I know this isn't exactly Car related but in a sense, it is lol. Does anyone know the difficulty of adding on a detached garage to your existing home if your lot is big enough, if so do you need any required permits, (depending on your location). I've seen quite a bit of forum fabricators that are working out of their homes, so for those of you, how much did you spend to get everything you needed up and running (especially electrical, not including fabrication equipment obviously) and how do your neighbors appreciate it, are you in an HOA, or not. Etc. Thanks

 

You can ask your cities building department for answers about permits and the process. Generally they are happy to see that people are investing in improving property in thier city. You will need permits to lay the concrete slab, and build the structure of the garage, as well as to run power and plumbing if you decide you want those too.
Basically you tell them what you want to do, they give you some forms and you have plans drawn up (or show them some pre-fabricated garage structure you want to insall). Then you apply for permits for the concrete, when that's done you may or may not need to have it inspected, then you build yourself a garage on the slab. Or you hire a contractor and they do all that fun stuff for you.
I did some general contracting, now I work on the engineering side of buildings. It's really not a hard process to go through paper-work wise, if you have the skills to build a garage correctly you are adding value to your home as well.

 

you gotta do he said go to your city building and zoning departments and ask for setbacks, lot coverage, min distance in between buildings, max size and height for your garage. then get plans drawn up, get them processed through the city and approved. lay your slab and call for inspection, depending on your requirements you need to call for other inspections i.e. walls, plumb, electrical, trusses, and of course your final which without you cant sell your house if you wanted to.