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BTW, those building codes are pretty consistent throughout the United States these days ~ no more UBIC/BOCA dichotomy ~
Think about it, except in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New York, everybody else appears to not have a problem with Amish compliance.
Could it be that WI, PA and NY are "special"?
Hmmmmm?!?!?!?! ! ! ????
This is a tough issue. Normally, I wouldn’t prefer the hand of government in Amish affairs. Building codes are oftentimes ridiculous, as well.
However, if we all the Amish to build as they wish based on their religious beliefs, then we would have to do the same for every group.
This would also open the door for such things as Muslim women being allowed to completely cover their face in their driver’s license photos for “religious reasons”
I think there is a point in which some lines must be drawn. I don’t think that telling the Amish to observe the same local building codes as everyone else is an over-reach.
Whoa! Whoa! Don’t be pushin’ on them Amish. You know how they are!
Smoke detectors are against their religious beliefs? Sorry - I have to disagree. Smoke detectors prevent buildings from burning down, and fires spread. Maybe to the houses of people who AREN’T Amish.
Had to pay $25 for permit to put up a new section of fence to replace an old section of fence. The Amish are different why?
I had to have a fight with the city inspectors about not having windows in a home theater... They demanded that it have windows and I didn’t want windows. We’re talking about a home theater where you want it dark, not some bedroom...
After getting an building code expert to write the city a letter saying that code permitted it I finally got it through... But as always, it is all on you time and your dime...
Less than forty years ago, most of America knew nothing of smoke detectors, pulled a house permit without drawings, and the building inspector actually knew more about construction than today's permit paper pushers.
The Amish houses will do better in an earthquake than most of the old building stock in cities. I suspect they don't live on the coastlines where houses of the elite are routinely blown away in hurricanes nor live in kindling woods like beautiful people of California whose homes routinely disappear in forest fires. I'll bet that Amish take better care of their properties than the renters in squalid city neighborhoods. I suspect they have a good point that they are made to follow a code that from experience offers them no value.
It's probably the smoke detector, a modern electronic device that really irritates them from their religious point of view. Let's face it, how many people don't replenish smoke detector batteries especially if they are smokers. I hope the Amish win this one.
We should all keep on the right side of the Amish. They’re experts at living off the grid.