We Need Your Help To Make Tiny Houses Legal

Reset A− A+ Part of the problems most of us face with tiny housing is that there are laws and zoning that prevent most of us from achieving our tiny dreams because we’re forced to build larger than we really need.

In many cases, we’ve found our own ‘loopholes’ that have allowed many of us to live tiny on our own terms.

But why do we sometimes have to feel that we are living in a ‘grey area’ when we’re not hurting or endangering anyone by living simply?

So if you’re thinking about petitioning your local government to allow the construction of tiny homes here are some tips that might help you get started (and a petition that you can sign really quick to start encouraging change right now).

Tips on how to Petition for Making Tiny Houses Legal from Jay Shafer

“Hi guys. I just finally signed your petition and forwarded it to some other folks.

I haven’t had the time to see what legal strategy you’re already employing, but I’ll offer my unsolicited 2-cents anyway.

The ICC makes the building regulations that States adopt. The ICC’s, mostly, a bunch of folks from the Building Industry who pay to have a say in such matters. Its a private sector institution comprised of private sector members. 

State Governments adopt the ICC’s rules (almost verbatim) and mandate that their subordinate municipalities abide by the rules. The Fed. Gov. has no authority over anything not addressed by the constitution directly; that power is left to the, so called, “People” (ie. States), and some housing issues would seem to fit this bill.

The States, and their subordinate municipalities, are allowed to govern this housing stuff only because it is, they claim, a matter of “public health, safety and wellbeing”. 

The problem with the State’s claim to authority, here, as far as I’m concerned, is that neither the ICC or anyone else has done ANY testing to show that their minimum size standards for housing actually increase safety. In fact, when you look at all the well-documented damage being done by all the unnecessary, unused, mandated space being built by America’s Housing Industry, it’s clear to see that only the opposite has been proven. 

Municipalities are told they have to abide by their State’s minimum requirements (almost invariably ICC regs. straight-up), but the State’s say that these local governments can add their own, more stringent, amendments to the State codes they are subject to. 

It would seem that, if the Constitution has no authority over specific housing issues, and the States only have authority insomuch as their mandates actually improve the safety of housing, then minimum size standards should be governed by the broader Individual Freedoms grated to us by the U.S. Constitution.”

– Jay Shafer, Four Lights Tiny Houses

What Now? Start With This

If you agree that zoning should be changed to allow tiny houses to be built and lived in so that we can have more affordable housing available all over the world you can start inspiring change by signing the petition below:

=> Sign the petition here (just takes a minute)

If you enjoyed this update and tips on how you can petition to allow more tiny houses and change zoning you’ll LOVE our Free Daily Tiny House Newsletter with more! And as always if you want to you can re-share this post with your friends using the social/email buttons below. Thanks.

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Alex

Alex Pino is the founder of Tiny House Talk, a leading resource on tiny homes and simple living since 2009. He helps readers discover unique homes, connect with builders, and explore alternative living.

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