The tiny home movement has gained much popularity as people are increasingly shifting towards a sustainable lifestyle. Living with less and the idea of a minimalistic lifestyle requires fewer resources and materials than staying in a conventional home. However, not all states in the USA are completely aligned with this ideology, and many do not welcome tiny homes as permanent residencies.
This means that some states impose unfavorable regulations for tiny home establishments. Therefore, if you are looking to set up prebuilt tiny homes, ADU kits, tiny houses on a foundation, cabins, and casitas, then it becomes essential to look for states that don’t micromanage tiny homes and welcome homeowners who want to build structures under 600 square feet. Here, we will talk about states that welcome the tiny home movement and might be the perfect place to get your new home.
Utah
Tiny homes are an attractive choice for many people living in Utah. Although tiny homes are legal in Utah, the lack of state-wide rules makes things more challenging. Under Utah law, the tiny home on wheels is considered an RV, yet not all counties agree. On the other hand, a tiny home on a foundation is subjected to fewer rules and regulations and is considered a permanent dwelling. Moreover, the RVs in Utah do not have to pay property taxes, but homes built on a foundation are subjected to taxes as the zoning administrator does view the structure as a permanent residency.
New York
In most New York counties, tiny homes are allowed but as backyard ADUs. Although tiny homes on wheels (THOW) are allowed for parking, it has maximum stay limits, so you might have to move your homes on wheels periodically. While most metro areas do not allow tiny homes on wheels as permanent residencies, the rural locations are open to THOW living. New York has a booming economy, and has a lot of space for tiny homes. In addition, there are communities with living arrangements, and people rent tiny homes or their land to encourage living tiny.
North Carolina
Tiny homes in North Carolina are legal, but each county has different building rules and regulations. However, since the poverty rate is around 13.4% in North Carolina, as per Welfare Info, the need for affordable alternative housing is high, and one can permanently live in a tiny house on the foundation in this state. The tiny home on a foundation must comply with North Carolina State Residential Code. You need a permit from the jurisdiction, but the good part is that you don’t have to pay property taxes for homes built on a foundation. There is also a non-profit organization in North Carolina to combat the problem of homelessness, and residents help with home construction and engage actively to improve the tiny home community.
Arizona
In 2019 counties like Pima and Coconino welcomed the tiny home movement, and Arizona is a tiny home-friendly state that deserves mention. Tiny houses are legal in Arizona but are subject to zoning regulations. Phoenix, Lakeside, Tucson, and Maricopa are some of Arizona’s tiny home-friendly cities where you can choose to live contentedly in your small dwelling. As long as you have a Certificate of Occupancy and the structure is built keeping in mind the building codes and the zoning regulations are followed, you can think of residing permanently in the tiny home built on a foundation. However, tiny homes on wheels has different building codes and are not considered permanent residences. For the home on wheels, you do need to get a building permit before starting the construction.
Washington
Tiny homes on the foundation are extremely popular in Washington due to the rules and regulations for ADUs in several communities. The regulations and codes vary in cities, towns, and counties, and even parking the tiny home on wheels anywhere in the state is considered illegal. However, the local laws are lenient towards micro dwellers, but only if you have a tiny home built on a foundation rather than micro homes on wheels. All the tiny houses in Washington must comply with the Washington State Building Code and pass through the approval process. The homes on wheels are only approved for temporary use, and you are not allowed to stay in such homes for more than 180 days, and you shouldn’t park the home in the same spot for a long time. Washington is a tiny home-friendly state, but you might face legal restrictions in some regions. However, the best part is that the state is opening up to tiny houses, and Seattle is known for progressive thinking and sustainability in architecture.
Selecting the right state for a tiny home
Tiny House Hunters, Tiny House Big Living, and Tiny House Nation have gained a lot of fan-following, but it’s more complex to build a tiny home than it appears in these TV shows. Plenty of building codes and zoning laws make things challenging for a tiny homeowner. However, the good news is that there are states where there are less stringent laws for tiny homes. In addition, some states in the US warmly accept tiny houses, making life easier for the tiny home dweller.
If you follow the strict rules and regulations, living in a tiny house anywhere in the US won’t be a problem; otherwise, you can consider moving into the tiny house-friendly states mentioned above.
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