It ' s not about the term itself , it ' s about the disrespect , harassment , entitlement , etc <| sep |> Best you ' ll get is automated response telling you no . Welcome to SE ' s shitty support . <| sep |> Yeah , I was wondering . How the hell is there that much snow for such a rare event ? <| sep |> Guys , the downvote button is not a disagree button . This is a well thought out post even if you disagree with the conclusion . <| sep |> done thx wolvus <| sep |> You really can ' t generalize . It is absolutely critical to look at your local government . It all hinges on what the requirements are for an occupancy certification and if your cabin meets standards , or if one is even needed . You can visit you county clerk or local government and discuss the options with them . For the most part , they ' re happy to help . It ' s not like plausible deniability is a factor if you get caught , so it ' s best to educate yourself about exactly what is permitted and what is not on the land you own . To give you the answer I suspect you ' re fishing for . Most inspectors only get ornery if you are causing a disturbance to neighbors or sensitive ecosystems , or if they happen catch you in occupancy without whatever requirements there are . That said , some jurisdictions in North America use helicopters over rural areas to makes sure no unpermitted building or occupancy is even happening . But really , don ' t generalize or guess here . Even if you ' re going to break the law , at least find out what laws you ' re breaking and the consequences so you can make an informed decision . What seemed like a cheap option can suddenly become a lifealtering , devastating cost .