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Level 3 · Check your state

Can I build my own house in my state?

Why the answer is "it depends"

Ask five people whether you can build your own house and you'll get five confident answers that don't match. That's because there is no single national rule. Each state has its own, and the place you build can add more.

So a book about owner-builders in general can't tell you. A state-by-state reference can show you what to look into, and the office that can give you the real answer for the lot you're standing on.

This page doesn't say what any state allows. That belongs in the book, with a reminder next to it to confirm it, because rules change.

Where are you building?

Or choose from the list of 48

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

What's in the book

• One entry for every state in the lower 48. Same layout every time, so you can compare two states side by side.
• What to check. The questions to ask before you buy land or sign anything.
• Who to call. The office that can give you the answer for your state, so you hear it from the source.
• Quick-find tables. The big questions answered across all 48 states on a page or two.
• A reminder to verify. Rules change, so every entry tells you what to confirm, and with whom.

It's the companion to Be Your Own General Contractor: The Owner-Builder's Field Manual (Level 2), which walks you through the whole build.

Get it free

Give us your email, and choose your state if you like. You get the free Build Plan right away. When the State-by-State Reference is released, we email it to you free. There's no public download, so your email is how you get it.

All three books are also coming as paperbacks on Amazon.

Common questions

Can I build my own house in my state?

It depends on the state, and the answer can change from one town to the next. This page does not try to answer it for your state. The State-by-State Reference is built to help you find out: for every state, it shows what to check and who to call, so you get the real answer from the people who can give it.

Which states does the book cover?

All 48 states in the lower 48. Alaska and Hawaii are not in it.

Is it really free?

Yes. It is free to everyone on our email list. We email it to you when it is released. There is no public download, so your email address is how you get it.

When will it be ready?

It is not released yet. Join the list and we will email you the day it is. You get the Build Plan right away while you wait.

Is there a paperback?

Yes. The paperback is coming to Amazon. When it is listed, the link will be right on this page. The free copy is emailed to everyone on the list when it is released.

Do I need the Field Manual first?

No. The State-by-State Reference is the companion to the Field Manual, which walks you through the whole build. You can start with the Build Plan, which is free right away.

Is this legal advice?

No. The book is education, not legal advice. Rules change, so every entry tells you what to verify, and with whom. Check every rule with the people who enforce it before you rely on it.

Carolina Build Journey provides advisory coaching only. The homeowner is always the builder of record. The books are education, not legal or financial advice.