A lot of questions which I will try to address separately, and I will not be very helpful on costs as costs vary so much not only location to location but contractor to contractor.
Most of your question can only be answered by consulting with your local building (for construction related questions) and health department (for septic tank questions).
jbrantiii wrote:- POWER. I need to run power some 800 - 900 feet from the street to my building site. I want to run it underground. FPL gave me a rough quote of $10K. When I asked about trenching and running the cable "myself", leaving the hookup to them, they stated I would receive a credit for the labor. Not sure what that means exactly. Is it very unusual to run your own power? Where would I look for cable specs, suppliers, and costs?
Okay, several questions in there, and several different possibilities on how to address the answers.
- As far as FPL and their labor cost credit, ask them how must that would be.
- Yes, the labor cost is all that you are saving them, they still have all their other costs, including the underground service lateral conductors (not inexpensive in itself) any raceways they will be using, transformers they will be setting for you, etc.
- Yes, unusual to run you own power as you have described as those lines are owned and maintained by FPL, so they would typically run the underground lateral (or contract it out, but they would be responsible).
Here is an idea to eliminate that problem: install a power pedestal not far from where they will tap off their power lines. They will run to the power pedestal, which will be the "service equipment" on the first "structure" as the pedestal is a "structure". From there you would contract out with an electrical contractor to work with you on running the underground feeders to the different locations you want power at, treating each different location and structure as required by the National Electrical Code. The underground (or overhead) lines to the power pedestal belong to FPL, you now become responsible for everything from that point out.
Keep in mind that "you become responsible for everything from that point out" includes maintenance and replacement and any damaged lines - which could mean digging them up and repairing/replacing at some point in the future - just making you aware of what you are accepting responsibility for.
Let's say that you and your electrical contractor calculate the load and voltage drop incorrectly and the lines need to be replaced because the conductor size was too small: a) you will not have to go through any arguing with FPL to replace the lines - that is a positive factor; b) that is because those lines are yours and you will have to pay to replace them yourself - that is a negative factor.
- ELECTRICAL. We will be in a trailer while the construction happens. I'd like to install a breaker box like those at RV parks. Is this legal? My lot is A1.
Works quite easily from either a power pedestal or a power pole, as long as this is considered in the design and the local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction - your local building department) says it is okay.
- GRADE. I've discovered that I'll need to raise any structure some 6'. I'm a disabled person and I'm not interested in stair or stilts. I'd like to actually build up the grade (maybe by terracing) making slab construction possible. Any insight into how this is done and at what cost? I'm guessing I'll need 6000 sq' for usable space.
A point of interest may be in order here: You say you are disabled, and there are many disabilities, but you refer to stairs, which conjures up an image of a disabled person having problems with stairs and walking, which makes me wonder about you doing all the work yourself which you are considering doing yourself. The point being that you are allowed to do all the work yourself, provided: a) you do no sell or lease your house for 12 months after the Certificate of Occupancy has been issued, and that includes "offering for sale or lease", additionally, all the work must be done by you or by licensed contractor you are directly overseeing (not as easy as it sounds), then, if you hire someone other than a licensed contractor to help you, you are required to make them "an employee" of yours, taking out withholding, FICA, and whatever else you, as an "employer" is required to do for them, which may well include taking out a workers compensation insurance policy to cover them.
Additionally, all work is still required to be permitted and inspected by the AHJ.
- SEPTIC.
- WATER.
Contact your local health department for information on those items.
- FENCING. Ideas for economical fencing? Mostly to keep dogs in AND out. Several thousand feet...
Find out what, if any, zoning restrictions there may be regarding the type of fencing allowed. If allowed, probably regular 'cow pasture' fencing would work as that is what I see all over in rural areas. Keep in mind that dogs and other animals dig under fences, so you would need to address that in some way too.