i’ve often had a fantasy about living in a house built into a hillside. probably due to growing up in the 70s when it was fashionable, but the quietness and even temps appeal to me.

Of course, the lack of light does not.

If I were you, I wouldn’t let my imagination run too wild about building anything like that for less than 300k in California.

So far, they haven’t found the palace I built under my cargo container(which is permitted).

[quote=briansd1][quote=jstoesz]That is why you would need a grass roof…although in SD is should probably be rock. You have to hide it from the aerial building inspectors. I hear they have CCTV on all building sites.[/quote]

No they do not.

I know a contractor who build a whole guest house on his secluded property without any permits at all. It’s his “forever” property.

After decades it will be grandfathered.[/quote]
“They” do have google earth.

I think you would probably have to get an engineer to design it because of the size of the cut or the fill or both. That would require review. The container does have to be permitted just to be on your property.