In this chapter, we’ll look at some of the best way to mobilize your tiny home, places to park your tiny home and what is legally required of tiny homes.
Tiny Home Parking – Legalities, Rules & Options
Making your tiny home mobile has many advantages over traditional homes. You get to enjoy adventures on the open road, see different sights and experience new things, but at the end of the day, where can you actually part your tiny home to sleep?
Because tiny homes are a relatively new concept and until government organizations recognize them with their own unique zoning codes, you will need to be mindful of where you park your tiny home and the specific zoning codes of each area you travel to.
In fact, most of the areas where you might consider parking your tiny home area actually illegal to park. As a result, the best places to the park include your own property, at a friend or family’s property, or in a mobile home park or RV lot.
Check Your Local Zoning Code
Of course, this all depends on the local zoning codes wherever you might find yourself. Zoning codes in most areas are based off of the square footage of a particular vessel. This important to build a tiny home that is less than 1,400 square feet in order to bypass zoning codes for parking in most states, however, houses that are on the cusp of this size should always check the local laws before parking anywhere.
This is another reason that tiny homes are built on trailer platforms for mobility. Because your home has no foundation at ground level, it does not have to adhere to any of the building or zoning codes. While all houses should certainly be built to adhere to all current building codes and regulations, this will allow your tiny home to be exempt from many of the traditional zoning codes that other buildings must adhere to.
Be sure to check your local zoning codes, as well as the zoning codes of other places you travel to. While reading your local zoning code, ask yourself, are there minimum square footage requirements for homes? If not, you could possibly build a tiny house on a permanent foundation. Are you allowed to park an RV on your property? Without a main permanent dwelling? And are you allowed to live in it full time?
If you are looking for a guest house, office, or studio, does your zoning code allow for accessory dwellings? And are there minimum square footage requirements? Do they have to be on a permanent foundation?
Buy Long Stay Camping Permit?
Another great option for tiny homes is to buy a long-stay camping permit in parks, although most tiny homeowners park their house at one location for a majority of the year and only take it out on the road for vacations or adventures. This will allow you and your family to travel and see the world while remaining safe and within the limitations of what is considered legal.
While tiny homes resemble that of an RV or mobile home in many ways, the main difference is that tony homes are homemade living solutions, while both RVs and mobile homes were built by certified manufacturers who have the permits to do so. While there are several states which will issue a “Home Built RV” class license, those are few and far in between.
Tiny homes fall under an entirely new and unclassified type of motor vehicle dwelling, and until the zoning codes start to recognize this, it still makes the most sense permit-wise to park either on your own property or the property of a friend.
What is the Best Location for Your Tiny Home?
Whether you’re building a tiny home to live off the grid or just want an exciting and innovative project to work on with your friends and family, the best advice we have to offer when it comes to figuring out your city’s specific zoning codes and how your tiny home can function safely and legally is to simply call the city and have a talk with someone in charge of zoning codes.
In many rural cities, tiny homes are an oddity and the city won’t know how to classify them, however, in the larger metropolitan areas, tiny homes are becoming more and more popular.
You may have to have a building inspector come out to take a look at your tiny home depending on where you live, but you’ll find that once your city endorses your new tiny home, it’ll be the talk of the town!
Not to mention, avoid the worst-case scenario, in which a tiny home that is not built up to code is deemed hazardous and thus impounded.
Chapter 3: The Building Process of Tiny House Chapter 5: Optimize Each Room In Your Tiny House
Very well thought out and very informative!!