Читать книгу The Tiny House Handbook - Charlie Wing - Страница 24

You are excited; you are motivated; you are ready to begin a life based on need, not greed, in a shelter that sustains you, not drains you. This book is designed to provide the information you need to realize your dream, but first a dose of reality.

While 90% of the world’s 7,800,000,000 people live in just 200 square feet per person, the average allocation for Americans has bloated to 832 square feet. Why so big? Because, like so many other aspects of the American way, we could. The size of one’s home has become a status symbol. The towns we live in speak to who we are. This has been going on since the end of World War II—long enough for minimum lot size and minimum house size to creep into our zoning ordinances. The reality is that you will have a difficult time obtaining a building permit for your tiny home in affluent residential areas.

But there is often an out. Even the affluent like to have family nearby. There is an equally long history of zoning allowances for accessory dwelling units, so-called “granny flats.” Very often the size minimum, if there is one, falls within the 400 square foot “tiny house” range.

Then there are the building codes. Your house may be tiny, but it still must meet building, electrical, and plumbing codes. But relax. These codes are not designed to stop you. They are designed solely to keep you safe and healthy. Embrace them.