Let's poll the audience, using your fingers, vote on what makes a tiny house.

In reality, the size of a tiny house is personal choice. Everyone has a different size definition, and there is no right or wrong answer.

ADU

An ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) has many names like "Granny flat", "Mother inlaw apartment", and "Carrage house". An ADU is a second dwelling on a single lot. Some cities require an owner to live in one of the residences, while others do not.

ADU

Pro:

• Legal in many metropolitan areas
• Stay put when you get older
• Rental income on main property
• Freedom with layout

ADU

Con:

• Highest initial investment
• Maintain two properties
• Permits required to make changes
• Can't be moved

THOW

A THOW (Tiny House on Wheels) is used to reffer to a certain style of house on wheels. Schoolbus conversions, motor homes, and campers are not considered to be THOW despite the fact that a THOW is legally the same as them. It's best to think of a THOW as a custom RV.

THOW

Pro:

• Least expensive option
• Paid for up front
• Permitless changes
• Can be relocated

THOW

Con:

• Suffers from the elements the most
• Can't be relocated frequently
• Limited width and height
• Least legally recognized option
• Least accessible for people with disabilities

Foundation

A foundation based tiny house is just as you might imagine. A traditional house on a foundation.

Foundation

Pro:

• More traditional, more acceptance
• Freedom with layout
• Large selection of experienced builders
• Better longevity

Foundation

Con:

• Loan process
• Permits required to make changes
• Can't be moved

Other

There are many types of tiny homes, including but not limited to:

• Campers
• RVs
• School bus
• Trucks
• Yurt

Building code vs. Zoning

No I didn't just call you a couple of swear words.

Understanding the differences between these two items makes you a tiny house pro, because I said so. The quickest way to determine if someone is knowledgeable in the movement is to see if they know the difference.

Zoning

One definition for zoning is:

Zoning

Zoning has two important functions, the first is to prevent undesirables from showing up in your neighborhood. No, not that kid with the purple hair. Think along the lines of a Meat processing plant, chemical factory, a bar, or even a 24/7 convenience store. It also keeps a resident from moving into a highly industrial zone, and demand expensive changes from all the businesses to make the area more liveable.

Zoning

The second function of zoning is to ensure infrastructure isn't over taxed. Imagine if you lived on a block with 8 houses. If all 8 houses flushed their toilets at the same time the sewer is at 60% utilization. Suddenly 8 more homes are built on the same sewer line. When 16 homes flush their toilet at the same time, the low man on sewer line loses. It's much more than the sewer, it's the electrical, potable water, parking, rain water runoff, etc.

Zoning

True or false, zoning prevents you from living in a THOW nearly everywhere.

False, ordinances prevent you from living in a THOW nearly everywhere.

Zoning

True or false, zoning limits the square footage of foundation based tiny homes nearly everywhere.

True.

Zoning

Why doesn't the city get rid of the minimum square footage requiremnet?

There isn't one specific reason, a few reasons are:

Zoning

• Community acceptance
• Property tax
• Uneducated

Zoning

Are there any work arounds?

You can ask the city for a variance on the property. The application process is time consuming and costs money. You may be required to notify all your neighbors, and if any object you could be denied the variance. Even if all your neighbors are good with it the city can still reject the variance if they feel it doesn't add to the community.

Building code

One definition of building code is:

Building code

Building code does have specifics about square footage in it. Though the square footage requirements are very reasonable and seem to be getting better and better as time goes on. At one point you needed to have a 50sqft kitchen and a 140sqft habitable room. The kitchen requirement was dropped years ago, and as of 2015 the 140sqft requirement has been dropped as well.

Building code

This means that any community that has embraced the 2015 IRC, or a subset of it, would allow a home with a square footage of just 70sqft.

Research Basics

• Have an address handy
• Start with the most specific juridiction first
• Contact the planning department first
• Never used the words "tiny" and "house"

ADU

Researching where you can legally put an ADU is the single most simple thing to do, all you need to do is reach out to the planning department and ask.

ADU - Example

Foundation

When researching on a foundation make sure to specify new construction for tax purposes.

Foundation - Example

On Wheels

There are many angles you need to research if you want to be on wheels.

Trailer - Example 1

Trailer - Example 2

Trailer - Example 3

Trailer - Combined