I just paid $425 to the BC Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) for an Application for Owner Builder Authorization. This will allow us to build our earthship without a licenced home builder. Essentially it means we do not have to obtain third-pary home warranty insurance (although it is recommended by the HPO). This means we can general contract our own project. I have a suspicion that our permit fees will be outrageously out of proportion to our building costs.
There is still the building permit, plumbing permit, electrical permit, solid fuel permit…
The HPO application has to be sent to Victoria and once it is approved we forward it to our regional district to accompany the building permit application which we are submitting… tomorrow!
Stay tuned.
hi!!! Me and my wife will be building an earthship in the Okanagan! Woohooo! it’s exciting BUT… My main question to you was how did you get yours financed? I have called a few banks and credit unions, and no one wants to touch the idea!!
I think that I just might be dreaming too freely on my end.. but I would love to know how you get through this initial process. Did you have the land already? I think this is where I am faltering. I dont have my land, so it needs to be added to the loan. Anyways, I would love to pick your brain so I do hope you reply! thanks!!!!
We are paying for this project as we go. We own the land and pay for materials and what have you as we go. This is part of the reason our project is going at this pace … sometimes it seems really slow but it has worked for us. I do know of at least one earthship project that was financed in BC … beyond that though I do not know any details.
thanks Chris… Its the land that really holds me back! Of course it is though, right? haha. Damn it. I am determined though… so who knows what direction we’ll end up going 😉
Chris, I’m not sure which one you are talking about being financed…I’ve not heard of any in B.C. that have been successfully financed. We heard a rumour some time ago that there is one near Enderby that was able to be insured but I’ve never been able to confirm its existence. Financing is a huge problem for alternative buildins. We have friends who built a cob home and were not able to finance it until it was completely built. They were given a line of credit based on assets but ended up borrowing money from family until completion and then turning it into a mortgage. They owned most of the land already.