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I appreciate the clarification on codes versus zoning. However I did some digging and found that there's a big difference between what the commonly used intern

I appreciate the clarification on codes versus zoning. However I did some digging and found that there's a big difference between what the commonly used international residential codes allow, and what zoning commonly allows. From an article on tiny houses [0]: > Most of the country’s local building codes have been adopted from the International Residential Code (IRC) for one- and two-family dwellings, which contains size specifications like rooms (except bathrooms and kitchens) must be at least 70 square feet, while ceiling height must be at least 7 feet. > Zoning regulations are based off more local factors, and determine the size requirements of your home based on what zone it’s located in. You will need to call your local zoning or planning department to find that info. Many cities and counties, however, have a minimum size requirement of 1,000 square feet or more for construction of a new home on its own land, according to Tiny House Community. And from a separate linked article on minimum dwelling size to satisfy codes [1]: > I find no requirement that the sleeping area or kitchen must be in separate rooms, and instead could be combined in a studio arrangement. So I believe it could be legitimately argued that a minimum legal area by 2015 IRC standards could be as small as one habitable room of 70 sq. ft. with sleeping area and kitchen, plus a bathroom as small as 18 sq. ft. while meeting minimum spacing requirements. So it does kind of look like zoning is still the big cost multiplier, since codes say 88 square feet minimum (separate bathroom), while zoning in most cities/counties in the US mandate 1000 square feet minimum. Quite a difference. And that's before getting into minimum lot size. [0] https://archive.curbed.com/2016/9/22/13002832/tiny-house-zoning-laws-regulations https://archive.curbed.com/2016/9/22/13002832/tiny-house-zon... [1] https://americantinyhouseassociation.org/minimum-size-for-a-tiny-house-to-meet-irc-2015/ https://americantinyhouseassociation.org/minimum-size-for-a-...

dragonwriter 6y ago
Your article seems to misrepresent the minimum room size in the IRC for the minimum total house area: https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/minimum-house-size-by-state https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/minimum-hou... “The IRC codes require that all homes must be built on a minimum of 320 square feet. The minimum square footage for a house is 120 square feet, and at least one room must be habitable. Habitable rooms meet other regulations, such as needing a closet and at least one window. Other rooms, not meant for sleeping, must be at least 70 square feet.” It also weasel words (and apparently succeeds in tricking you with it) about what zoning requires; what you interpret as “most” is actually described inbthe article you cite with the far weaker “many”: > Many cities and counties, however, have a minimum size requirement of 1,000 square feet or more for construction of a new home on its own land Not “most”.
- mikem170 6y ago
  Have I been tricked, or are you being pedantic? Based on my experience looking at a variety of specific city, town, and county zoning regulations I hardly see any that allows a primary dwelling anything close to as small as 120 square feet. 750 square feet? Sure, there's a bunch of those. 400 square feet? Some. Less than 400 square feet? Hardly any. Even places that allow accessory dwelling units are rare/uncommon. The places where an overwhelming majority of people live (where the jobs are) have zoning regulations that do not allow 120 square foot houses, or anything close to that small. There's a lot of people who want a tiny house and can't find a place to legally put one. It still looks like zoning defines minimums for the most part, not safety codes, and there is a big difference, which was my original point. Do you really think I'm that far off on this?

dragonwriter 6y ago

Your article seems to misrepresent the minimum room size in the IRC for the minimum total house area: https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/minimum-house-size-by-state https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/minimum-hou... “The IRC codes require that all homes must be built on a minimum of 320 square feet. The minimum square footage for a house is 120 square feet, and at least one room must be habitable. Habitable rooms meet other regulations, such as needing a closet and at least one window. Other rooms, not meant for sleeping, must be at least 70 square feet.” It also weasel words (and apparently succeeds in tricking you with it) about what zoning requires; what you interpret as “most” is actually described inbthe article you cite with the far weaker “many”: > Many cities and counties, however, have a minimum size requirement of 1,000 square feet or more for construction of a new home on its own land Not “most”.

mikem170 6y ago
Have I been tricked, or are you being pedantic? Based on my experience looking at a variety of specific city, town, and county zoning regulations I hardly see any that allows a primary dwelling anything close to as small as 120 square feet. 750 square feet? Sure, there's a bunch of those. 400 square feet? Some. Less than 400 square feet? Hardly any. Even places that allow accessory dwelling units are rare/uncommon. The places where an overwhelming majority of people live (where the jobs are) have zoning regulations that do not allow 120 square foot houses, or anything close to that small. There's a lot of people who want a tiny house and can't find a place to legally put one. It still looks like zoning defines minimums for the most part, not safety codes, and there is a big difference, which was my original point. Do you really think I'm that far off on this?