What can I build here?
Your property is the starting point. Before choosing a material, a floor plan, or a builder, understand the conditions that shape what you can actually build.
NBA helps you work through the questions—not make the decisions for you.
Property
Where are you building, and what conditions apply?
Project
What are you actually trying to build?
Building System
Which construction approaches fit your goals?
Requirements
What zoning, code, design, and approval questions matter?
People
Who can help you move the project forward?
Don’t start with the house.
Start with the property.
A different kind of home requires a different kind of decision-making. Before you fall in love with a material, design, or building system, understand the place where you’re going to build and the project you’re trying to create.
What can I build here?
Start with zoning, setbacks, overlays, access, utilities, site conditions, and other factors that can shape what is possible on your property.
Explore property & zoningWhat do I want to build?
A new home isn’t the only possibility. Your project might be an ADU, addition, small home, workshop, or another type of building.
Explore project typesHow do I want to build it?
Natural materials are only one part of the larger alternative-building landscape. Compare systems before committing to one.
Explore approachesThe site comes before the design.
The most important question isn’t whether a particular building system is interesting. It’s whether it makes sense for the property, the jurisdiction, and the project you want to create.
Find your property.
Enter an address to look it up against the Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System. NBA uses the result as a starting point for understanding the property, parcel, and jurisdiction.
What are you actually trying to build?
“Can I build it?” depends partly on what “it” is. Start by defining the project before choosing the construction system.
New Home
A new primary residence on an existing or new parcel.
ADU
An accessory dwelling unit or other secondary living space.
Addition
Expanding, adapting, or substantially changing an existing home.
Small Home
A smaller-footprint home designed around efficiency and simplicity.
Workshop / Studio
A workspace, studio, or other accessory structure.
Something Else
Not every project fits neatly into a standard category.
How do you want to build it?
“Alternative building” is a broad category. It can mean natural materials, high-performance construction, factory-built systems, timber, small-footprint housing, or combinations of conventional and unconventional approaches.
Straw Bale
Natural fiber wall systems.
Hempcrete
Bio-based insulation and enclosure.
Earthen
Cob, adobe, rammed earth, and related approaches.
Passive / Net-Zero
High-performance envelope and energy strategies.
SIPs / Panelized
Factory-produced structural systems.
Timber Frame
Structural timber construction.
Modular / Prefab
Factory-built construction approaches.
ADU / Small Home
Smaller, efficient housing strategies.
What will you need to investigate?
A building system doesn’t exist in isolation. Once you know what you’re trying to build, the next step is understanding the requirements that affect the project.
NBA provides educational information and resources to help homeowners understand the building process. Information on this site is not a determination of zoning approval, building code compliance, or project feasibility. Confirm project-specific requirements with the appropriate local authorities and qualified professionals.