So I am suddenly realizing that my wee hobby has outgrown me in the last year. I live in an 800sqft duplex that is currently almost wall to wall with all my holdbacks and new acquisitions (and the 09's are due to start arriving in 2 months... So now I am thinking it is time to suck it up and go find some legitimate office space somewhere. Like 1000/1200sqft with rent under 1k/month. Anyone else done this or looked into it? I don't need a retail locale, cause I don't sell locally, and I'm not worried about the added overhead costs, but I have no idea what the zoning laws are here (we have quite a few county islands), nor how you go about explaining to a potential landlord that you'd like to house and breed 100+ snakes in the space. Ideas?


I'd really love a spot between a daycare and a nice restaurant..... :lol:


Cheers,
Kat

Can't help you, but would love to know what you find out.

I'm no help either, but good luck!

Good luck in your search

I sent an email to my district councilman and his staff is checking into local codes on zoning, etc. He seems like a good guy and promised to get back to me asap. Should be interesting. Jeez I hate bureaucracy...


~Kat

One person to ask would be Adam Wysocki. I know he was renting a couple places for his operation, and I believe they were commercial or office spaces.

Your best bet might not be office space -- but more of an industrial park situation -- don't know if they have them up north or not but they might be more lax about having the animals and the fire hazard stuff.

As far as zoning regs -- it really depends on the area -- I know some spots down here are still zoned for farming even tho the farms were cleared out decades ago and theres now a mall and apartment building.

If you got someone that is willing to work with you then that is certainly cool -- but learn from the Southerland mess -- just because this guy says it's ok doesn't mean that the next guy aint going to try to run you out.

Good luck!

So I am suddenly realizing that my wee hobby has outgrown me in the last year. I live in an 800sqft duplex that is currently almost wall to wall with all my holdbacks and new acquisitions (and the 09's are due to start arriving in 2 months... So now I am thinking it is time to suck it up and go find some legitimate office space somewhere. Like 1000/1200sqft with rent under 1k/month. Anyone else done this or looked into it? I don't need a retail locale, cause I don't sell locally, and I'm not worried about the added overhead costs, but I have no idea what the zoning laws are here (we have quite a few county islands), nor how you go about explaining to a potential landlord that you'd like to house and breed 100+ snakes in the space. Ideas?


I'd really love a spot between a daycare and a nice restaurant..... :lol:


Cheers,
Kat

Though it means forfeiting certain victory in the mustache contest, for chrissakes I'd lose the mustache before approaching any prospective landlord.. :deadpan:

Teasing aside, some questions to consider. Ive been around the block regarding this issue myself.

How many times during the day (weekends if working during day) do you check your collection.

How many times in the evening do you check or putter around any part of your collection.

How often is something interesting occurring in your collection that causes revisits to it.

What about security and power outages and those pesky zoning people that seem unable to answer direct questions and could put you under a spotlight like on a Broadway stage. Off site collections are notorious targets for reptile thieves.

What about egg season. Breeding season. Gotta be there often.

My own answers to these questions is a blanket "all the damn time", and I've learned from watching others that any other arrangement will be an impact. The "Gotta Be There" law applies to reptile collections, and the GBT law states that the very best breeders live where their collection is. Being the best means endless owner tinkering and puttering.

Were it me, I'd bypass getting spread out and look for a bigger place to live, with the collection. Or a place with an outbuilding on the premises for the collection.

I know a few that rent commercial industrial space in like a business park and a few that have rented store front locations in out of the way strip malls and just dont use them as store front. It is a touchy situation when it comes to snakes and other tenants. They dont want to possibly loose some tenants just for you. Good luck in your search......

I'm thinking about just getting a building built on my property.. Maybe a 12 x 24 or something about that size.. Then a smaller building for the ratties.. I do know I want to keep my collection close.. So I wouldn't go the rental route.. Thats just me though.. Good luck trying to find something to suit your needs Kat.. Let us know how you make out..

Alan

I couldn't imagine having to go to a different location to see all my babies. I spend so much of my lisure time in my rep room, but am still available for my family. Yeah, I think mine will always need to be close to home.

Sounds like it might be cheaper/easier to just get a bigger house. :lol:

im going to be in the same situation myself... ive outgrown the snake room... plus i need it for an upcoming baby in the summer... I want to put them in the shed... but need more space... might tear it down and put up a garage or somethin... i just like to be able to check my guys out anytime... going to suck to have to go outside to see them...

yeah.... if your already thinking of an additional 1k a month in expenses..... get a different house with either some land.... or an outbuilding. That way everything is on YOUR property.

Why would you want to throw money away (Rent)... when you can do so much more with it.

I agree with the sentiment of finding a new place to expand, rather than renting a seperate place. Having had a pet grooming place, landlords do NOT like animals in the rental places often, and at any time something could occur to make them force you out. Without space at home to move all the collection to, what will your solution be?
When looking for a place(after finding out about the zoning), take pictures of your very secure racks and cages. Make sure the pics show the cleanest possible environment. Be sure to mention how small the snakes stay, and how harmless they are.
If you do get a place, be sure you can make it secure. Good security is a MUST. Invest in a security system with a company, and check out any entries, steel security doors are a plus, no windows, another plus. Make sure the place is well insulated, so you won't be out huge heating and cooling bills. Make certain you have a long term lease, so you won't be all set up and expanded and then in 6 months get the "We've decided to not renew your contract".
That's all I can think of right now. Hope it helped.

Have to agree with those who say to find a larger home. Put the money you would pay for overhead and to lease a space into a place where all of you can live together.

