The only 2 things I can add are this.

I would recommend that you go talk to the local building inspector. Tell him
your a homeowner and do not know the process. When I did this they were
helpfull and gave me very different information then I got from the zoning
inspector. The building inspectors decision is final so talk to him upfront
and save yourself a headache.

About pumping concrete, Yes you can do that. It was my experience that if
you don't need to move a lot of concrete it's hard to get the people who own
the truck to call you back. I found a wonderful device called a concrete
buggy at the local nations rent. It's a motorized bucket for lack of a
better term. You stand on the back and drive it where you want it and then
the hydralics tilt the bucket and dump the concrete exactly where you want
it. It hauls 1/2 yard at a time. It will wear on the yard some but not
nearly like the truck will and in my case it traveled around the septic
system much easier. The tracks that I made didn't even require me to do
anything to repair them. I did my work in the fall and after the spring
rains were done they were gone. It cost me something like $200 for a 24 hr
rental so it was definitely cheaper then a pumper.

Bob

"-linux_lad" john at linuxlad dot org wrote in message
...
Having a home shop in a garage is fine if you only use it once in a while.
The
problem is that I have to share the place with four cars, my tool
collection, and
all our other junk. I'm thinking that my best option is to build a "shed"
in the
back yard and migrate my shop to it. I live in Sacramento, CA, and the
city buiding
code is difficult for amateurs like myself to interpret . As I understand
it, one
needs a permit for any structure over 150 square feet regardless of the
structure's
purpose. Last year, I built an enclosure to my patio with the help of a
neighbor who
was a retired contractor who took care of all the bothersome details. He's
deceased
now, and I wish I had spent more time learning about his trade.
What I plan to do is build a basic 20' x 20' structure along the lines of
a storage
shed and add electricity later when it's time to start using it as an
honest-to-goodness shop. I have all of the tools and equipment neccessary
for this
shed project, so my only expenses would be for the materials, plans, and
food/beer
for my helpers. For now, it would just serve as storage for car parts and
engines, a
big hand tool collection, garden tools, and a bunch of power tools I
inherited years
ago. I mostly copy shaker furniture with hand tools and give away to
family and
friends, but it's a pain in the ass to use the garage (my current shop)
for this.

I know that local codes vary, but I have some general questions I hope
someone can
answer:

1) Is a four inch thick slab foundation adequate for this and likely to be
approved?

2) Am I correct in assuming I can build a plain box (16" OC studs) with a
truss
roof, sliding doors and call it good for now?

3) I have calculated the cost of the lumber based on Home Depot prices.
The shed
would be constructed of 2x4 studs with no interior finishing and 3/4"
exterior grade
sheathing. The roof would be trusses sheathed in OSB and covered in
shingles. I plan
to have two (single) sliding doors on north and east sides, and maybe a
couple of
plexiglass windows. Is there any reason why this wouldn't be appropriate?

4) Would adding electricity to the shed (converting it to a shop) a year
from now
have any affect on the permit that I built the shop on? In other words, is
a shed
divergently different than workshop?

5) Many codes have a 36" min distance to lot line for residences. The
city's website
gives no clue on this rule for storage sheds, but I'm assuming it holds
for any
structure. Am I correct or is there a general exclusion for non-occupied
structures?

6) I intend to make the trusses myself. Does anyone have any experience
with the
engineered wood beams and trusses? It's possible to buy pre-built trusses
here for
about the same as it would cost to buy the retail lumber, but it's hardly
a deal if
they suck.

7) The proposed location of the fundation is 103 feet from the street. Can
the
concrete be pumped to the form without the truck mauling my lawn?

8) In this type of structure, does the poured foundation have to be
inspected before
the walls go up?

If anyone lives nearby, might I request your assistance in planning this?


Best regards to all,
--
-linux_lad