The “tiny home” or “small house” has been a part of American life ever since the shotgun shack of the 1930s. But what turned the tiny home into the Tiny Home Movement was the Great Recession of 2007, when economic pressures made a lot of new homeowners look seriously at tiny homes (meaning typically less than 400 sq. ft. of floor space) as an affordable housing alternative, and with it a lifestyle that stressed simplicity, frugality and sustainability. The movement later received a boost in public awareness thanks to reality shows such as Tiny House Nation and Tiny House Hunters.
The economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with skyrocketing real estate prices in some parts of the country, has caused a resurgence of interest in tiny homes. But tiny homes have always faced special challenges when it comes to code considerations.
As per the 2018 International Residential Code, a tiny home lacking the necessary amenities required for a dwelling needs to be on the same lot as a building that does (with the tiny home considered an Accessory Dwelling Unit or ADU). Since many tiny homes are designed to be mobile, it can sometimes be difficult for owners trying to change location to find a jurisdiction that will accept them. Adding to the difficulty are plumbing considerations specific to tiny home design.
Enter the Code Council
Ryan Colker is VP of Innovation for the International Code Council, where he serves as director for ICC’s center focused on energy resilience and innovation. Along with energy efficiency and climate risks, some of the topics the Code Council is addressing year-round are off-site construction—which includes tiny houses—and aspects of integrating codes with the digital design process.
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Gary Fleisher is the Editor in Chief of Modular Home Source and Offsite Builder. Email at [email protected]
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