😬 When Zoning Laws Attack Your Tiny Dream (Series 2/7)

Hey [FirstName],

Ready for another dose of tiny house reality? Today, we're diving deeper into the legal limbo that Bryce mentioned in his video.

(In case you missed part 1, you can find it here.)

But first, how's your day going? Any zoning officers knocking at your (tiny) door? 😉

Now, let's shine a light on the shadows...

The Dark Side of Tiny Homes: Legal Nightmares

Remember how Bryce talked about tiny houses being stuck in a gray area? Well, I've got two real-world stories that bring this issue to life.

Sarah's Zoning Battle: Sarah Hastings tried to do everything by the book in Hadley, Massachusetts:

• Worked with town officials to propose a zoning bylaw change
• Her tiny house became a local controversy, even making national news
• Despite support, the bylaw failed, forcing Sarah to move

The takeaway? Even when you try to play by the rules, the rules might not play along.

Further Listening: Begging Forgiveness vs. Asking Permission with Sarah Hastings​

Kaylee's Stealth Living Adventure: Kaylee took a different approach:

• Built her tiny house while working full-time, facing numerous setbacks
• Lived "under the radar" when confronted with zoning issues
• Eventually got involved in advocacy efforts at state and local levels

The lesson? Sometimes flying under the radar is the only option, but it comes with its own stress.

Further Listening: She’s Building Her Tiny House Dream Against All Odds​

Here's my take: These stories highlight the very real challenges Bryce mentioned. Legal limbo isn't just a concept - it's a daily reality for many tiny housers. It can force people to either become reluctant activists or stealth dwellers, neither of which is ideal.

The Push for Legalization: The good news is that there are national (US based) and international efforts to legalize tiny homes, and the legalization is racking up wins around the globe. While Sarah and Kaylee faced individual battles, organizations are fighting for systemic change:

• THIA (Tiny Home Industry Association) is collaborating with the International Code Council
• They're working to update building codes to include tiny houses
• Appendix Q was a huge win, but more comprehensive standards are in development

The goal? To create clear, nationwide guidelines for tiny homes.​

ASTM's Global Approach: Meanwhile, ASTM International is taking things global:

• They're developing worldwide standards for tiny houses
• These cover everything from structural issues to utilities
• The aim is to create a new classification of housing specifically for tiny homes

The potential impact? Making it easier to get tiny houses approved and built safely, anywhere in the world.

Here's the twist: While these efforts are promising, they also highlight how far we still have to go. The very need for these initiatives underscores the current lack of clear, tiny-house-friendly regulations in most places.

We've also profiled individual legalization efforts in many states and cities, including:

• ​Massachussets​
• ​Maine​
• ​Colorado​
• ​Los Angeles, CA​
• ​Portland, OR​
• ​...and more​

Whew! That was a lot. So I'm gonna stop there.

Are you enjoying the series so far? Hit reply and let me know. Tomorrow we'll dive into day 3, all about the rising costs in tiny house living.

Until next time,

​

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