Texas is one of the most preferred tiny home-friendly states in the U.S. However, specific building code requirements govern particular sites and land, and you should carefully go through them before construction. If you are a tiny home aficionado in Texas, you can rest assured that the state’s regulations support your endeavor. At TinyHouseMe, we connect you with multiple tiny home builders offering cabins on wheels for sale, houses on wheels, homes on a foundation, and structures of similar kinds.
Nevertheless, you should be aware of the laws of Texas governing permanent tiny homes, the ideal square feet for a tiny house, and counties that are tiny house friendly, and that is exactly what we will be looking at here.
Which Texas counties permit tiny houses?
If you want to reside in a tiny house in Texas, these tiny-home-friendly jurisdiction areas should be on the top of your list. This is because these areas zoning rules or codes won’t act as a roadblock in your tiny house construction project. Let’s take a look at those areas:
- Ellis County
- Brown County
- Baylor County
- Medina County
- Lake Dallas
Is it possible to reside permanently in a Texas tiny house?
Yes, you can permanently live in a Texas tiny house. However, two roadblocks can hinder your dream, which is as follows: –
- The foundation upon which you want to set up your tiny home, a permanent structure or on wheels (building codes apply)
- The zoning code rules for your place of residence.
Typically, tiny houses on permanent foundations like standalone cottages or accessory dwelling units hold more legal validity inside city limits than mobile homes. However, they must be connected to utilities like sewer systems and built to code for safety purposes.
Most areas do not permit residing in tiny houses on wheels permanently. They must be set up on a foundation, and the case is no different in Spur, Texas.
If you have procured or built a tiny house on wheels, it should be treated as a recreational vehicle, not a home. These R.V.s can be parked permanently only at mobile home parks or R.V. parks in single-family residential areas.
However, the laws governing tiny houses in Houston vary greatly. Here, the tiny house on wheels must be set up on a permanent chassis and be tiny enough to be towed behind a vehicle and thus used as a temporary house.
How tiny the structure can be?
This would depend on the building code requirements for tiny houses and the ideal location for setting up the tiny home of your dreams. Typically, a house that has an area of less than 400 square feet is considered a tiny house. However, there are certain areas where houses of even 600 square feet are considered tiny houses.
Most of the counties and cities in Texas adhere to the IRC guidelines.
Rules and Regulations Governing Texas Tiny Houses
Here, we have mentioned the zoning regulations and building codes for both permanent and mobile tiny homes. Let’s take a look at them.
Rules Governing Tiny Mobile Houses
Homeowners of tiny mobile houses must get their structures validated by the American National Safety Institute and comply with their quality standards. This certification exempts the mobile units from personal property tax, thereby ensuring that the tiny houses on wheels comply with the ANSI safety regulations.
We suggest getting in touch with a tax professional before constructing or procuring a tiny house on wheels.
Rules Governing Permanent Structures
Texas tiny houses are subject to both direct and indirect zoning laws. They must comply with the building safety standards and must be set up on a foundation. Property taxation will be done based on the land where it is set up, and homeowners are expected to adhere to it.
Extra utility requirements may include room sizes, electrical components, and plumbing fixtures. However, make sure to check with the local zoning and planning office.
Rules Governing Transitional Structures
If you have a tiny house on wheels in Texas (also known as a travel trailer), remember that you can park them only in areas away from the road view. You might also have to comply with some other requirements depending on the specific zoning regulations of your area.
Axles must be removed from transitional structures.
Do you have to pay property tax for your tiny house?
The short answer is a big NO. There is no need to pay property taxes for a tiny house on wheels. Tiny homes are exempted from the property tax levied on traditionally constructed homes.
However, any tiny house constructed on your property commands a real estate tax. Moreover, as per data, tiny houses on wheels in Texas are classified as R.V.s or residential vehicles and must pay a tax of 6.25% on the purchase value annually.
Final Take:
There is quite a bit of ambiguity in the regulations governing tiny houses in most counties. Against this backdrop, Texas seems a good place to settle down. Some cities in the U.S. allow homeowners to build tiny homes, provided they comply with the building codes and zoning laws.
Any house with an area of less than 400 square feet is considered a tiny house. Texas regulations favor tiny homes on a foundation and one can permanently reside in such houses. Alternatively, if axles are removed from a tiny house on wheels, it can, too, serve as a permanent residential place.
Tiny houses on wheels just cannot be parked anywhere. R.V.s have their specific parking places.
Moreover, if you set up a tiny house on personal property, you must pay the property tax. On the other hand, if you have a tiny house on wheels, you don’t have to pay any property tax. However, depending on the house’s purchase value, you must pay an annual motor vehicle tax.
So, this was all about tiny home rules and regulations governing Texas tiny houses. If you are looking for an affordable place to settle down where you can get top-notch educational opportunities for your children, Texas is the place to be in.
TinyHouseMe is an online directory that connects you with multiple trusted tiny home builders offering cabins on wheels for sale and structures of similar kinds across the U.S. and Canada. Contact us and make your dream of settling down in Texas a reality. Schedule a consultation with your preferred tiny home builder via TinyHouseMe now.
