It’s finally coming together! Started this process over a year ago, but we are starting the building permit process with Contra Costa County. Contra Costa has a good resource online with a checklist of items you likely need to get a building permit. I don’t like driving the 40 mins without traffic (which doesn’t happen) to Martinez to talk to those at the county. Also, there can be a bit of a wait at the county, so I really don’t like leaving work or my family for several hours if a phone call will work. Let’s start at the beginning.
Monday: I visited the satellite office for Contra Costa county in Brentwood and met with a guy there who provided me with very few additional details and was not helpful because I didn’t have a site plan.
Tuesday: I spent a lot of time after work building a site plan and learning about which software/service might fit my needs. Here are my findings:
- Mysiteplan.com,24hplans.com are both very convenient websites with live-chat options to best serve your needs. They’ll build you a site plan, but it’ll cost somewhere between $200-$300 and they’ll charge more for any additional item or rush delivery. In the end mysiteplan quoted me 3 hrs of work at $75 an hour $225 in total.
- Sketchup Free could have worked if I knew how to use it. After attempting to get to a 2d set up for 30 mins, I gave up… 🙁
- LibreCAD was the answer for my needs! It came in two dimensions. There was a bit of a learning curve, but I was lucky enough to find a couple Youtubers who provided some tutorials Here are some that I used:
- Beginning Tutorial: https://youtu.be/74Cb06CLQbo
- Gary Fox (no relation):
- Lines/Widths https://youtu.be/-gKkEzTdBek
- Dimensioning https://youtu.be/mAVV5tR0Vqg
Wednesday: Set up a tailgate meeting with the County and Steve Buckley the designer of the septic system. They require 48 hours notice to make it.
Also, contacted Jensen Precast to get a quote for two 1500-gallon tanks, one septic and one pump. The price includes delivery and setting. It is about $5000 dollars.
I tried to call the county to see if I could get more information (so I wouldn’t need to go in). But I didn’t get far. My neighbor (who has their permit) said that I need to go in to the county to get anything done. Also told me not to worry too much about having all the information before I go… It’s a process…. Better to get the ball started sooner than later.
Thursday: Went to the county… was there for 2 hours with 2 kids and wife. I tried sandwiching it in to other errands. A bad idea. However, the ball has started rolling!
As it turns out, planning must accept your site plan/house before it even goes to building through that checklist of items. I could have come to them a month earlier! I didn’t need septic, or anything else approved before I went to planning. Only 3 copies of a site plan and floor plan are needed. They took $500 in cash from me and will be in touch.
Friday: Although it was some of the worst air in the area, I went out to the site and put up stakes and string to mark where my septic system could go. It was required as part of the tailgate meeting. Tim Jensen from the County showed up. He was very nice and helpful. I did fairly well with my tape and being alone. However, I will likely move everything further back, I don’t want to be even close to the 50’ setbacks from the property line, or 100’ from the replacement field and well. After that I came home and went to bed and have been sick since. Probably should not have been breathing that air for 2 hours.
I called the engineer for the system and asked him a handful of questions, and learned a lot of what I should have done to “properly” stake out the area. I’ll get back to it, when the air clears up. But now I know where my septic system, home and tanks will be placed. And the next steps to get it there. Time to find a backhoe.
Stay tuned!
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