Building Codes, Financing & Insurance

Building Codes, Financing & Insurance For Yurts

What About Building Codes/Permits?

One word of caution is to check local codes to see if yurts are permitted for your application. Yurts do not normally meet national, state or local building codes due to the structure and R- value required in the walls and ceilings for insulation. The four most common building codes are National Building Code (eastern US), Uniform Building Code (western US), Southern Standard Building Code (southern US). The Uniform Building Code (UBC) does allow for alternative building methods and materials in section 104.2.8. Also the UBC in section 104.2.6 allows the local building official to approve alternative methods and materials and removes them from any liability if they acted in good faith.

Some areas consider them "temporary structures" and will allow them for weekend and tourist usage. Some counties are concerned about property tax revenues and will not allow yurts because they do not have the taxable value of a standard dwelling. I heard of one area that allowed yurts for permanent housing if you let others camp on your property.

The biggest issue is that many building officials you talk to do not know what a yurt is and will be apprehensive when you try to get approval. You may need to educate them about yurts and explain what you plan to use it for. In some cases you may find that a special use permit may be required through the planning commission that would give you approval for full time yurt living.

Some yurt owners go to a rural county or remote area and purchase several acres and put up the yurt without approvals. In terms of code enforcement I have heard that many code violations are reported by neighbors so another reason to either talk to your neighbors (ie. be on good terms) or be far away from other people (ie. they can't see your yurt). If you need to take the yurt down its not too difficult.

It's unfortunate that the building codes do not allow for owners to assume personal responsibility for what they want to do in terms of liability and building with alternative materials and methods.

Do banks or other lenders finance yurt purchases?

Unfortunately lenders see a yurt as an asset that depreciates in value and they really do not understand yurts in terms of their structure and longevity. Yurts are also difficult to appraise in terms of value. Most people pay cash or use credit cards to pay for a yurt.

Can they be insured?

It is also difficult to find an insurance company to insure the yurt structure for reasons similar to yurt financing. How can a used yurt be assigned a value? Is the peril or chance of loss greater if the yurt is under a tree? Problem is too many variables and unknowns for an insurance company to gain a comfort level for measured risk.

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