Ya back in the day I would just build stuff and not tell anyone or get a permit, now they have aerials,
I still do it but they usually pay me a visit from time to time and remind me I need to get permits to builds anything, I just pay the fine [ usually small, about the price of the permit but less trouble]
and ask forgiveness.
of course property taxes will go up the next year. It's really funny and kind of sad I pay more every year in property tax than my family gave for the farm when they bought it.
Go figure and the Gov. is always broke. Sorry for the rant it just gets to me sometime.
Good luck John you are moving forward and that is what matters.
Pappy