Comments on: 5 ways to get around minimum size standards http://thistinyhouse.com/2009/5-ways-to-get-around-minimum-size-standards/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:14:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: thistinyhouse http://thistinyhouse.com/2009/5-ways-to-get-around-minimum-size-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-10334 thistinyhouse Thu, 25 Mar 2010 01:56:57 +0000 http://thistinyhouse.com/?p=601#comment-10334 Hi Mark, I sympathize with you. Have you considered writing a nice letter to your local officials, citing some points from what Jay Shafer and others have already put out there? This would be a great media piece... I'm sure the local news would eat it up. Best of luck and let us know how it goes! Hi Mark,
I sympathize with you. Have you considered writing a nice letter to your local officials, citing some points from what Jay Shafer and others have already put out there? This would be a great media piece… I’m sure the local news would eat it up. Best of luck and let us know how it goes!

]]> By: Marc Boese http://thistinyhouse.com/2009/5-ways-to-get-around-minimum-size-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-10326 Marc Boese Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:20:49 +0000 http://thistinyhouse.com/?p=601#comment-10326 I've recently built a tiny house, and am having a bear of a time with the city of Jacksonville, Fl. You can't live in an RV (which it really isn't), and you can't get permits on a small house (under 225 square feet in the latest case.) They don't have a checkbox for it, so they want it gone. I’ve recently built a tiny house, and am having a bear of a time with the city of Jacksonville, Fl. You can’t live in an RV (which it really isn’t), and you can’t get permits on a small house (under 225 square feet in the latest case.) They don’t have a checkbox for it, so they want it gone.

]]> By: Mary C. Charest http://thistinyhouse.com/2009/5-ways-to-get-around-minimum-size-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-8009 Mary C. Charest Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:49:28 +0000 http://thistinyhouse.com/?p=601#comment-8009 Good Morning, Saw your Blog! I am currently writing a series of "small books". My nitch is to write small books that people will treasure and want to read over and over again. In an age of "rush, rush, rush..." most people do not have the time to read longer books. The first two books will be called American Gothic Modified: Living a Disabled yet Self Sustainable Life. My desire, for these books, is one of timeless elegance that is eco-friendly. Beautiful bounding that will last, yet recycled paper for the pages. I am a published writer and playwright. I have 3.5 more years trapped in NJ suburban hell (my youngest son will be 18 at that time). I can't afford to declare disability - and now I have no insurance - but I WILL NEVER give up! Please provide a few paragraphs, quotes or anecdotes if you feel so inclined. Hope to hear from you soon. Thank you! Mary C. Charest maryccharest@yahoo.com Good Morning,

Saw your Blog!

I am currently writing a series of “small books”. My nitch is to write small books that people will treasure and want to read over and over again.

In an age of “rush, rush, rush…” most people do not have the time to read longer books.

The first two books will be called American Gothic Modified: Living a Disabled yet Self Sustainable Life.

My desire, for these books, is one of timeless elegance that is eco-friendly. Beautiful bounding that will last, yet recycled paper for the pages.

I am a published writer and playwright.

I have 3.5 more years trapped in NJ suburban hell (my youngest son will be 18 at that time). I can’t afford to declare disability – and now I have no insurance – but I WILL NEVER give up!

Please provide a few paragraphs, quotes or anecdotes if you feel so inclined.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you!

Mary C. Charest
maryccharest@yahoo.com

]]> By: BruceMcF http://thistinyhouse.com/2009/5-ways-to-get-around-minimum-size-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-7899 BruceMcF Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:23:12 +0000 http://thistinyhouse.com/?p=601#comment-7899 As an adjunct to the accessory structure clause, in an area without a limit on number of accessory structures, one approach is a Tiny House Village, with the main structure being a weatherproof (but not necessarily heated) structure designed to qualify as the main structure, and placed to be the in-fact-accessory structure to a number of Tiny Houses. As an adjunct to the accessory structure clause, in an area without a limit on number of accessory structures, one approach is a Tiny House Village, with the main structure being a weatherproof (but not necessarily heated) structure designed to qualify as the main structure, and placed to be the in-fact-accessory structure to a number of Tiny Houses.

