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okay pals, you asked for a rant thread on why tiny homes are problematic. so that is what you’re getting
obligatory @kap3692 tag as requested https://twitter.com/lilpastagoblin/status/1351353220434591744
obligatory @kap3692 tag as requested https://twitter.com/lilpastagoblin/status/1351353220434591744
alright before we get started, this is going to be primarily about the planning related issues of them. other people could probably tell you more on other facets
first thing, tiny homes, by their nature exist in a legal grey area. this is the root of many of the these problems. there is no agreed upon standard for tiny homes so it is basically a glorified diy project with immense consequences
one big big issue is that codes relating to housing, particularly building code, are EXTREMELY localized. every municipality and every county can have their own definition of a given term. there is no requirement for things to match up aside from generalized state guidance
so, that means, the definition of what constitutes a “livable space” what constitutes a “house” vs another kind of dwelling has endless variations. And city/codes are always in flux. revised, edited & changed. which adds another level of complexity
then you have the zoning. so, zoning is broken down by categorization by density (anomalies exist but that’s a diff issue). which means there is limit of how many/what kind of dwelling units (another term widely varied) per lot in zone, with sq ft & lot size restrictions
I do not know of a single zoning code that has carved out a designation for tiny homes specifically, because they don’t fit anywhere. And with good reason, structures of that size (again, limits vary) are primarily sheds/storage/etc & they aren’t intended to be livable
what about RVs & mobile homes? well in many places, RVs and similar vehicles are only permitted in designated camp areas for extended periods. anywhere else, you might be allowed 2 weeks of parking. Less if you’re living inside. see the issue?
and from what I know, the requirements for living in an RV park would require that it is in fact an RV, because there are coherent standards regulating those. No such thing exists for tiny homes. And thus a liability. so that would mean they would need their own camp
and this tiny house camp would of course need land and zoning allowance which we already established isnt really a thing. So again you hit a wall
another problem is INFRASTRUCTURE. do you know how many different kind of permits you need for a single house? plumbing, electrical, building, the list goes on. assuming that you didn’t need permits for some other circumstances in addition
also, when homes are permitted to be built, theres requirements for it to be able to connect to existing infrastructure. tiny homes not only don’t have independent plumbing & electrical. so you add them to existing? well depends on location. is there access to utilities?
not to mention that because these tiny homes are mobile, connecting to any kind of infrastructure for utilities or stormwater becomes infinitely more complex, and more of a hassle
also worth mentioning, emergency access issues that would require road access. can the fire truck get to your tiny house? doubtful.
there’s also the lesser, but still significant component of nuisance. because tiny homes mostly exist in a permanent state of noncompliance, not only is it a code enforcement nightmare, but there will be a huge issue of nuisance complaints from neighbors and or hoas. huge mess
so really, most tiny homes exist as a perpetual violation, with variances and allowances very very few and far between assuming there is no ban in place, especially depending on local politics & neighborhood character.
i object to tiny homes for other less planning related reasons, and I’m sure I missed a few things here, but this is what I can offer based on my own knowledge & experience. the end. (Please don’t build a tiny house)
