Ready to build your dream tiny house? You’ll need to find a place to park it first. Unfortunately, many U.S. cities, counties and states have strict zoning regulations and building codes in residential areas. In fact, it’s rare to find a residential neighborhood that is zoned for the construction of a house less than 1,000 square feet. This can make it hard to locate a tiny house-friendly city that also happens to be a great place to live.
For the most part, tiny house owners have two options when it comes to parking their 400 square foot (or less) abodes. For one, they can choose to park their tiny house on a friend or family member’s lot. Zoning regulations may require that these accessory dwelling units (ADU) be secondary to a primary home – and that they be parked behind the house (away from the street). Another option for those who wish to be tiny house owners is to buy a lot in an official tiny house community. These lots usually cost somewhere around $60,000 and are located in various cities around the country. For a quick look at the best places to buy or build a tiny house, check out these 5 tiny house-friendly cities below.
Brevard, NC
Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Brevard offers residents a drop dead gorgeous setting for parking their tiny houses. Downtown Brevard is a hot spot for families and retirees due to its annual festivals and events, as well as its scenic surroundings. The city is a short distance from a number of beautiful waterfalls, hiking trails and other outdoor recreational opportunities.
According to the Tiny House Initiative for Brevard, the North Carolina city classifies a tiny house as a secondary dwelling that is smaller than 800 square feet. This means the tiny house must be parked on the same property as the owner’s primary residence. The document also states that Brevard’s City Zoning and North Carolina Building Codes require that all tiny homes be built on a solid foundation, as opposed to being built on wheels. For more information on building a tiny house in Brevard, check here.
Green Bridge Farm in Guyton, GA
Guyton, Georgia is home to one of the most popular and ecologically-friendly tiny house communities in the country. This community, known as Green Bridge Farm, offers residents 25 wooded acres in Effingham County, Georgia – all centered around an organic farm. According to Mother Earth News, the community’s farm features “organic fruit trees and a large market garden.”
According to Green Bridge Farm’s website, lots in the community sell for $50,000 each. The setting is a popular choice for tiny house owners looking for a simpler way of life. According to the latest blog post from Green Bridge Farm, the community recently won the official approval for tiny houses to be used as permanent residences on the farm. Like many tiny house communities, any tiny home built on Green Bridge Farm must be secured to the ground on solid foundation.
Spur, TX
Declaring itself “the nation’s first tiny house-friendly town,” Spur has quickly become a popular choice among those looking to go tiny. Located outside Lubbock, the town of Spur is small (roughly 1,000 people) and is a tight-knit community. The city offers plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities, with walking trails, sports venues, golf courses, and parks for residents.
In order to attract more residents, Spur became the first town in America to allow people to build tiny homes on solid foundation (not wheels) with very little restrictions or guidelines. According to SpurFreedom, over 70 lots were sold to people planning to bring or build a tiny house to the Texas town. However, in 2016, Spur’s town council passed an ordinance that required tiny house designs to be submitted for approval before being built, as reported by inhabitat.com.
Fresno, CA
In addition to being exceptionally tiny house-friendly, Fresno is one of the most populous cities in California. Located in California’s Central Valley, the City of Fresno offers a strong economy, vibrant arts scene and affordable neighborhoods. It is also surrounded by a number of farms – all producing many of our country’s organic staples.
In 2016, Fresno, California became the first city in the country to approve tiny houses on wheels as backyard cottages in residential neighborhoods. While some California towns already allowed tiny houses on wheels in residential areas, zoning regulations required that these homes be used as “caregiver cottages.” Therefore, Fresno was the first city to allow tiny homes on wheels to be used as secondary dwelling units without requiring them to also be “caregiver cottages.” For more information on tiny houses in Fresno, check here.
River View at Cleora in Salida, CO
Those looking for a tiny house community should consider moving to Salida, Colorado. Just last year, the mountain town approved a plan to build 200 tiny houses in a community known as “River View at Cleora.” This planned development is set to become the country’s largest tiny home community. In addition to these groundbreaking developments, Salida happens to be a fantastic place to live as well. The city offers some of the best outdoor activities in the nation, top eats and a vibrant arts scene.
According to Sprout Tiny Home, the planned development also offers a community building with a kitchen, exercise facility, restaurant and 96 storage units. Plans for walking trails and parks are also in the works. For more information on purchasing a tiny home in this community, check here.
Ready to move to a tiny house?
For more details on state regulations and tiny homes, check out the American Tiny House Association’s informative website.
Before downsizing to a tiny house, make sure you rent a storage unit first. To locate self-storage facilities in your area, use Moving.com’s ‘Find Storage Now‘ tool. All you have to do is type in the zip code or your city and state, and click the ‘find storage’ button. Moving.com will pull quotes from the closest self storage unit facilities near your new tiny house, so that you can compare costs and offerings. Best of luck and happy moving!
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