What Is a Tiny House?
A tiny house is a punch in of structure called a detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU).
You may need to move them to a garage or build a new shed.
Mireya Acierto / Getty Images
Not all existingoutdoor storage shedsare good candidates for tiny houses.
Sheds in use for years likely aren’t appropriate, unless they have been kept in perfect condition.
A qualified contractor can advise you on municipal permissions, requirements, zoning, and permits.
The contractor takes all of the work of planning and scheduling off of your shoulders.
If hiring a contractor, look for an ADU/DADU design-build company.
Begin with your city’s building and planning department.
Applying for permits is the first step; permit approvals are the last step.
Electricity
Electricity transforms the converted shed into a comfortable, habitable living space.
Even if the shed currently has electricity, substantial changes will likely be required.
Power can be brought over from the main house with buried cables or above-ground conduit.
The shed should have its own electric service panel and electric circuits independent of the main house.
In some cases, a common electric service panel may be approved.
If so, both the converted shed and the main house must have direct access to it.
Not only that but some areas require you to hire an electrician.
Installing a composting toileteliminates the steep cost of water and sewer installations.
For active heating and cooling, install aductless mini-split system.
Mini splits provide both heating and cooling.
Parking Requirements
Off-street parking provisions are sometimes required when developing DADUs such as converted sheds.
Communities friendly to DADUs sometimes pare down or eliminate this requirement altogether.
Unhooking from the gridmunicipal electricity, sewer, and other utilitiesis often the trade-off.
Power
Solar power has more usesthan everheating water, powering fans, or heating the tiny home.
Situate the tiny house so that roof-mounted solar panels gain the most light throughout the day.
Thebest solar panelsfor tiny houses will be sized to fit the limited roof area of tiny houses.
Greywater systems that recycle water from the kitchen and bath stretch out your off-grid water supplies.
Composting toilets turn human waste into a compost-like material, without the need for a water supply.
If local laws permit, the material can even be used for garden fertilizer.
Installdurable flooringthat’seasy to cleansince tiny houses are usually located in the back of properties or on acreage.
An alternative to these costly hookups is to install a waterless composting toilet.
Tiny Houses: Do the Work.Washington State Dept.
of Labor & Industries.
Ordinances at Work: Seven Communities That Welcome Accessory Dwelling Units.
Mercatus Center, George Mason University.
Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (Seattle, WA).
Adding a Dwelling Unit.City of Portland (OR).
The Ultimate Guide to Heating and Cooling Tiny Homes.
Overview of Greenhouse Gases.U.S.
How Much Does a Tiny Home Cost?Forbes Home.
