North Georgia Cob

Hello I browsed the website and saw that a few people were building alternative houses in GA. I was wondering the order in which you guys did it?
My bestfriend and I want to buy some land within an hour from our places of employment and he frequently needs to jump on the computer even after clocked out because he is in IT. We plan to buy in rural north GA.


Did you get electrical before or after building? Seems like everything requires a permit...

It seems we can have internet wired to the land no problem without permits I think.

Did you drill a well before or after building? Permit required?


Basically were ready to rough it and live in a tent, but we need to be able to work (internet) still and have access to water for showering and cooking----while we build until winter comes.

You know, set up a makeshift outside shower connected to well, campfire kitchen etc.

If you've had success either illegally or legally I'm ready to take all the advice I can get. Please include your county if it's relevant (legal cobbers).

It might hurt some more die hard peoples feelings but IMO forget the tent. If you have the construction skills build a little shack. Single pitched roof 8x10, 12x12 or so, up on blocks dug down to the subsoil.
Or faster buy one of the rent to own "Amish" buildings.
Get a temporary power pole set up and use a composting toilet.

I read somewhere once to get around not have a shower get a 24/7 gym membership and grab a shower on your way home or on your way to work, I like that idea and you might be tempted to work out a bit too.

Buy out in the country where there are no building codes or restrictions.



I'm in nauvoo, AL. Basically Upper middle Alabama.

Thanks Jay!
We're doing the tent as a quick-temporary fix because it was bought for me as a present a few christmas's ago and is fairly large.
We can do anytimefitness gym's in our areas for $20 bucks a month each and $40 is a cheap water bill for us but we still want to be setting up for permanence on the land.
So the tent is just for while we build the cob with a limited amount of time this summer and I'd like to get well water (or legally "irrigation well") and filtering system set up immediately for drinking, cooking, and showering.

Unfortunately I'm not aware of any GA county without building codes. There is unrestricted land where you could decide to put an agricultral, residential, or hunt etc but I still think the IBC still applies to anything erected on the land. : /

Our income is in GA, otherwise I'd move.