*Though we cannot offer legal advice or answers that work for every situation, we want to share information and resources with you as a starting point. This is a compilation of discussions we have had with county officials, code enforcement, attorneys, commissioners, monthly Meetup attendees, TH builders and dwellers and dreamers. More thoughts will continuously be added.
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Many folks gather information from YouTube videos, blogs, books, lectures, workshops and festivals about tiny houses. See below for a sampling of some favorite starting points mentioned on our Meetup virtual meetings so far. And speaking of Meetups, join us virtually the 3rd Tuesday of each month – 6:30-8:00pm PT – https://www.meetup.com/TinyHomes/
YouTube video: The Tiny House Movement: From Washington State to Washington D.C. (Dec 13, 2012; Video by Jackson Loo, WatchTheDaily) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTTwzwKLZak&list=PL_OLBJj3O5tCFOrAlA40bTzArKnZGESL2&index=71
The Spokane Tiny Home Collaborative Facebook group has posted video conversations between Todd McKellips (WA Tiny House Association Executive Director), Jade Adair and Karin Potter (both are WA Tiny House Association Advisory Council Representatives for Spokane County). Find them here and follow their Facebook group to learn when more are added: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173870568009916/media/videos
TEDx Conference: Tiny House Movement | Andrew Morrison | TEDxColoradoSprings (Dec 1, 2014; TEDxTalks) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYhtKE-oEEM&list=PL_OLBJj3O5tCFOrAlA40bTzArKnZGESL2&index=69
According to IRC Appendix Q, tiny = 400sf or less.
See Appendix Q: TINY HOUSE. A dwelling that is 400 square feet (37 m2) or less in floor area excluding lofts. https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IRC2018P4/appendix-q-tiny-houses
WA State Bill 1085 attempted to remove the minimum; the Governor recommended 70 sf or larger. See page 6 of the Session Law: “a minimum floor area of at least 70 square feet” https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1085&Initiative=false&Year=2017
Did you know? The smallest industrial-size trailer is 12ft long x 8.5ft wide = 102sf
Permanent HUD housing = 401sf or greater
-The general term “house” means it is attached to land, is permitted, tax assessed, and treated as full-time housing.
-Many consider a home to be anything you live in…even a tent.
-From the perspective of some tiny dwellers, they use the terms house and home interchangeably.
-From L&I website: What you need to know about “Tiny Homes” vs a Tiny House: https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/_docs/TinyHomeTinyHouse.pdf?language_id=1
-A video discussion by the Spokane Tiny Home Collaborative between Todd McKellips, Jade Adair, and Karin Potter: [LINK]
-WA State Law: Dwelling that may be built on wheels; is no larger than 400 sf, not including lofts; includes permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation; and is built to Washington State Building Code including IRC Appendix Q as amended by WA State. See Section 5: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5383&Year=2019
[“Tiny house” and “tiny house with wheels” means a dwelling to be used as permanent housing with permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation built in accordance with the state building code.]
–A tiny house is designed, engineered, stamped/approved as permitted housing, built to RV or travel trailer standards.
-There are many other TH options out there such as: ADU, A-frame, bus conversion, cabin, full-time RV living, van, yurt; attic, basement and garage conversions, and backyard cottages.
-Most people define a tiny house on wheels as constructed with conventional building methods. The most popular is built on a flatbed trailer.
According to L & I (LNI), these are not considered permanent dwellings that they inspect: Park Model RVs(PMRV), Recreational Vehicles (RV), and HUD Manufactured Homes. “Conversationally folks will often call all of these types of units ‘tiny homes’. This can create confusion during the approval and placement/use processes.” https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/_docs/TinyHouseInformationPacket_Revision_Final6.pdf?language_id=1
Here are some thoughts from TH dwellers:
American dream not following normal path to home ownership
Closer to the outdoors
Examining values and conditioning
Financial gains
Helping the planet, eco-anxiety
Small footprint – environmentally friendly, use less and cost less to get into housing
-We think you can contribute to this benefits list. If so, join our Meetup group to add to the conversation: we meet virtually the 3rd Tuesday of each month – 6:30-8:00pm PT https://www.meetup.com/TinyHomes/
–When you say tiny house, some people think of tiny shelters for the formerly unhoused. Or, they think of temporary shelters that lack a bathroom or kitchen that are used after a natural disaster. While this type of housing is important, we want to educate folks about the need for permanent affordable housing – sometimes called the “missing middle” – to have choices in-between detached single family houses and mid-rise apartments. Missing middle housing could include duplexes, fourplexes, courtyard buildings, cottage courts, medium multiplexes, stacked triplexes, and tiny house villages.
