Will be arrested for living off grid, on his land.

[jltrent]

City Tells Veteran He Will Be Arrested If He Continues To Live Off The Grid.

The city of Huntsville, AL has told a couple who are living completely off their land that if they continue, they will be arrested for trespassing on their own land. You read that right, trespassing on their own land. [Scroll Down For Video]

Military veteran Tyler Truitt, along with his girlfriend, has setup his home on two acres inside the Huntsville city limit. He uses a solar system to supply the property with power and collects rain water.

However, Huntsville is telling him that if he doesn't get hooked up to city water and power, he could be arrested. According to local media coverage:

"They came and they condemned our house and told us if we stayed here we'd be arrested for trespassing on our own property, and the reason why is, they said, it was unsafe living conditions because we don't have city utilities hooked up," Truitt explained.


The former military member says he just wants the freedoms he swore he'd protect.

"I took an oath that I would support and defend the constitution and the freedoms that entails, and I really feel like those are being trampled upon," Truitt said.

Truitt is prepared to fight for his property. "You have to stand up for what you believe in. They could come out here today if they wanted to and take us to jail for trespassing if that's what they want to call it and, you know, that'd be fine with me. I'll still come back the next day and the next day and the next day because it's my home and because I live here. Where else am I supposed to go really?"

The city is currently in the process of suing Truitt along with the criminal threats.

http://tribunist.com/news/city-tells-ve ... rid-video/

 

[JMJ Farms]

Living off the grid is fine. I have no problem with his choice. But he bought the land knowing (or it was his obligation to know) that zoning regulations were already in place. He would be much better off finding a quite rural lot than trying to fight the city's regulations. And it's not all about money bc the pictures show a huge big screen in his living room.

I admire what he's doing, but I think he's wrong for trying to do it inside the city limits in violation of their zoning ordinances and laws.

 

[Bigfoot]

If I'm not mistaken, if water and sewer go by your place here, you have to have water and sewer. Electricity, I don't think they care.

 

[Craig Miller]

Alabama does have a law stating you must be connected to electricity whether you use it or not. If you feed back into it they will pay you.

 

[john250]

If I'm not mistaken, if water and sewer go by your place here, you have to have water and sewer. Electricity, I don't think they care.

And here. And everywhere. Sewers generate the most resistance.

 

[Drzr]

I thank him for his service!!! Now, I do have to state that just as there were certain rules, regulations etc that he HAD to adhere while serving and protecting; these are rules (city) he fought for the city to have also. As has already been suggested, find a piece of land outside the city and do your thing!

 

[True Grit Farms]

If he's not hurting anyone, why can't the government just leave folks alone? I'm sure there was no power or sewer in 1776. It's another just tax. Here in Dodge Co the power company isn't allowed to turn your electric on till you pay a $125.00 permit tax.

 

[SteppedInIt]

More power to the guy. I know around here the city keeps expanding and people who have owned and lived on property before have mobile homes. If they wanted to replace the old one with a new one they cant. Or if they wanted to sell, they can only sell the land. Buyer cant purchase the mobile home. There is no way to know all the regulations. The real estate agents, the city workers... none of them know all the regs until they want something.

 

[dieselbeef]

aint none of their dam business

 

[shaz]

Lived in Huntsville for 40yrs. Glad I didn't waste the rest of my life there!

 

[M.Magis]

One can't choose to take advantage of living in city limits without putting up with the disadvantages that go with it. The police department, street department, fire department… They all come with a price. The local ordinances are quite easy to find, if one cares to look. I suppose they could offer to let him pay an additional tax, but one way or another he needs to pay his way.

 

[Nesikep]

I think a lot of it depends on if the city expanded to include his place, or if he bought the place while it was within city limits... I'm not talking legally, but from a logical standpoint

 

[SteppedInIt]

Sometimes legally and logically are two very different things

 

[Brute 23]

I think a lot of it depends on if the city expanded to include his place, or if he bought the place while it was within city limits... I'm not talking legally, but from a logical standpoint

If he was off the grid when they expanded he would have been grandfathered in. Sounds like he was on and is trying to go off now.

Sorry dude, your gonna lose that one. Move ouside the city limits.

 

[lavacarancher]

The city is missing out on their share of the tax money and they want it. Plain and simple. I agree, sell the land and buy a place in the country and do what you want.

 

[1wlimo]

The city is missing out on their share of the tax money and they want it. Plain and simple. I agree, sell the land and buy a place in the country and do what you want.

True but then they are also not having to incur costs either. I am sure there could be a simple solution.

The restrictions on what people can do not their private land are ridiculous. No veg garden, no poultry, limited on number and type of pets, no restricting or catching rain water. Depending on where u live.

Mostly about control, and making people reliant on the county, or state, or a corporation for their services. Centralist socialist policy.

Now if the he is pumping his waste onto his neighbour and being a nuisance I agree he is in the wrong and action should be taken.

 

[john250]

The city is missing out on their share of the tax money and they want it. Plain and simple. I agree, sell the land and buy a place in the country and do what you want.

True but then they are also not having to incur costs either. I am sure there could be a simple solution.

With water and sewer, the costs are already incurred when the lines are run, the treatment facilities are constructed, wells are drilled.

 

[JMJ Farms]

He chose to live there. Either live by the rules. Or move. I'm all for freedom and living off the grid if you so choose. But the city had the rules before he moved there. Can't ask them to "change the rules for me". Same principle as these he-she's wanting to swap bathrooms. Everybody thinks the world should change for them.

 

[Brute 23]

There are 2 things you don't fight 1) city ordinances 2) home owners associations

Both can be rediculous and both can be very useful. If you want to do what ever you want on your land you need to move out in the country. I don't want people pooping in their yard and raising chickens next to my house. I'm about ready to back an ordinance banning all dogs from being outside at night.

 

[houstoncutter]

The city is missing out on their share of the tax money and they want it. Plain and simple. I agree, sell the land and buy a place in the country and do what you want.

Yea, just make sure you buy a bunch and build in the middle of it. Otherwise you can be like me and have a trashy Hondurian buy in beside you and trash up his place.