Florida sustainable builders, Pinellas County ordinances? should I buy land in Pinellas and build?

Hi everyone! Just wanted to say how awesome this forum is. I haven't browsed for a while, but I dropped by and wanted to tell you all what a huge help this board is, and how vital it is, especially in uncertain times.

Don't know if I'm posting in the right space but was wondering if anyone knows about building with alternative materials in Pinellas county FL? I've seen photos online of a container house in Pinellas Park and wil continue to search more. So I guess alternative habitats are allowed? Just wondering as I begin to plan to buy land, not yet sure if I should just go the old fashioned route or think more about building. Don't even know if that's an option if I want to stay in the city! If I could, which cities allows natural building?

If anyone knows about ordinances and building sustainable in Pinellas, let me know. It's not as easy as inquiring with permitting as offices are closed now anyway and probably will be backed up for a long time coming! So any help would be appreciated.

Would it be county officials or City officials that you are dealing with? If City officials which one?

You can get away with most alternative building as long as the foundation "bond beam", and the roof bond beam are there and there and post at the 4 corners that can hold up the roof. All of the walls both internal and external can then be "creative" non-load bearing walls.

What type of alternative building style were you thinking about using.
1) Cob
2) Adobe
3) Ram Earth
4) Earthbag
5) Compress Earth Brick
6) Bale-Cob
7) Bale
8) Will it be bermed?
9) Is it a green roof
10) Will it be underground aka both?

Maybe you are talking about alternative support system, solar-electric, advance septic, well-water system, grey water system can't be sent to the garden only for internal toilet use.

What are your HVAC plans: Insulation is the most important thing, followed by humidity control, passive heating isn't as important. Passive cooling design usually means house that is only 1 room thick with a connecting hallway running the length of the back of the house. So 16ft wide and 60ft long.

Looking forward to hearing some more about your plans and ideas.

S Bengi wrote:Would it be county officials or City officials that you are dealing with? If City officials which one?

You can get away with most alternative building as long as the foundation "bond beam", and the roof bond beam are there and there and post at the 4 corners that can hold up the roof. All of the walls both internal and external can then be "creative" non-load bearing walls.

What type of alternative building style were you thinking about using.
1) Cob
2) Adobe
3) Ram Earth
4) Earthbag
5) Compress Earth Brick
6) Bale-Cob
7) Bale
8) Will it be bermed?
9) Is it a green roof
10) Will it be underground aka both?

Maybe you are talking about alternative support system, solar-electric, advance septic, well-water system, grey water system can't be sent to the garden only for internal toilet use.

What are your HVAC plans: Insulation is the most important thing, followed by humidity control, passive heating isn't as important. Passive cooling design usually means house that is only 1 room thick with a connecting hallway running the length of the back of the house. So 16ft wide and 60ft long.

Looking forward to hearing some more about your plans and ideas.

OMG can we build underground? Has anyone else done it? (This is not what I'll do but just curious!)

Thanks so much, this is all preliminary.

I would recommend building a house on grade then piling up dirt on the side and on the roof. Thus making it earth-sheltered. Almost as good as truly underground.

https://www.winknews.com/2018/02/06/earth-sheltered-homes-bring-environmentally-conscious-living-swfl/

I would think that pinellas county has pretty strict ordinances, but with the right architect/engineer to push the paperwork through who knows what is possible.