Oftentimes not only is building a tiny house illegal but so is building a small one. One way to get around it, is by building what’s called an Accessory Dwelling Unit, or an ADU for short, if eligible.
Then this ADU can be operated as a guest house, in-law suite, vacation home, Airbnb, or what-have-you. That’s what Bunch Design did in Los Angeles, California with this Highland Park 850-sq.-ft. small home. Check it out! What do you think of small homes around this size?
These are awesome plans from Simple Solar Homesteading for a 10×10 Studio, Cottage, Cabin or Accessory dwelling unit and includes plans for an addition and porch. And they’re just $5!
But First: Have You Entered the Off-Grid Houses on the Move Contest? Don’t miss your chance to win great prizes! Learn more here.
These simple structures are designed for anyone who can cut a straight line, hammer a nail and use a drill! The Studio will sleep 1 to 2 people, while the Cottage/Cabin sleeps up to 4 people.
The plans come in a 46-page full color ebook (PDF), which includes all framing instructions, dimensions and pictures of exterior and interior finishing for ideas. You’ll also get plans for a studio addition, a porch, and ideas for off-grid equipment, a material list, and estimated costs! Don’t wait, get yours here today.
I think we all need some good news in our inboxes during this pandemic, so here it is: The San Jose, California City Council went through the first reading of an ordinance that would classify Movable Tiny Homes as ADUs!
According to the Tiny Home Industry Association, it has to go through another reading and would then become law by the end of May! Once these THOWs are recognized as ADUs, it makes it much easier to find a spot to legally park them. Hopefully this legislation will pave the way for more cities across the country follow suit, and therefore make tiny living more accessible long-term. To read more about the legislation, click here.
The town council of Amherstburg recently voted to allow tiny homes on foundations with a minimum 323-square-feet (30-square-meters) minimum and within 20 meters distance from the primary dwelling, according to the Windsor Star.
Tiny homes take many different shapes and forms, even when it comes to zoning and real estate. One way to get legal tiny houses back on the map is through RV parks, right? That’s one way. Another way to do it is through ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), also known as guest houses, secondary dwellings, accessory structures, and the like.
This is a reminder about the ESCAPE FREE ADU program. Basically, how you can get a free ESCAPE tiny house (terms apply).
The way it works is if you live in Los Angeles or any other city or town that allows tiny houses as ADUs, you can arrange to have an ESCAPE ADU on your property to generate income as a rental. Learn more below!
This is the Laurelhurst DADU in Seattle, Washington by MicrohouseNW, they specialize in backyard cottages. This one is a 575-square-foot home with a 390-square-foot footprint. The cabin even features a living/green roof, exposed trusses, and interestingly enough, the bedroom is downstairs. Opposite of a loft, hehe.
DADU stands for Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit, which is basically just another term for a detached guest house. These guest houses are one way to design and build small homes while still meeting local building codes. And in Seattle, people are even creating their own homeowners associations (HOAs) and selling their backyard cottages to others. Yes, some have been listed and recently sold, and we talk about that in this article.
Just got news that Governor Newsom signed historic housing legislation for California that allows homeowners to build up to two ADU’s (accessory dwelling units) on their property.
This legislation will definitely boost interest and demand for micro, tiny, and small homes in California – where extra housing just like this is desperately needed. What do you think? This is a good thing, right? I suppose, some homeowners will be upset about it.
This is the story of a couple who built a 400-square-foot backyard cottage in their Seattle backyard and then moved in.
Also, they rented out their big house. Genius, right? Sounds pretty smart to me! What do you think? By the way, this story is brought to you thanks to Jenna at Tiny House Giant Journey.
This is the Blue ADU Tiny House (384 sq. ft.) near Downtown Asheville. It features a wonderful first-floor design (no upstairs or lofts) and is built by Nanostead.
What do you think? Would you live in a tiny house on a foundation kind of like this one? How would you customize it to make it better for yourself?
