Latest Posts

Top 5 Tips for Building or Buying a Tiny House

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Thu, 12/17/2015 - 14:47

As a tiny house designer, I too am often amazed at what people still want to add to a custom tiny home, while hopefully adhering to a super-tight budget.

My advice for anyone wanting to build or buy a tiny house is to:

HUGE News for Tiny House Living -- Fresno Development Code Change

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Tue, 12/08/2015 - 21:56
On January 3, 2016, Fresno opens its doors and properties to tiny house dwellers via the city's new Development Code 15-275. Congrats and kudos to Cali's tiny house advocates!

January 3, 2016, the City of Fresno, California, may see an influx of tiny houses. The city's new Development Code 15-2754 which allows a tiny house on wheels (THOW) to be used as an second dwelling unit, backyard cottage, and accessory living quarters on single family residential lots of 6000 sq ft or more (5000 sq ft if corner lot).

Tiny House Communities -- Some Concerns and Key Considerations

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Mon, 11/16/2015 - 17:54
Parking a tiny house on private property has huge appeal, but our path to success is littered with roadblocks. -- Photo composited image courtesy of Four Lights Village

Parking a tiny house on private property has appeal, but consider this increasingly common tale of woe before buying into the hype about a tiny house community.

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Tiny House
Tiny House Community

Tiny House Icons Evicted in Colorado

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Tue, 11/03/2015 - 17:16
Jenna and Guillaume's tiny house parked along the roadside after issuance of a notice to vacate the premises during their Tiny House Giant Journey.

The story of Jenna and Guillaume's tiny house eviction in Colorado is both unfortunate, and yet evermore common. This issue underscores the challenge we face across the country: Tiny houses are just too cute to ignore! 

Article About Tiny Life Trailblazers in Virginia

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Wed, 09/30/2015 - 19:02
Image from Style Weekly's article on the Tiny House Movement Thom Stanton from Timber Trails (right) and actor Seth Numrich (left) in front of Seth's Place, a custom designed and built tiny house on wheels.

For those who haven't seen it yet, RVA's interest in tiny houses is the leading article that comes hot on the heels of last week's cycling headlines.

Close Quarters: Inside Richmond's Tiny Houses
>> Read the Full Article Here!

Presenting Our Case: The Need for Tiny House Data

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Thu, 08/13/2015 - 20:30

High-level representatives, local building inspectors, and rooms full of zoning officials are watching and waiting. There's no better time to make a solid case for legal living in a tiny house. So what's the missing ingredient: Data!

Building a Case for Tiny Houses as Certified Park Model RVs

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Wed, 08/12/2015 - 21:17

While tiny house builders and buyer try to grasp the realities surrounding the expanding the potential to live in tiny houses on wheels (THOW), the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) makes its position clear in an article published on the page for Park Model RVs on RVIA.org

Are Park Model RVs 'Tiny Homes?'

There has been a lot of coverage of the 'tiny home movement' in the media lately. People often wonder, "Are Park Model RVs 'tiny homes?'"

Tiny House Building Codes

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Tue, 08/11/2015 - 19:32
Build your tiny house know-how on a solid foundation of building types, code compliance, and help lead a shift for legal habitation in smaller structures.

Tiny houses fall in the cracks between existing, and accepted, types of homes. To help you go boldly into the fight, we've provided a little overview to help you be an aware buyer, and keep you compliant with codes should you go the DIY route. Oh... and a closing bit of RAH-RAH LET'S GO TEAM!

Overview of Applicable Standards

To date, there are no official tiny house building codes, but that doesn't mean you're in the clear to build whatever you want.

The Risk of Building an Unapproved Tiny House

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Mon, 07/27/2015 - 19:32
Many tiny houses start as "backyard builds," but be carefully review building codes and zoning ordinances before simply moving in out back.

Consider the story of our friends the Browns and their backyard tiny house in Chesterfield, Virginia.

This friendly young couple took a look at their financial goals, and chose to build a tiny house as a means of escaping the Rat Race. They had the time, financial resources, and would cover the cost of their tiny house in less than a couple of years by renting their primary residence and living out back mortgage free. Sounds great, right...?

And for the Browns, living simply in a tiny house seemed the right solution. 

Building a Tiny House for Rental on AirBnB

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Mon, 07/27/2015 - 18:49
Sounds great. Seems easy. May be a great way to make a little money... or get yourself in big trouble.

Tiny houses are "too cute to ignore," and -- thanks in large part to all the photos and TV shows -- have become an increasingly large blip on state and local regulatory radars. 

From a Long-Term Perspective

While AirBnB seems an option, many areas are taking an increasingly stringent stand against those that list spaces on the short-term rental site. Others, like the county we live in (Chesterfield, Virginia) state that they are actively collecting names of those offering space for rent in our region.

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