Housing Codes For Tiny Houses

This is not an easy subject nor is it straight-forward. Each city, town, and municipality has their own version of what is allowed and not allowed. It is always in your best interest to review what your areas views are on living in a tiny house.

Tiny Houses On Wheels

These are considered by most places to be a temporary dwelling. The rules and regulations for living in one is much the same as for a tent, trailer, or motor home.

For example, as of 2009, the housing code for a temporary dwelling was as follows:

“Any tent, trailer, motor home or other structure used for human shelter and designed to be transportable and not attached tot he ground, to another structure or to any utilities system on the same premises. Such temporary housing may occur fr no more than twenty one consecutive days nor exceed a total of forty five days in any calendar year.”

The video below was done by Small House Society and covers many of the questions you may have for building a tiny house.  He also gives you some suggestions and advice.

You may also be interested in some of the comments made below the video on the YouTube page – many of them are very interesting and could provide you with some good suggestions and ideas.

As you probably noticed, the video mostly discuss housing codes for a tiny house on wheels.

Permanent Small Houses

The codes for permanent dwellings would not be the same. They would be similar to studios,  in-law suites, or other small dwellings that are built permanently on a property.

The size of the house is also taken into consideration – it appears that the bigger the small house, the less restrictions there are.

You should check your city, town, or municipality codes to make sure that you are in compliance before you start to build your small house.

Having said that, there are many people that have successfully built and live in their tiny house. And they are located all over the country.

As mentioned in the video,  provides you with codes for municipalities all over the country (USA).

Workshops

In addition to your own research, you can get more information on housing regulations when you participate in a tiny house workshop in your area.

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