Colorado has no particular set of rules and regulations governing tiny houses. These houses mainly come under the umbrella of dwellings or recreational vans in several quarters around Colorado. Nevertheless, it gets extremely important for tiny home owners to adhere to the local building code rules and regulations, which is why this article is a must-read before you purchase tiny house kits for sale in Colorado.
As per data, most Americans have to shell out one-third or even half of their gross monthly income for staying under a roof. Mortgage, interest, insurance, rent, maintenance charges, and taxes are just to name a few that skyrocket the expenses.
This insane price hike has pushed up the price of a large house like never before, rendering them unaffordable for a major portion of the American demography. The outcome, owning a normal-sized house is now a dream for many.
To address this crisis of affordable housing, the tiny house movement came into the picture. The movement focuses on a straightforward and minimalist living approach with the primary aim of affordable housing.
Colorado can be a treasure trove for anyone interested in buying a tiny house for recreational or work purposes. However, there are detailed rules and regulations that you need to adhere to before procuring tiny home kits for sale.
Here, we will discuss the laws governing Colorado tiny houses and how one can utilize them to their advantage. So, let’s start.
Can you permanently reside in a tiny house in Colorado?
As aforementioned, the law says tiny houses fall under the bracket of dwellings or recreational vans. Living on either of them permanently is forbidden. But the rules differ in many cities, and you can utilize many gray areas to your advantage.
The concept of tiny houses is still relatively new, and many American states are yet to identify them. So, it cannot be certainly said that there are specific laws concerning tiny houses.
Here you should note that the local laws of the land where you have set up your tiny house and the foundation where you have constructed your house are the two main factors determining whether you can reside permanently in a Colorado tiny house.
For the tiny house on wheels, the structure will be considered an RV. In such a case, you can use your house only for camping or similar recreational purposes. Permanently residing in a home on wheels is strictly forbidden and illegal.
On the other side of the spectrum, if you construct a permanent foundation underneath your tiny house, you may suffer from the problem of immobility. However, the rules will be much more flexible regarding permanently living in those structures. Again, one needs to adhere to the county’s laws for ceiling height, sewerage lines, grid water, and minimum area covered.
Rules and Regulations Governing Colorado Tiny Houses
The different zoning committees have numerous flexibilities in the rules and regulations for tiny houses. So, verifying with a building official of the local municipality is advisable.
The jurisdiction upon which your tiny house will fall depends mainly on the kind of foundation one has set up for the tiny house. Now, you can have 3 types of foundations for your tiny house. Let’s take a look at them.
- Rules Governing Permanent Structures: When you want to lay a permanent foundation for the tiny house, you must do away with its mobility. The best thing about a tiny home on a foundation is that they are preferable to an RV, especially when adhering to zoning regulations.
The Colorado law states that a tiny house on a foundation can be deemed a dwelling. And if the dwelling is on anyone’s property, for example, in the backyard, it is deemed an ADU or accessory dwelling unit.
The biggest challenge of constructing a permanent tiny house is that you must adhere to all the local building codes. This can include everything from stairs measurements and minimum areas covered for rooms to bathroom dimensions and the number of windows.
- Rules Governing Temporary Tiny Houses: Temporary tiny houses have wheels underneath them instead of a foundation. So, if you are someone who has to move frequently, mobile homes can be a great choice for them. These houses don’t require separate land and are much cheaper than tiny houses on foundations.
The best part is that no precise structural codes are applicable to tiny houses on wheels. Therefore, you can erect them as you wish and per your tastes and preferences.
However, all that glitters is not gold. The jurisdiction governing temporary tiny houses is not flexible. Residing in a home without a foundation (mobile structure) has its own set of disadvantages:
❖ First up, many Colorado states consider tiny houses as RVs or recreational vehicles. So, you cannot live in them year-round. The law states that you are not allowed to camp a mobile home or an RV for longer than 14 days in the same area in a year.
❖ Next, as a temporary tiny homeowner, you must obtain a certificate from RVIA to comply with the American National Safety Institute standards, which is 119.2. This includes proper documentation and inspection.
❖ Lastly, there are many RV parks where tiny houses are not allowed. Therefore, it is advisable to research your choices beforehand.
- Rules Governing Transitional Structures: A structure that comes between a permanent and mobile structure is known as a transitional structure. These are typically tiny houses with foundations that can be disassembled and transported on a trailer in case the need to travel arises. Yes, we are talking about tiny home kits for salethat are currently available.
However, since there is little information about the legal position of transitional structures, we suggest verifying with the building officials and concerned people at the local municipality and clearing all the legal and permissible matters before boarding the bandwagon.
Here you should note that transitional structures like tiny house kits for sale are also not meant for permanent living. However, they can serve as a great office or art studio.
Final Take:
So, we hope you have a fairly good idea about the rules and regulations that run Colorado tiny houses. If you are looking for tiny home builders offering quality tiny home kits for sale, houses on wheels, and building on a foundation, then join TinyHouseMe. We are an online directory where you will find a list of all trusted tiny home builders around the US and Canada. Get in touch with the builders via us to get a quicker response and priority service. Embrace the Tiny Home Movement today!
