and wheelchair ramp just the same as you might mop the kitchen floor in your house. How often do you find anybody that cleans those things?
 
Unless the property is stolen from them it will never come to that, when they pass on the kids will take over and move in.
 
To those that complain that the Amish come in and throw up a house that may reduce your own property value, do you not realize that the roles could easily be reversed?

What happens when the millionaire buy the 80 acres next door, instead of the Amish family, and builds his sprawling mansion, then leans on the local council to come down on you and your modest $150,000 home because you are now lowering the value of his property? Files complaints because you sometimes leave a couple tractors parked in the yard? Files complaints because you have a hobby garden but don't have any water runoff containment to keep fertilizers/pesticides out of the ditches? Files complaints because your 125 year old barn that your grandfather built is in disrepair and is an eyesore and persuades the city council to declare it condemned so you have to tear it down? And through all this, your property taxes skyrocket because of the new mansion next door!! Then what would have to say?

If you don't want the Amish (or anyone else) moving in next door, you should buy the property before they can. Can't afford it, well you and your like minded neighbors pool your money together and use it for a park or ball fields and such.

Oh, but you can't do that either cause the Gov't won't let you because its not zoned for that, or there needs to be environmental studies done, or traffic impact studies, or mountains of permits, regulations and insurance documents to swim through...

Don't think the above can happen to you? It happens every day.
 
People don't think that far ahead. All they care about is what's in front of them at that very moment.

If a millionaire moved in next door and started doing to them what they did to the Amish, they'd be up in arms. It's called hypocrisy.

You can rest assured that most of these codes were derived by people looking to force "undesirables" out of their neighborhoods.
 
that actually happened to me. Multimillionaire out-of-stater bought next to me after I'd lived there 15 yrs. Vowing to "run me out of the neighborhood" because they wanted my place much cheaper than I wanted to sell, they called Sheriff, Dept of Highways, Game Warden, Electric Co., Fire Dept. every govt agency they though even remotely could get me on anything. Then had me arrested 5 times (all thrown out of court), had my 16 yr old son arrested on trumped up charges, & sued me over property lines (I won). He died from heart attack brought on by stress. Leave the little old guy alone!
 
(quoted from post at 06:38:45 02/29/12) I said they bring the PROPERTY VALUES down. As in, when you go to sell it. Your tax assessment won't go down.

So you're paying taxes on a $125,000 home, the Amish come in and stand up their tarpaper shack next door, and instantly your house is worth $75,000.

You're still gonna pay taxes on the $125,000 assessed value of the house. You can whine to the assessor all you want, appeal until you're blue in the face. Won't do you any good. If anything the assessment will go UP to $150,000 because you made a fuss.

Nobody said the Amish weren't good carpenters. They build excellent buildings, structurally. If they made an effort to make the place look presentable, this wouldn't be a problem. But, making the place look nice is vanity, and vanity is a sin.
Click to expand...

Don't pretend to know any thing about all the Amish communities but I do know a few pretty good. Around here they tend to stay away from areas with $100,000+ homes. They tend to settle in areas with under valued ground and in the matter of a few years buy up huge chunks of it. Mennonites are much the same way. There is no reason to pay to get a farm appraised around here any more. Just ask one of the four families that are buy'n every thing what they will give for it. While he has moved twice since (from here to Costa Rica and now to central IL) there was a four year time frame where every public farm auction with in 10 miles of my house one guy was the winning or contending bidder on every chunk of ground more than 20 acres. If they had driven down the prices so much one would think that more folks would be in the mood to buy such good deals. (He sold his last farm here less than a month ago, better than doubled his money on the roughest 120 acres in the county in 5 years.)

Dave
 
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