[BostonCard]

Where living "off the grid" was not, in fact, illegal:

http://www.quora.com/Why-is-living-off-the-grid-illegal

Robin Speronis is not being prosecuted for living off-grid. This story is taking place in Cape Coral, FL, where I lived for 20 years and where my parents still live.

She's being prosecuted for spreading raw sewage all over her yard and contaminating her neighbors.

In Florida, you can go off the grid and live without electricity all you like (and if you Google the court case, which I'll get to in a moment, you'll see the judge explicitly stated she wasn't being cited for being off the power grid).

She was collecting rainwater but still using the sewer without paying for it, which is what she was originally cited for. After that, she started throwing raw sewage all over the yard, which is why she was cited again.

It appears that the Huntsville situation is similar:

http://www.fox10tv.com/story/29326010/ci...f-the-grid

This was the county's responds:

"There is nothing illegal about living "off the grid," provided interested citizens go through proper channels. We encourage green environmental living, and our departments stand ready and willing to guide citizens through the appropriate permitting process. We have several residents in the City utilizing solar power and some are actually putting power back on the grid.

"The source of Mr. Truitt's utilities is not an issue. No resident is required to buy utilities from the city. Any property owner, however, is required to meet the building codes that are enforced across the city. The systems Mr. Truitt has attempted to put in do not meet any of the building codes, nor did Mr. Truitt apply for any permits as required by law. His sanitary situation further violates state health codes."

The big things seem to be that he has a trailer house not in a trailer park, and possibly questions about his sanitation.

BC

[BostonCard]

Where living "off the grid" was not, in fact, illegal:

http://www.quora.com/Why-is-living-off-the-grid-illegal

Robin Speronis is not being prosecuted for living off-grid. This story is taking place in Cape Coral, FL, where I lived for 20 years and where my parents still live.

She's being prosecuted for spreading raw sewage all over her yard and contaminating her neighbors.

In Florida, you can go off the grid and live without electricity all you like (and if you Google the court case, which I'll get to in a moment, you'll see the judge explicitly stated she wasn't being cited for being off the power grid).

She was collecting rainwater but still using the sewer without paying for it, which is what she was originally cited for. After that, she started throwing raw sewage all over the yard, which is why she was cited again.

It appears that the Huntsville situation is similar:

http://www.fox10tv.com/story/29326010/ci...f-the-grid

This was the county's responds:

"There is nothing illegal about living "off the grid," provided interested citizens go through proper channels. We encourage green environmental living, and our departments stand ready and willing to guide citizens through the appropriate permitting process. We have several residents in the City utilizing solar power and some are actually putting power back on the grid.

"The source of Mr. Truitt's utilities is not an issue. No resident is required to buy utilities from the city. Any property owner, however, is required to meet the building codes that are enforced across the city. The systems Mr. Truitt has attempted to put in do not meet any of the building codes, nor did Mr. Truitt apply for any permits as required by law. His sanitary situation further violates state health codes."

The big things seem to be that he has a trailer house not in a trailer park, and possibly questions about his sanitation.

BC