I am always checking on mine, I don't even think a shed would work for me unless I set up security cameras...:cheers:

Word. So my very gracious councilman got back to me with zoning regulations and gave me several good areas to look at (all within 5-10 minutes of the house). And for those who suggested I just move to a bigger space - 3 words --> rent controlled apt. No way I'm leaving.

Anyway, I'm going to check out several places over the next week. 2 of them are literally just down the block from me (about .5 mile). All in the 800 - 1200 sq ft range. I'll try and take pics and report back. It's looking positive, though.

Cheers,
Kat

Word. So my very gracious councilman got back to me with zoning regulations and gave me several good areas to look at (all within 5-10 minutes of the house). And for those who suggested I just move to a bigger space - 3 words --> rent controlled apt. No way I'm leaving.

Anyway, I'm going to check out several places over the next week. 2 of them are literally just down the block from me (about .5 mile). All in the 800 - 1200 sq ft range. I'll try and take pics and report back. It's looking positive, though.

Cheers,
Kat

well, good luck with that...
personally, i think you'd better make sure to set up some sleeping arrangements there for yourself...
ck

Oh there will definitely need to be room for overnighting during the egg season. Hopefully a nice little kitchenette, too. :yessir:


~Kat

ok... maybe my logic is off... and if so... feel free to let me know.

but you mentioned that the rental space MAY run you a grand a month... add to that whatever your current rent is ....

Why can you not get a decent place to live with the room for that amount.

Not only that...but you wont be throwing the money away each month. I dont have to worry about someone not liking the fact I have reptiles.... I own my house (sorta... still paying for it)... but I dont have someone that can throw me out cause they dont like my addiciton.

Okay here's the prob. We just registered the business not so long ago. I don't know what the zoning laws are in your area, but here there is no way they will let you have a business with 100+ snakes in a residential. Not even with a menagerie permit, believe me I tried. So... If I wanted to be sneaky and run the biz always looking over my shoulder, I'd consider moving. But I don't. I'm a grad student so I can work from a new office space just as easily as I work from home without breaking any laws. So seriously, I'm not an idiot. I understand that a larger house = more space for snakes, but that's not the way I'm going, so lets go back to the issue at hand, eh?

~Kat

Check www.loopnet.com, its a great source for commercial classifieds

Ahhhh!!! I see. Now that some of the blanks have been filled in, this makes better sense, and given the biz is registered, that changes everything.:rockon:

Rents and utilities are a legitimate business expense. You can write all that expense off, lock stock and barrel forever, whereas from your home place that isn't possible. As are animal purchases, depreciating equipment. Write off supplies costs. Travel expenses..

Since you've got a registered business entity, menagerie regs violations are just about impossible to skirt not to mention that anyone could nuke you by dropping a dime and complaining on you to the city. Neighbour, competitor, anyone. So your thinking regards not having to look over your shoulder, is smart. My burmese pythons got tangled up in county menagerie regs way back when I lived elsewhere. I learnt my lessons. They can revoke menagerie permits anytime, too. Fark that.

The downsides I mentioned earlier can be ameliorated by as little as a cot, microwave oven and some burritos in the freezer amongst the rats..

.5 miles from home is nuttin. That's a couple minutes jog or a quick bike ride.

Though it means forfeiting certain victory in the mustache contest, for chrissakes I'd lose the mustache before approaching any prospective landlord.. :deadpan:

Teasing aside, some questions to consider. Ive been around the block regarding this issue myself.

How many times during the day (weekends if working during day) do you check your collection.

How many times in the evening do you check or putter around any part of your collection.

How often is something interesting occurring in your collection that causes revisits to it.

What about security and power outages and those pesky zoning people that seem unable to answer direct questions and could put you under a spotlight like on a Broadway stage. Off site collections are notorious targets for reptile thieves.

What about egg season. Breeding season. Gotta be there often.

My own answers to these questions is a blanket "all the damn time", and I've learned from watching others that any other arrangement will be an impact. The "Gotta Be There" law applies to reptile collections, and the GBT law states that the very best breeders live where their collection is. Being the best means endless owner tinkering and puttering.

Were it me, I'd bypass getting spread out and look for a bigger place to live, with the collection. Or a place with an outbuilding on the premises for the collection.

AGREED, so only leaves me at 1 i would get a another apt/townhome for that price right by mine or 2 i would get a big house with a full size basement or attic. sense it seems you're in a dulplex i would say talk to th epeople and find out if the have just an apt or something you can lease for that price or lower a month just to house your reptiles in. if they dont know or dont allow that many pets then obviously that would not even be a conciderment so i would think of getting a bigger place to stay. i dont think i could keep my reptiles some place away from me like that because you cant see everything thats going on all of the time like that and you can if they are in your home =)

I understand now!! Where I'm at most all the land around me is zoned agricultural.. So having a snake farm is no different than having a cattle farm.. I hope you find something you like and close to your apt.. Having a living area would also be cool.. So you could stay over when a special clutch may be pipping!!! Let us know how it all works out..

Alan

Good luck, Kat.

The only friend I know of that has her stuff out of her house has a business in a strip mall, and also has a storefront as a reptile store.

I can give you her info if you need a bit more of an idea...

Oh there will definitely need to be room for overnighting during the egg season. Hopefully a nice little kitchenette, too. :yessir:


~Kat

...what i'm sayin'...
ck

not quite sure how it all goes i couldnt even figure how to tell the landlord that i sleep on the couch so i can have enough room in my bedroom for all my snakes .... haha so i just didnt tell him haha im bad i know but keep me posted on how you do cuz it wont be long before i will be making the same kind of move unless i buy a house and then ill just convert the master into the master snake room... wan come buy a house with me haha

Personally I'd look into a larger living space.