To anyone who has done a little bit of research on the tiny house movement, the number one barrier is clear:
WHERE IN THE WORLD DO I PUT MY TINY HOME?
While the law is catching up to tiny houses and restrictions are loosening globally, it is still difficult to find land to live on legally. However, more and more people are doing it by-the-book, so you can too. Here’s how:
Your Own Land - Without an existing house
The most obvious and perhaps most difficult option is to find land for your tiny house. This is tough because it requires you to commit to the land itself and that requires navigating the challenge of zoning yourself (or with the help of an agent).
However, this option gives you the most freedom should you choose to go this route.
Your Own Land - With An Existing House
If you have an existing house on your land, you may be allowed to put an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on the land, which is a secondary house to the primary residence. The catch is that an ADU typically must not be the primary residence, so this is best for families that want an elderly parent or newly graduated adult child to live independently but cheaply on the property.
To pursue the ADU route, check with your local zoning department to see if your land is zoned for ADU, or if you can receive a special use permit to do so. Zoning departments are your best friends if you treat them right, so don’t be afraid to call them.
Someone Else’s Land
You can rent land and put your tiny house on the land. This is typically best for THOW or temporary structures like yurts, since you may have to move if the land changes ownership or if the landlord changes their mind.
Alternatively, some employers provide the option to live on their land. Explore this option if you work in energy, agriculture, home service, or any location-dependent industry.
Tiny House Community
A growing number of communities, or tiny house villages, are popping up. For those that want the financial and minimalist benefits of a tiny house without remote living, a tiny house community is a great option. It gives you a neighborhood to live in with like-minded folks. It is also great for those not willing to leap over the zoning hurdles since the community has already been zoned for tiny houses.
The downside, aside from feeling cramped or not private, is that communities aren’t free. Much like an HOA or rent payment, you will have to pay for the community and abide by its rules. Make sure you pick one that fits your style and is affordable/worth the money.
Specific Cities & Towns
A growing number of cities and towns are starting to open up their doors to tiny houses. At the time of writing this, here are some of the top tiny house-friendly towns in the US:
Portland, Oregon
Spur, Texas
Orlando, Florida
Detroit, Michigan
Brevard, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Flat Rock, North Carolina
Walsenburg, Colorado
Durango, Colorado
Fresno, California
Rockledge, Florida
For the Nomad: RV Parks & National Park Campgrounds
For those living nomadically in a tiny house on wheels, the RV park or National Park Campground are both great options, especially if you have a THOW with an RV plug for electricity and a water hookup.
However, know that most parks, private or public, have a limit to the number of consecutive nights stayed. It is a misconception that if you have a THOW you can just live at a park long-term. In the vast majority of cases, this is not going to happen.
Know that there may be a challenge if your THOW is not certified by the RVIA, depending on the campground management. (more on building codes here)
For those that have a truly off-grid THOW, the options expand to national forests, at least in the United States. National forests, which are much larger than national parks and much less controlled or used, allow people to legally camp in non-recreational areas (also called dispersed camping) without a permit for up to 16 nights.
I once roadtripped from Chicago to LA over the course of 9 nights; we spent 6 nights and $0 sleeping in national forests…pretty sweet. It is a hidden secret of the outdoor enthusiast community in the US, and this secret can be your advantage in a THOW that is truly off-grid.
Additionally, the above approach applies to states, provinces, municipalities, towns, and cities. There are short-term options. You just need to do your research on the specific park you want to stay in and see the rules for dispersed camping or RV camping.
Many people have had life-changing experiences traveling across their continent in a tiny house on wheels simply doing research along the way.
Resources to Find Land
Now that you know the types of land, how do you actually go about finding the land you need? Luckily, there are a handful of options, but expect to have to do some research and work.
Tiny house hosting Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tinyhousehosting
Facebook in general: check out the Tiny House Beginners Community here (I started this one)
Online Marketplaces: Facebook market, Craigslist, Meetup
Your local zoning department website and office: if you know where you want to live, this is your best resource.
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