]]> By: Deena Larsen http://thistinyhouse.com/2009/5-ways-to-get-around-minimum-size-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-4393 Deena Larsen Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:21:47 +0000 http://thistinyhouse.com/?p=601#comment-4393 Hi, We are trying to get into a smaller house (now have a wonderfully huge 800 square foot place that is not well configured). But I am having fun figuring out zoning restrictions. Thanks for the advice... Also, your links to contact you and the charter do not work. Hi,

We are trying to get into a smaller house (now have a wonderfully huge 800 square foot place that is not well configured). But I am having fun figuring out zoning restrictions. Thanks for the advice…
Also, your links to contact you and the charter do not work.

]]> By: thistinyhouse http://thistinyhouse.com/2009/5-ways-to-get-around-minimum-size-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-2836 thistinyhouse Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:01:02 +0000 http://thistinyhouse.com/?p=601#comment-2836 Thanks Mo. That's good news about permitting getting easier for accessory buildings -- hopefully that keeps up. Thanks Mo. That’s good news about permitting getting easier for accessory buildings — hopefully that keeps up.

]]> By: 5 Ways to Downsize a Nation | This Tiny House http://thistinyhouse.com/2009/5-ways-to-get-around-minimum-size-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-1931 5 Ways to Downsize a Nation | This Tiny House Sun, 10 May 2009 23:11:47 +0000 http://thistinyhouse.com/?p=601#comment-1931 [...] Build smaller homes Let’s get rid of minimum size standards and implement maximum size standards based on family size. Those who want jumbo size homes in gated [...] [...] Build smaller homes Let’s get rid of minimum size standards and implement maximum size standards based on family size. Those who want jumbo size homes in gated [...]

]]> By: Mo http://thistinyhouse.com/2009/5-ways-to-get-around-minimum-size-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-662 Mo Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:29:26 +0000 http://thistinyhouse.com/?p=601#comment-662 Good post. I agree, a lot of the restrictions are revenue related - small houses don't generate enough. Every development meeting I've attended focused more on maximizing the "tax base" than other issues like road capacity or environmental impact. Square footage is the basis for taxes. This housing crisis does have an upside though, locally this hunger for more money has created an opening for small houses in the form of loosening restrictions for "accessory buildings" (mother-in-law houses) on existing properties. Two area counties and a number of municipalities have made getting a permit much easier. Government is notorious for conflicting interests. The one universal truth is that it always comes down to the money. Good post.

I agree, a lot of the restrictions are revenue related – small houses don’t generate enough. Every development meeting I’ve attended focused more on maximizing the “tax base” than other issues like road capacity or environmental impact. Square footage is the basis for taxes.

This housing crisis does have an upside though, locally this hunger for more money has created an opening for small houses in the form of loosening restrictions for “accessory buildings” (mother-in-law houses) on existing properties. Two area counties and a number of municipalities have made getting a permit much easier.

Government is notorious for conflicting interests. The one universal truth is that it always comes down to the money.

]]> By: 100 villagers in 5 weeks | This Tiny House http://thistinyhouse.com/2009/5-ways-to-get-around-minimum-size-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-649 100 villagers in 5 weeks | This Tiny House Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:52:45 +0000 http://thistinyhouse.com/?p=601#comment-649 [...] tiny houses, which is remarkably difficult to do in the U.S. due to the bloated housing industry, distorted municipal codes and unnecessary zoning [...] [...] tiny houses, which is remarkably difficult to do in the U.S. due to the bloated housing industry, distorted municipal codes and unnecessary zoning [...]

]]> By: thistinyhouse http://thistinyhouse.com/2009/5-ways-to-get-around-minimum-size-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-381 thistinyhouse Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:01:11 +0000 http://thistinyhouse.com/?p=601#comment-381 Aw shucks. Thanks Lynne for your kind words. Aw shucks. Thanks Lynne for your kind words.

]]>