-YouTube: Innovative Tiny Houses in Washington DC Make A BIG Impact (Jun 16, 2019; Tiny House Expedition, creators Alexis and Christian) Both WTHA Past President Hannah Rose Crabtree and Executive Director Todd McKellips are interviewed in this video from Washington, D.C.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5KKrj2Arhk&t=819s
-annual Home and Garden Shows, like Seattle’s in Feb 2022
-(May 2, 2012; TumbleweedHouses) The First Tumbleweed Tiny House – Ever https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdIgrCOicSs&list=PL_OLBJj3O5tCFOrAlA40bTzArKnZGESL2&index=66
(Dec 8, 2017: Tiny House Pioneers Dee Williams and Jay Shafer at the National Tiny House Jamboree 2017) Tiny House Expedition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ghcqk5EVA&list=PL_OLBJj3O5tCFOrAlA40bTzArKnZGESL2&index=25
-Great American Tiny House Shows across the U.S. – a circuit from South Florida, Tampa, Colorado, and Los Angeles to Texas https://www.greatamericantinyhouse.show
-Here in WA State, the Association’s Meetup group grew from 599 members in October 2021 to 821 as of the end of May 2022. There are members in 20 of the 39 counties. The majority live in King and Pierce counties.
(Sep 27, 2014; The First Thing For Those New To Tiny Houses – Dee Williams) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkJvU3C0Lfw&list=PL_OLBJj3O5tCFOrAlA40bTzArKnZGESL2&index=22
(May 26, 2020; Tiny House channel) Tiny House Lifestyle Lessons from Over 100 Interviews – Ethan Waldman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsuJehskPHU
(May 26, 2020; Top 5 Tiny House Tips – Dee Williams – Pad Tiny Homes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBc6M1Q3qxU&list=PL_OLBJj3O5tCFOrAlA40bTzArKnZGESL2&index=23
Many companies advertise that they build houses less than 401sf. There are different codes followed by various builders. Contact them directly to find out their models and prices.
So far in WA State, these builders construct tiny houses on trailers with wheels that are certified by L&I (Labor & Industry):
Tiny houses on a concrete or wood foundation (known as ADUs or DADUs or foundation modular homes) are built in WA State by:
We don’t offer tours, but partner with www.tinyhomehotel.com as well as the local builders below:
If you find yourself traveling in another state, consider renting a tiny house instead of a hotel room.
-A tiny house is real estate and is locked in to real property. This home cannot be moved after it’s been permitted as full time dwelling unit. An agent can assist in sale or purchase with land it sits on.
“In Washington State, tiny houses, and tiny houses with wheels, must meet the State Building Code requirements (RCW 19.27.031) – based on ESSB 5383-2019. Tiny houses that fall under L&I authority are regulated as factory assembled structures. Factory built housing has long been called by terms such as modular housing/modular home as well.” https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/_docs/TinyHouseInformationPacket_Revision_Final6.pdf?language_id=1
Many cities and towns in WA can allow 3rd party certifications if they allow that are built to Appendix Q or are travel trailer-certified, like NOAH – https://noahcertified.org/ – Currently the STATE OF WASHINGTON DOESN’T ALLOW 3rd PARTY INSPECTIONS
Experts are available to help you understand the importance of protecting your asset, your home.Tiny house and park model insurance options are provided by those who can explain insurance coverage and help you identify your needs. Here are some agents we have learned of from our members:
253.226.1169
melinda@chambersbayinsurance.com
971.238.2502
https://tinyhouseinsurance.info/
-search for hurricane tie downs and Auger-style anchoring systems online
-even hardware stores carry these products
-Some background on tie downs as they relate to manufactured homes: https://www.onlevel.biz/tie-downs?gclid=CjwKCAiA55mPBhBOEiwANmzoQgSkDYwgSj1U7xEaBazNMoPJNn4wpgXsxKrbCMdPeZdYy_j_F7UKYxoCOScQAvD_BwE
Nothing on this page, or in links provided on this page, constitutes legal advice. All visitors should consult with a qualified legal professional regarding their individual questions, needs, or issues that may be of concern. We are not responsible for any action taken by a visitor and/or viewer based upon the information on this site. All of the content on this site is for general information and educational purposes only.