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[coolidge]

Looking to build a new garage/shop. Since I will be putting in water and septic, I have been toying with the idea of living space above.

Don't really want to be a landlord. Worth it?
Shop will be 40 x 60

[juddspaintballs]

Man cave.  If it's not meant as living space, the code is far more relaxed.  I have a semi-finished area above my garage.  Someone could sleep there overnight if they visited, but it's not really meant for that.  When I put in water/septic to the garage, I'll finish that area out better and do the proper fire breaking, but it'll still just be for someone to visit me and stay in rather than meant for continuous habitation. 

If you want to rent it out, there will be a lot of code to be followed in most states to make it up to snuff, especially above a garage/shop.  It would be cheaper and easier to add 20' to the length and build a townhome on the end instead of a 2nd story apartment. 

[mlappin]

I agree, usually cheaper to add length rather than height.

This is just pricing out a new shop tall enough to get any of our equipment in, like a 16’ ceiling so we can actually work on top of a combine without whacking our heads on the ceiling.