In the United States

[Rubycon]

This article brings the question.

Not necessarily for weapons cache or anything like that. But say a person didn't want to add rooms on but wanted more room. Can they dig below their basement floor and under the yard and build legally? (assuming all the shoring precautions are taken and the ground is stable!) Seems to be a good way to make a shelter (from weather and the tax man!).

 

[jiggahertz]

I've wondered this too. Or how far your property line extends downward? Can you dig under your neighbors yard if you are deep enough?

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
This article brings the question.

Not necessarily for weapons cache or anything like that. But say a person didn't want to add rooms on but wanted more room. Can they dig below their basement floor and under the yard and build legally? (assuming all the shoring precautions are taken and the ground is stable!) Seems to be a good way to make a shelter (from weather and the tax man!).

Depends on your building code.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: jiggahertz
I've wondered this too. Or how far your property line extends downward? Can you dig under your neighbors yard if you are deep enough?

Well I think you would be in trouble if you go horizontally past your line but how deep is too deep? :Q

I met folks that live in a missile silo and their house was incredible. Easily the top 10.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

It is guarenteed to be against some building code. Even if it IS legal to build the tunnel, at the very least you will be in violation for not paying an inspector to certify that it meets code.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Don't even think about it if you live in a cookie cutter suburb with a homeowner's association. They won't let you plant trees, you think they'll let you build a sex dungeon?

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Don't even think about it if you live in a cookie cutter suburb with a homeowner's association. They won't let you plant trees, you think they'll let you build a sex dungeon?

..condo owners don't own the land on which the structure is built? They just oen the structure?

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Heh... I had a client who did that. He had a small crawlspace that he dug out and made into a good sized home theater. He installed a bookshelf onto a hinge system to make the entrance secret. Pretty cool. Unpermited and, I'm sure, illegal... but cool.

 

[funboy6942]

I thought I read somewhere that property (land) owners own everything under the property as far as they want within their property line. You can dig what ever you want how ever far you want to dig as long as you stay within your property.

 

[Bulk Beef]

you think they'll let you build a sex dungeon?

As long as the siding matches, it should be cool. Just don't even think about parking a pickup truck here.

 

[theGlove]

sure, it's like having a covered swimming pool in your back yard (without the water of course)

 

[herbiehancock]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
It is guarenteed to be against some building code. Even if it IS legal to build the tunnel, at the very least you will be in violation for not paying an inspector to certify that it meets code.

As soon as you find some evidence of that, I'll believe you as there are more than a few houses built into hillsides and underground. The key is actually, *GASP* getting it dug and bulit correctly and to proper codes.

As far as the article, I didn't notice anywhere where the man was charged with anything but owning illegal guns and ammunition.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Usually municipalities get by the whole "private property" thing by saying you don't own the ground so many inches below the surface. That's why they can dig up your front lawn any time they damn well please to check if a gas pipe is leaking or something (and then leave your yard looking like sh*t afterward, may I add).

 

[Mo0o]

I saw this on TV so i can't be sure of its validity but theres somethign called Mineral Rights? that determine whether you own the ground beneath your house.

 

[Jeff7]

It depends. Some localities require permits for just about anything, which is little more than a way of milking more money out of people.
Want to add another story to a 1 story house? Permit!
Want to put a small shed in your back yard? Permit!
Pool? Yup.
Landscaping? You know what to do.
Need more than 3 permits for various home improvements? You need a permit for that!

 

[BoomerD]

Yep, IMO, you could dig the tunnel, but it'd have to be permitted and inspected, AND, dug with the appropriate excavation & mining permits...not just a building permit. There are heavy restrictions & codes on tunnels that would have to be met.
I don't know if any local agency would sign of on something like this. Too much liability.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: herbiehancock

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
It is guarenteed to be against some building code. Even if it IS legal to build the tunnel, at the very least you will be in violation for not paying an inspector to certify that it meets code.

As soon as you find some evidence of that, I'll believe you as there are more than a few houses built into hillsides and underground. The key is actually, *GASP* getting it dug and bulit correctly and to proper codes.

Isn't that what I said?

 

[Alprazolam]

I've heard about drug dealers having two houses next to each other, and have a tunnel connect to the other house, and they are able to leave without the 5-0 catching them.


I was really thinking about making a tunnel to my other house next to mine( I had two homes right next to each other for about 2 years ) I wish I woulda done it.