I live in an environmentally protected area and you have to get permission from a local agency to build ANYTHING that is beyond the footprint of a pre-existing structure. Behind me are countless acres of corn fields. Apparently someone bought the farm and put in an application with the environmental agency to tear down the farmhouse which dates back ages, and the corn fields to build a massive house (13,100 + sq ft) and it was approved. They started clearing the fields today and it makes me sad.